Last Friday night I got a call out of the blue from a friend and ex-coworker of mine from my days at JP Morgan. I was somewhat surprised, to say the least, to hear from this young man as he never calls me. I readily assumed something out of the norm must have occurred since the call was so random. Quickly, I asked him what was going on. He stated that he had called to tell me that my ex-boss, of several years, had passed away. He wasn't sick, he said, when I asked him. There was nothing wrong with his health at all. He and his wife were on vacation in Mexico, celebrating Valentines/Anniversary or something to that effect. They had been on the beach just hours before. They returned to their room and she went in the bathroom, heard him coughing, she came out and saw him turning blue. She gave him CPR (she's a cardiologist) and was unable to bring him back.
I can still hear my friend saying those words, "Vinod passed away." Those words that kept repeating themselves over and over in my head in the days that followed. They sounded so hollow, so unreal, so devastating. My heart dropped when I heard those words. The finality of it all. My mind raced, screamed, it couldn't be true and my thoughts turned to his wife and the 3 beautiful kids he loved so dearly and left behind. How this sweet and gentle man had given me a job when I needed it most. He was funny. He was caring. He was genuine. I loved to talk to him. He was a cool boss. He took me to lunch on my last day at JP Morgan. I always thought about going back to take him to lunch and repay his kindness. In the last 3 years since I left, I kept planning to go back, to see him once more. To take him to lunch. To thank him for his generosity. Just to talk to him one more time. Unfortunately, time didn't wait for me. It took a good man from his friends, co-workers and most importantly, his children and their mother. Much too soon to die, much to young to die. Time won't wait. Time is cruel. Unforgiving. Unfair.
He told me, "You know you can come back to work whenever you want. I'll hire you back." I never got the chance. I decided to become a stay at home mom and homeschool my kids. Time won't wait. I had to do what I had to do because time won't wait. Not for you, not for me, not for anyone. Yes, time is cruel. I never got a chance to say goodbye.
I understand now that it was his time to go. Regardless of his good health. Time and death do not care that he was loved, that he had a family that needed him still. He died in a foreign land. Away from his family. Away from the people that loved him. Even his wife, the cardiologist, could not save him. His time on Earth had come to an end. Right there, in a cold hotel room, in a country not his own. Just like that, in a blink of an eye, he was no more.
Don't ever let a day go by without telling your loved ones how much they mean to you. Don't ever let an opportunity go by and you not take full advantage of it. In the real world, time won't wait.
Rest in Peace, Vinod. You will be greatly missed.
I can still hear my friend saying those words, "Vinod passed away." Those words that kept repeating themselves over and over in my head in the days that followed. They sounded so hollow, so unreal, so devastating. My heart dropped when I heard those words. The finality of it all. My mind raced, screamed, it couldn't be true and my thoughts turned to his wife and the 3 beautiful kids he loved so dearly and left behind. How this sweet and gentle man had given me a job when I needed it most. He was funny. He was caring. He was genuine. I loved to talk to him. He was a cool boss. He took me to lunch on my last day at JP Morgan. I always thought about going back to take him to lunch and repay his kindness. In the last 3 years since I left, I kept planning to go back, to see him once more. To take him to lunch. To thank him for his generosity. Just to talk to him one more time. Unfortunately, time didn't wait for me. It took a good man from his friends, co-workers and most importantly, his children and their mother. Much too soon to die, much to young to die. Time won't wait. Time is cruel. Unforgiving. Unfair.
He told me, "You know you can come back to work whenever you want. I'll hire you back." I never got the chance. I decided to become a stay at home mom and homeschool my kids. Time won't wait. I had to do what I had to do because time won't wait. Not for you, not for me, not for anyone. Yes, time is cruel. I never got a chance to say goodbye.
I understand now that it was his time to go. Regardless of his good health. Time and death do not care that he was loved, that he had a family that needed him still. He died in a foreign land. Away from his family. Away from the people that loved him. Even his wife, the cardiologist, could not save him. His time on Earth had come to an end. Right there, in a cold hotel room, in a country not his own. Just like that, in a blink of an eye, he was no more.
Don't ever let a day go by without telling your loved ones how much they mean to you. Don't ever let an opportunity go by and you not take full advantage of it. In the real world, time won't wait.
Rest in Peace, Vinod. You will be greatly missed.
7 comments:
Hi... I so agree with you... and hope that every morning when I wake up.. I forget everything else.. and remember to tell the people who matter.. how much I love them..
I get frustrated really easily.. and my hubby always says... how does all these things really matter... and its so true.. Sometimes.. what matters most takes the back seat!
goes to show even in death a life of learning adds quality to our lives... for each time you take the time now not to miss out on those moments to love or express love to one another is a moment saved in memory... the best thing to be remembered when you pass is that you were good to others... sounds like your former boss touched lives with a positive kind heart... his purpose in life. :)
that was beautiful.. life has a plan for everyone
that was beautiful. everyone has their moment to leave
nice blog
is he an indian? do give a reply on my post. i am curious. RIp for him :|
PrincessDipti,
Yes, Vinod was Indian. It was a rough few days for me after his funeral but I'm feeling better about it.
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