This is not one of those we-are-all-getting-older discussions, because of course we are. Everybody is. It happens. And this is also not meant to elicit any kind of sympathetic response.

But in the last week, two people who are basically my age have died. One was a friend since the third grade. Another was a college fraternity brother. As grown ups, I’d see one every so often; the other I saw rarely.

Being of a certain age, it will come as no great surprise that my main contact with both was on Facebook. One I knew was ill; the other I had no idea.

But what has stayed with me for the last few days was how full of life both of them were. They defined the term. These are two guys who I NEVER saw without a smile on their face. When I knew them as a teenager, they were that way and they never stopped. What I truly admired about both is that their youthful exuberance never left them. They were the same as they were 40 years ago.

And now they are gone.

I spent a lot of time as a parent teaching my children about life lessons. This last week has reminded me that you are never too old to learn about life lessons, even in death. Namely, to live life as if every day were a holiday. Our time is short and not to be wasted.

I know there are countless country songs written about this,  but I guarantee you that both of my friends battled to the end and had zero regrets about their time on Earth. They left a lot of great memories for a lot of family and friends. But in death, they also left me with a life lesson.

Every day is a gift. Don’t forget to unwrap it.