Power. Sheer, immense power. That was my first impression of Niagara Falls.
Truth be told, when my mom and I were planning our trip to Vermont and Mom mentioned stopping at Niagara Falls, I really wasn't that enthused about stopping at one of the biggest tourist attractions in the US. I didn't see what the big deal was. But Mom, who had been there in her teens, wanted to go, so we went.
From the moment we came upon Horseshoe Falls, I understood. It's difficult to describe in words unless you've been there. It was spectacular.
But the immensity of the Falls pales in comparison to what that trip meant. It was the last major trip my mom and I would ever take together. Just over two years later, she would be gone, succumbing to acute myeloid leukemia on July 10, 2020, exactly one month before her 71st birthday.
The last four years have been pretty dark for me. Thankfully I've turned a corner and am healing. The lessons these years have taught me have been invaluable. But here's the biggest one:
Life is short, no matter how many years are in yours.
Since life is short, this is what I suggest:
- Tell them you love them
- Take the pictures
- Throw the party
- Chase a dream or two or three
- Try something you've always wanted to try (it doesn't matter if you're good at it or not)
- Use your voice (don't be afraid that nobody's listening. Someone will hear you.)
And most importantly:
Take the trip. Make the stop that you're not that enthused about. Often those stops, planned or unplanned, become your most treasured memories.
The last picture in this post is my Mom, Eldonna, in front of Horseshoe Falls. You see that smile on her face? That's why we stopped at Niagara Falls.
Life is short. Embrace it.
These pictures and videos were taken on June 10, 2018, at Niagara Falls State Park, Niagara Falls, NY.
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