More than 20 years on and the sweet sound of a little girls voice echoes as clearly in my mind as the day it was created…..”Uncle Dee Van” (Uncle Steven) she called with a mischievous grin, head tilted a little forward and with the delightful innocence of a child that time steals away all too quickly. The call marked the beginning of a routine I knew well and cherished.

Our time was especially precious as she lived many hours drive away, and so when her mother brought her to visit we spent all our time together. Each day I would take her to the park where we would climb the equipment, role play shop keepers, captaining a boat and anything else she felt like. It was not all ad-hoc though, she had a plan…. she would lure me to the park with promises of play, then when the time was right I would see her look across the road to the little corner store where the lollies were. “Uncle Dee Van, do you want to go for a walk?”. I was fooled every time, first the park, then the walk, then into the shop. Before I knew it I was buying lollies again. She tricked me every time, so cunning, so witty, I didn’t stand a chance.

Recently, during a trip back to the area I grew up, I went for a walk to the park. I stood staring at the empty play equipment, the only movement was the gentle swaying of the trees in the breeze. The corner store had been closed for many years, the equipment aged. There was a complete absence of laughter, of squeals, of playing children. The park stood empty, and suddenly, so did my heart.

Time, once again, had stolen what was so precious and valuable, and I knew all to well, that it would continue to steal from me all that matters, for as long as I draw breath.

That amazing little girl has gone. We will never again play shop, or run around on the grass, or tickle each other. I wont lift her in the air, or help her climb, nor will we eat lollies together. I wont comfort her when she falls and cries, or laugh with her when she makes up silly jokes. I wont again drive her to the park, buckle her seatbelt, or feel her little hand in mine. I’ll never again hear her call me “Uncle Dee Van”, or hear her at my door in the morning trying to contain her excitement of my waking. That beautiful girl that I loved so much, no longer exists.

That beautiful girl has now been replaced by a beautiful young woman.

When I look at her, I still see that little girl some where inside, and I hope that at least some of those memories are still there for her too.

But the woman before me is not that little girl, and I am not that young uncle. We are different people.

It’s not her, it’s not me either.

Two entities, tied only to their past by neural patterns stamped into a self replicating machine. Our connection, the intersection of undoubtedly varying recollections of some past events.

It is a reminder of what is important. A reminder that nothing lasts.

People may say things like “If I ever lost them”, perhaps they should say “If I suddenly lost them” because the truth is you ARE losing them. You are losing them right now!

Appreciate the people in your life. Love them, connect and share with them…  NOW! Because they wont be there tomorrow. Tomorrow they will be ever so slightly different, and before you realise they will be gone forever.