There’s a Mark Harris song that I find really inspirational as it shuffles onto my ipod and takes my mind off whatever miles/terrain I’m running. It’s called “The Line between the Two” and it pretty much advocates that because we’ve only got one life to live, it’s up to us to make of it what we will…and be a good person while we’re at it. (There’s a”beginning and an ending,” but “the moment in the middle is how we will be known.”)

I write this not to be maudlin, but as a tribute to some friends who came to their “endings” recently, yet left the world a better place during their times here. I was at a memorial this afternoon for Nancy Holden, the publisher and editor of Homestyles Magazine. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful setting on Cannery Row and the place was packed with not only her family and friends, but also business associates like me. And the thing that sticks in my mind is that during a video montage of her life and times there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Now, that would be expected from friends and families, but it’s a real tribute to her character that she so positively effected the people who knew her only professionally. She was just a good person, as they say.

When Jerry Smith passed away in November, his memorial at Carmel Mission Basilica was packed to the gills…I only made it as far as the courtyard in front of the church. Again, his loss was mourned by more than just his family and friends. He was well-known in our area as a County Supervisor and former Mayor of Seaside, but I knew him from being a fellow “model” at several fundraising fashion shows. And dang it if the guy didn’t always show up in his own street clothes already looking better than I did even with the fancy duds they’d drape on me to parade in front of the masses. A gentleman through and through, nice as he could be and with a smile that could win over even the staunchest of political opponents.

And Carol Seres. A dear, dear friend to so many people here. Who never forgot a birthday, always handmade her hundreds of Christmas cards and threw an annual Holiday party for all the employees she’d worked with when she managed I. Magnins…even though I. Magnins had been closed for YEARS. I miss her emails with the “Coffee?” subject line and the “Hey T.” salutation.

When I think of these people, it really does impress upon me the importance each and every one of us brings to this life, provided we try our best to be good people who look out for more than just ourselves.

As the song says: