The jolt comes to us in different ways. I am sorry about your friend with cancer and hope the rest of their time is purposeful and relatively pain-free.

I was reading the other day that if we are past 35 years, we are already middle-aged. I had plans for my 50th, but this year has shown me not to wait around for something and live in the present. I will be taking that trip sooner than I turn 50.