Today was Remembrance Day (which means something to me), and while I was thinking about that last night, I heard the news that Leonard Cohen had passed away. That was all very sad (and possibly profound), but it wasn’t till I woke up this morning, checked Facebook, and found out that Bob Goyetche had passed away last night, that a sense of loss and perspective really started to seep in.
Now, I didn’t know Bob all that well. I’ve probably been in a room with him no more than half a dozen times over the years, and I’m not even sure when I first met him. I do, however, remember the last time we spoke (which was about 2 bottles of wine into a dinner party), and how he made me laughed and just generally feel good about the things going on in the world and in my life at the time.
Of course, he meant a lot more to a lot of other people, and I know they all have stories about him that are much more profound than any anecdote I could share. So it doesn’t feel all that right to me to be waxing poetic or trying to do his memory justice in any way whatsoever.
But while everyone (and the media) is taking for granted the sacrifice of veterans and Leonard Cohen’s contribution to the arts, Bob’s passing forced me to appreciate how the good times are fleeting and the good people rare. And if you don’t stop every now and then to really take in the moment, and to appreciate everything that’s going on around you, from the adversity to the absurdities, you’ll be left behind and alone, with nothing but your memories and accomplishments to keep you company.