45 year old Actress and daughter of legendary actress Vaness Redgrave, and sister to Joely Richardson (of Nip/Tuck fame) dies from head trauma on a family skiing trip.

Her husband and family released this statement:

“Liam Neeson, his sons, and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha. They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time.”

Once again we are reminded that death knows no boundaries, it claims its victims randomly. Whether new borns, children, teens,  young people in the prime of their lives; or middle-aged mothers at the top of their profession.  Death takes no thought for those left behind who mourn and must go on without their loved ones.

Yet,  death and dying are a very natural part of living.  When we see someone taken in such a senseless, and sudden manner it reminds us of how brief our time here is.  After 9-11 I know that I saw it in my own family as well as with my friends–people were a bit kinder, a bit more purposeful, and loving with their relatives.

But how soon we forget. . .And we do forget. 

As I am on a path to living love as an everyday way of life, I am more mindful than ever about the fact that no day is promised to me or the ones I love.  Friends, if you do not know or grasp the fact that your life can change on a dime, in an instant for better or for worse–that one moment we have  the very breath of life in us and the next–the life is gone from us, then you had better get a grip.

In so understanding this truth, I try to do my best to be a light to others and in the lives of others daily.  I am truly learning to live in the “moment” as they say–”not sweat the small stuff”.  I am mellowing and it tickles me to be honest.  I have written about some of the tragedies and adversities in my own life  that forced me to consider the reailty of death: losing my fiance, my true soul-mate when I was only 19 years of age to Cancer. I think my soul dimmed for a very long time–the light went out–part of me died too.  There is no love, like first love.  At ages 36-38 I was diagnosed with an auto-immune illness that forever changed my life.  I am not supposed to be here–looking as I do, doing all I do, with the energy and spark of several energizer bunnies. Yet, here I am.

Like all of you, I have prayed for friends riddled with Cancer, only to watch them die.  Young women, with husbands and young families left behind.  Like all of you I’ve watched people filled with bitterness, coldness and anger live to be old–seemingly with all of life’s blessings around them.  Go figure.

Life is not fair: Life is frail.  Thus, we should handle it like fine china, like the delicate flower that it truly is.  Life is as scripture says, “a vapor”. The Neeson/Richardson family is dealing with that universal truth tonight.  My heart and my thoughts go out to the Richardson sons (both young boys) and to her loving husband of 13 years actor Liam Neeson.  But most of all my heart breaks for her mother, Vaness Redgrave as it is not natural for a parent to bury a child.  Her grief will be the most difficult of all.

If I Have Not Love, I am Nothing,

Sophia