It was 1981.  I was completing my first year as an undergraduate student at Texas Tech.  When you are 19 years old, you are invincible in your own eyes.  And so are your friends.  It is a fallacy.  At 19, I continued to blow through life living in such deception.  I should have known better.  The guy who had the reserved parking spot on campus next to mine took his own life when we were in high school.  Somehow, that harsh reality failed to shake me out of an engrained state of invincibility.

It was 1981.  A close friend from school came by the place of business where I was employed to say goodbye.  I barely remember that encounter.  I was committed to staying in school there in Lubbock and my friend was about to enter military service.  I am sure we joked around.  We probably reminisced about antics we pulled in school.  I seriously doubt we hugged goodbye.  I am guessing we said something like: “I will see you around.”

It was 1981.  And remember, we were invincible.  I had no idea that our goodbye that afternoon would be the final one.  We never saw each other again.  I finished school, married, and raised a family.   I just learned that my friend passed away over 10 years ago.  I have more than a few regrets.

It was 1981. Nearly 40 years has passed.  My understanding of life itself has been transformed over the years.  The invincible mindset was eradicated a long time ago. I now know that life is precious and ever so fragile.

It is almost 2021. Where do you find yourself today?  Are you rushed?  Are you busy with work and family obligations?  Slow down.  People are important.  Those friendships that go back for decades are priceless.  Don’t linger in the deception of invincibility. Capture the moment. You never know when a goodbye is going to be the final one.