Goodbye Gail

Our Director of HR had an anneurism two weeks ago. She passed away last Thursday. Yesterday we all went to a service in her memory.

I did not know her that well, but yet her death brought home to me a few facts that only events like this make plain. Gail was a very alive, vibrant person. She was one of those people who are ever active and cannot keep still. If she was waiting to speak with someone, she would do this little dance step instead of standing still. She was funny and loved to laugh. She was only 53. She had battled breast cancer 9 years ago and won! She had a large, very loving family and she really seemed to be torn away from their midst. Well, here are the lessons I learned: you never know when it will be time to go; if you feel something, think something, want something - say it! Time is so short. All of Gail's friends and family knew how much she loved them because she made sure to say it every day, not just on special occasions. Clearly she was much wiser than most of us.

Goodbye Gail. You touched my life very briefly and I am sorry I did not know you better.

Like a leaf on the wind
You were torn from us
Too quickly, oh Lord
Too quickly.