3 Months...

It's barely one quarter of a year. Only one trimester of a pregnancy. Less than a football season. 

It's a blink of an eye, in terms of a lifetime. 

Sometimes, though, it can be an eternity. Three months without hearing his contagious laughter. Three months without seeing his eyes light up at the sight of his grandkids. Three months of not enjoying his presence. It feels like an eternity because it's final. Death always is. 

While saying LO's bedtime prayers, we remind her of Abuelo - her Guardian Angel. She often says that "Abuelo is up in the sky." Yet tonight she expanded on this, saying, "Abuelo is a butterfly and he can fly down into my room." P and I stared at one another. Where did she get this from? This is not part of the usual script we rehearse in an attempt to explain death to our two-year-old. 

But LO is absolutely right. Abuelo is free and majestic and lovely - just like a butterfly. 

We do not know who may flutter away next. That is the fragility and mystery of life. So tonight, in this moment, love entirely with your whole being. Hug your kids. Kiss your wife. Call your mom. Pet your cat. Smile at that stranger. 

Let us not live in fear of what tomorrow may bring, knowing we have loved fully today. 

Thank you, Abuelo Gerardo, for loving very fully.