Snapshots From The Past

By Tammy Derouin

There’s a saying, you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.  Everyone knows this to be true because everyone experiences loss and the emotions which follow.  We take things for granted; everything from our surroundings, the people in our lives, to our freedoms. 

Our forefathers broke free from the chains of enslavement by establishing a Republic. They acknowledged our God given rights in a document of positive liberties, the U.S. Constitution.  We would be guided by the rule of law rather than the rule of man.

When events take place which cause you to lose your material possessions, you eventually recover. You miss what was lost and rely on your memory to give you solace.  Most possessions can be replaced.  They may be similar but they will never be the same.

When events take place causing a more permanent loss, such as a death, it's much harder and a deeper personal struggle.  Over time you come to terms with the loss.  Memories serve as snapshots from the past.  They remind you of what you had and give you comfort.  As you move on, others begin to fulfill the roles of those who were lost but it will never be the same.

When disaster strikes and you realize you missed several warning signs, you not only deal with loss but guilt and regret come into play....