Times are always changing, but sometimes more than at other times. Whether you celebrate or shake your head at changes nationally and globally in politics, social and other media, and all else we can observe or be a part of, or both, one constant as we go through life is the connections we make. Some, that continue til the end; others, we hold in our memories as part of what made that time in our life good.

Monday, I ran into an old friend from our shared past as tenpin bowlers. For me, that was half a lifetime ago; for him, more like a third.

We both stopped in our tracks, exchanged our surprised hellos and hugged, more than once in what turned out to be a fairly lengthy conversation. Catching up, for sure, but as he so wisely pointed out, this chance meeting was something to be thankful for, since, as he said, life, in the end, is entirely about those you cared about, who are worth remembering.

Around that same time Monday, our newspapers received Peggy Averill's obituary. Besides her deep ties to Alna and Westport Island, she was known by all who go into Ames Supply in Wiscasset. That's how I knew her.

She is someone who is not only well-known, but makes you feel known.

That takes heart. Someone like that doesn't really leave the community after their passing. Although anyone who is suddenly gone from us feels to us like they should still be here, because they should, we know, in some ways, maybe a lot of ways, it will feel as though they're still here, just around the corner or that you'll see soon. And I call that a good feeling, not something to squelch in ourselves.

Whether you knew someone half a lifetime ago, or whenever, just be glad you did.