Musing

Day 4- 09/08/2016

Today is the birthday of my grandfather who passed away 3 years ago, and, as part of the culture of the country in which I live, we visited the crypt where his urn is placed. In the 5 minutes that I had been there, my mother noticed that one of the plaques had the name of a boy who had only lived 2 years. My sister noticed another one as well except the person had only lived a day. Surrounded by the ashes and the remains of the dead, I realized that you don't know how long you'll live. You could live a day or a decade or a century. I realized that you can't estimate how long you can live, and now I feel grateful that I have lived this long; I am grateful that I woke up this morning. I am grateful because I was able to see the sun and the cars on the street unlike the child who didn't even live long enough to open his eyes; unlike the child who didn't live long enough to see the colors of the world. I also got to see other people from different places. I got to meet people and make friends. I got to sit at a desk in school and listen to teachers lecture unlike the child who had only lived until he turned 2. Most of all, I am grateful that I got to make my own little mark on this world.