Life has a way of reminding us to be thankful for every day that we are alive and happy. About a month ago, my husband and I were forced to move out of our apartment and find a new place to live. A fire in my bedroom had suddenly been responsible for the loss. Since then we have a new home, and I plan to look at every day as a gift. The message in this is that humans need to be thankful for every peaceful day and make the most of each one. 

When I was a young woman I was fortunate enough to be in the first class at the High School of Performing Arts. I, unfortunately, have seen names of many of my fellow students turn up in the obituary section of newspapers, another reminder of how important it is to enjoy every day we are here on this planet. The experience I was faced with felt like my world had ended, but now, a month later, I am able to see how fortunate I am to still be here to write these words.

It is disturbing to have lost many of the clothes I had become so accustomed to wearing, but my life surely has more value. As I look back on my days at Performing Arts, I remember a rather heavy-set young man from Brooklyn by the name of Dom Deluise who made us laugh back then. He brought his lunch to school in a paper bag that smelled of garlic.

One of my girlfriends was dating a cute guy who turned up on his motorcycle one day. His name was Marlon Brando. She mentioned that he had a dream, and that was to be a movie star. Well, he did, and I watched as he made his dream come true.

My memories of that school have returned, and though many of my fellow students are gone, I have accepted that there are bad times along with the happy ones. Yes, I had some wonderful days in that apartment, but I now recognize how fortunate I am to have survived to remember the past.

My initial response was to look for a way to hide from the past, but as I sit here sharing with my reader, it seems important that I take time to remind them of how being alive is a blessing and that's what really counts. I have much in my memory bank that is worthy of acknowledging, and what better then today for me to write the words I am in the midst of writing.

Sometimes, I wonder if any of my fellow students at Performing Arts are out there still able to share my memories.