In the blink of an eye, everything can change. People from my past, whom I hadn't honestly thought about in a long time, *poof* they're gone. This person takes me back to the 1980's when I moved back to Vermont and started my life over.
In small town America, employment options are sometimes few and far between. One of the bigger employers of that time for that area was called The Book Press. My (#2) husband worked there as a journeyman. They printed and prepared books for sale. All kinds of books. The machines were massive! It was amazing to watch these HUGE rolls of paper travel up, down, and all-around this machine and at the end become big sheets of paper, printed on the front and back, ready to go on to the next machine for binding and becoming a book.
Mark Calabrese was also a journeyman and frequently worked on the press right next to (#2). We all became friends and when (sadly) in 1989, my marriage to (#2) fell apart, Mark and his wife purchased our house, which allowed us to go our separate ways.
I'd hear from Mark or his wife off and on in the beginning. At first, they were just checking in on me, which was really nice. Then there were major issues with the house that I had no prior idea about. And our conversations became fewer and farther between.
Today, I learned that Mark Calabrese has passed away. He had throat cancer and had been in declining health ever since.
Throat cancer. A rough cancer. My Dad passed from complications due to it in 2002. His youngest brother had it twice. He wasn't so lucky the second time.
So, in what seemed like the blink of an eye, life changed. The people we knew are gone and it's only just a matter of another blink before you join them.
🎵Love the ones you're with.🎵
Life is short, fleeting - all in the blink of an eye. Make the best of today. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not promised.
