The email from my synagogue read "We mourn the loss of....".
Once again, I had received notification that another member of our community had passed away. This time it was someone I have known for over 50 years. 
Her mom and my mom were besties from the time we joined the JCCP .
She was a number of years older than I was however as the "children of " we became more than just friendly over the years.
I am grateful that our community has this apparatus to notify us when things like this happen.It is too easy to lose touch and lose track of people.
The sad part to me was the later part of the email. It read "long time member of our community".
While that is true, it made me sad.
How many people who read this email knew her?
How many people saw the email?
How many people had no idea of who she was, other than a "long time member"?
I found myself asking "is that all there really is?"
Will I be that person named in an email years from now and will that email be read by how many individuals who will have no clue as to who I was?
Unfortunately, that is in the end,what happens to all of us.
A blurb in the obituary column and then life goes on.
I suppose that is what pushes me in my quest for significance,my desire to make a difference, my need to leave my mark and secure my legacy.
Am I being selfish?
Am I so important?
Does my existence really need validation this way?
Uh....yeah, it does!
And yes, I am!
And I will do all that I can to make sure that when that email with my name on it goes out someday, there is someone who will have a fond memory, a moment of sadness or even better a feeling of gratitude before they hit the delete button.