Take Time for the Small Things

Over the past couple of weeks I have seen so many students and teachers so strongly affected by the death of Dr. Hettinger. I did not know her personally, but my sister was in one of her classes and always spoke kindly of her and was also very sad to hear of her passing. I cannot know how they must feel for having lost, from what I hear, such a wonderful, kind person. I can, however, relate in a way to how they come to the realization that they must take a step back and make time for the small things. This past spring break, my older sister got in a terrible car accident. She and my six-year-old sister had been shopping and where on their way home. A man, who had been visiting from Corpus Christi, had been looking at his GPS, swerved out of his lane and rammed into the driver's side of my sister's car.  The car was totaled and completely crushed in on my sister's side, but thank God, neither of them had a single scratch on them! By looking at the car, you would never see how they made it out alive and virtually unharmed when you think of what might have been. My mom and I had been away from home when this happened, and came home finding them alive and well. They told us what happened and the thoughts rushed over me that if it had not been for the grace of God, I would not have two sisters today. I'm literally crying right now just remembering it. This was definitely a shock for my whole family. The next day, not just us, but all of my aunts, uncles and cousins living nearby decided to take the day and just be together. We went to the park and just hung out the whole day, because we had been awakened to the reality that life is just too short to forget about the small things. We got ice cream, we rode the train and got on the paddle boats and just enjoyed being together, because we knew that now. I have never looked at my family the same way ever again. Although I do forget sometimes and yell at my brother, or get angry at my sister sometimes, I always try and just cherish the short time I have here on earth with them. I blow bubbles for my baby cousin, I read a bedtime story and snuggle with my little sister, my brother and I blast our favorite music on my mp3 player (low-tech, I know : P), I paint with my older sister, say I love you to everyone before bed, and always give hugs because I remember that fact. Life is to short to not take the time for the small things.



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