Life Threw Her A Curve

I did not ask our cashier's age of course…as etiquette forbids. I imagine she was in her 80's because she kept addressing us as ‘kids'. She was effusive, kind and talkative as she undertook her cashier's task She mentioned she was from Oregon… "What brought you to Florida? " I asked. She smiled though her eyes seemed sad, then sighed, I'm sure she was working up the nerve… "My husband and I were visiting here, " she said, "when life threw me a curve." Her sadness drifted onto us…we found it hard to orient… We were not sure what to say or do…for we knew what her words meant. "Now I'm on my own." she said, "It's not the way it was supposed to be… so I moved here to be closer to my daughter and help with her family. "Life goes on! " she said forcing a smile as she took a bag off of the shelf… but I wondered…was she still talking to us…or trying to convince herself? We talked with her a while…perhaps we made her load a little lighter and I noticed as we left the store…we held each other's hand a little tighter. For, once again we were reminded of how quickly life can pass and why…while we're still on this planet… we need to make each moment last. So hold the hand of someone you love a little tighter today… show them you love them with respect and passion and verve… because you never know when tomorrow comes… If life will be throwing you a curve.