The parade of life
Losing the ones we love is hard. In recent years, I’ve lost several people who made a lasting imprint on my heart.
A friend once told me that life is like a band marching in a parade. People pass in and out of our band as our life goes on. Some are with us for the entirety, beginning to end, playing the critical bass lines and drum cadence of our lives. These people, generally family and lifelong friends, see our highs and lows, but maintain the rhythm of love and acknowledgment. They march in step with us through all the stanzas of the music.
There are others though that have shorter parts and once their parts are played they move on. These are the soloists who, for just a short time, play the most beautiful melodies. They often catch us off guard by their talent and attention and love. They teach us things and make us see and hear things that we otherwise would miss. They are the staccato — the short, crisp, energetic notes — amid a page of mellow, predictable, flowing legato.
Oftentimes, these small parts are the most influential in our lives. They may prop us up at a time when we need someone to believe in us. They may teach us things about ourselves. They may just listen and support and appreciate our dreams.
Life changes and the band plays on. But remembering the players long after their parts have ended is how the music stays with us.
In memory of my friend Kimberly Fenili (Feb. 28, 1957 – Feb. 18, 2026).