32.

About an hour ago, Ben called to tell me that the husband of one of his coworkers was killed while on police duty this week.

He is the handsome guy in the middle of the above photo.

Ben and I spent a lot of time with him and his sweet wife in Cancun a year ago. It was the first time I had met Roger and Alejandra and I liked them both immediately. They were a young, beautiful newlywed couple who seemed very happy and very much in love. They had smiles on their faces the entire week and were so friendly and warm. We laughed a lot with them in Mexico. We ziplined through the jungle with them, ate wonderful meals in their company, and shared quite a few tequila shots with them that week.

They live in south Florida and I have not seen them since, but the news today still hit me hard. As soon as it sunk in, I just couldn't help crying and am still fighting tears right now. I don't feel entitled to feel so upset by this when I think of Alejandra and how she must be be feeling today while dealing with the worst day she could have ever imagined having. 

I think of Roger and his big smile and how happy the two of them looked just one year ago and feel so very sad. For someone with such a bright future to be killed so unexpectedly in his twenties.......it is hard to deal with.

I kick myself because I complained on facebook this afternoon about having a rough day. I grumbled because my van won't start and I had a drink spilled on me. How stupid of me. This tragic news puts everything in perspective. Life is short and there is no promise of tomorrow.

My heart is just so sad over this news and I wish Ben were home tonight.

Please give your spouse an extra hug this evening.