last times

As the time for us to leave Arizona draws closer and closer, I began to notice more intently how I am doing things for the last time. Starting from when we collected eggs from our "egg-man" for the last time, I thought to myself maybe I ought to make a list of the dates of all the last times we do things here: last visit to the library, last trip to the post office, last park day, last purchase at Trader Joe's, last load of laundry. But goodness, I am not having the time (and mind) to keep track of all these! But I do look at the environment around us more closely and think to myself, "This is one of the last times you are going to see this, look! Look! I know you are going to miss them when you no longer get to see them."

I thought of how the small foliage of the flora here sometimes drove me crazy, when I thirst and longed for large green leaves (big enough to wrap you in) and enormous exotic blooms. But I know I am going to miss the beautiful bronze of the ironwood, and the amazing century plants, and the ocotillo plants. And the cactus flowers. And I know you will miss the saguaro cactus. And we will miss the amazing sunsets and so many other things.

So I looked, and bid silent farewell's, and ruminated.

The truth is, we never really know when the last time will be. The recurring lesson in life is that you never know, and therefore it is best to treasure what we have now. Laugh now, live now, love now. Say "thank you" now. Do it now. Life is not a series of postponements, or waiting for the "right moments." There is no perfect moment, except now.