hugging a little longer

Our small town had a tragedy happen yesterday. One of the middle kid's classmates was killed in a car accident yesterday afternoon just a couple of miles from her home.

She turned left in front of a dump truck. She was only 17.  She died instantly.

Although I recognized the girl's name, I didn't know this girl.  My daughters know her and her family lives just two doors down from one of their best friends from soccer. In a town our size, everyone has a connection to this family.

As I held my crying daughter yesterday, all I could think about is how fragile all of this is. We just never know. Everything can change in an instant.  So often we get caught up in our routines and our responsibilities that we forget that.

We forget to hug a little longer. We forget to say I love you. Tragedies like this one remind us to slow down and take more time with those we love.

I know I did last night.