This morning......

This morning bright and early at 6 am I was doing laundry, as usually. I kept hearing what I thought was a child crying, then sobbing. I popped my head out a few times but didn't hear anything. I continued my to check for stains on Zoe's clothes (they are always full of stains).

Again I heard it and checked and didn't hear anything. I carried on back and forth from my apt to the laundry room. If you've been to my place you know it is just 10 steps away from my door on the first floor next to the pool. Then after putting the clothes into the dryer I started to walk back and heard it again...........

Oh no, It was my neighbor who's bathroom faces the courtyard ( unfortunate design ).
I know the yahrzeit is coming up or perhaps today.
He is pretty old and lives alone, although his family lives in the neighborhood and is over often and around him every Shabbath. He was sobbing a sad and mournful sob. It sounded very very sad and lonely. This is just my impression and me being a sensitive person, had a hard time listening. I suddenly imagined waking up each day feeling alone, I imagined him preparing his house for Shabbath with no wife to light the candles and no wife to make kiddush for any more.....so sad for him.

I offer these words to all of the people I care about in my life and the people yet to come into my life.

May we never ever ever experience such pain of loss in our life. May we love and appreciate each moment we have with our loved ones and know that the people in our lives are gifts from G-d. May we have the strength to let go of anger and not hold grudges that would keep us from loving our family and good friends and enjoying their company. May we create more and more wonderful memories for our children and cement the knowledge of how much they are loved and what gifts they are to us.
May we truly know that everything is in the hands of Hashem and we can trust in him. May all of you have a peaceful and loving and joyous Shabbath and weekend and take a moment to think about the people in our lives and how lucky we are to have them for as long as we can.