By now, some of you have already heard about the Texas Rangers fan who died Thursday night. He fell over a railing while trying to catch a ball, probably for his son, and died at the hospital shortly thereafter. He was at the game with his son. Still conscious for a time afterward, he asked the people helping him to look after the boy since he was still in the stands by himself.

This sad story got me thinking. The same thing could happen to me. As a husband and father, I try to be more careful these days than I might have been as an invincible youth. But weird stuff happens, like falling over a railing trying to catch a ball at a baseball game. What would happen to my family? I’ve made arrangements so they’ll be fine financially, but what about all the other facets of life? Will Jenny feel free to remarry if she meets someone special? Who will take Brenden to play tennis? Who will teach Jonathan how to charm the ladies? (okay, he already has that one down, but you get the point)

But I don’t want to dwell on unpleasant thoughts like those. Instead, I’d rather treat this as an important reminder to treasure the time I do have with the people I love. Maybe to spend less time screwing around on my phone and more time building soon-destroyed block towers with the boys or talking with Jenny about subjects beyond pottytraining and dentist appointments. More time really living and less time just getting by.