I have often thought the course of our lives is determined by loss. I know that this recognition of pain and acknowledgement of the impact of grief is a reflection of my own life experiences, far too much loss and far too young. I do believe that we have a choice as to how we react to this kind of pain, that we can become bitter or we can, with deliberation and effort, strive to become better.

Perhaps it is that context, the understanding of loss that lives in the very core of my being, that I feel so blessed by the gifts that life has bestowed, the gifts of family.

We spent the weekend in full grandparent mode, we had two from one family for Friday through Sunday morning and a younger one, from another set of parents, from Sunday morning through dinner. With the older ones, we went to the theatre, shopped, watched movies and had very adult conversations about middle school and sports and friends and interests. And with the little one, I was privileged to be the sidekick to his Spider-Man, hunting for “bad guys” who might be “hiding in their lairs!” We did bubbles outside, most of his ending up (deliberately!) in my hair and we splashed in the pool and played with pool noodles.

Of the million things I have to do every weekend, maybe I accomplished a few of those tasks. But the joy, the gift, the treasure of shared laughter and warm hugs more than makes up for any and all of it.

I have learned the hard way that life can change in the space between one heartbeat and the next. I have learned that the word fragile applies to everyone and everything. So I treasure these moments, I tuck them deep into my memory, not just the experience but the feeling. None of us is here forever. None of us knows what lies ahead. But we all have those moments of love to carry us through, love that is the key to filling our full hearts.