Maxine was one of my co-workers, middle-aged, nearing her golden years, when she unexpectedly passed away. I was young and unprepared for her passing. It was a long time ago, but I think she had a heart ailment at the time. She didn’t talk about it much.

The only people I had known who had passed away up until that time were people much older, mostly family members, who had lived a long and prosperous life. Knowing Maxine, and working with her everyday, it was shocking to realize that she was gone so soon.

In an age where longevity is expected, coveted, and even celebrated – dying before old-age is almost unimaginable. Despite a volume of information addressing health issues, it is still shocking to realize.

The ancient Greeks said that we tend to regard the deaths of young persons with sharp regret, while seeing the deaths of older individuals as sad, but relatively acceptable, events.

I was sad and had regrets about Maxine’s passing. She should have seen many more sunrises and sunsets before her days were done. Alas, there was nothing any of us could have done about it.

The ancient Greeks perceived the "aging process" from youth to maturity as adding to the individual’s capacity to appreciate life, and so heightening one’s capacity to experience loss and tragedy.

Yet, we are left to wonder what our own "odds of survival" really are? Attempting to defy the odds is not in our best interest, but instead functions as a means for us to evade hard choices and flirt with disaster.

We don’t want to think about our own demise, or perhaps because we can’t imagine it at all, we sometimes act as though we are invincible. We don’t pay enough attention to health warnings, and may not go to see the doctor as often as we should.

Maxine was hard-working, taking time each day to converse with everyone. She wanted to know how everyone was doing and if she could help.

She was a caregiver, even to those she hardly knew. Now, only those remaining who remember Maxine can show how much we cared for her.

The lessons we learn are to let those we care about know more often how important they are in our life, and how much we value and treasure them.

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