A Norvell Note
June 1, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 20
Cherish Every Moment
I knew the news was not going to be good when I went in for the diagnosis. There were signs of decline, but I hoped it was just my imagination. It was not my imagination.
I sat with the Specialist as he looked at the screen. He looked up, and the conversation went like this.
Specialist: “I’m afraid it’s not good news. There is nothing we can do.”
Tom: “Oh, it is? I was afraid of that. Is there anything we can do?”
Specialist: “No. I’m sorry.”
Tom: “How much time do we have?”
Specialist: “Hmm. It’s impossible to know for sure.”
Tom: “What is your best guess?”
Specialist: “Hmm. Maybe four months. Maybe less.”
Tom: “How much less?
Specialist: “Well, the best we can hope for is four months. It could be four weeks, or two weeks, or a week. It could be a couple of hours.”
Tom: “So, we’re at the end, right?”
Specialist: “Correct. There’s nothing more we can do. Your Apple Watch is dying.”
I appreciate that the Apple specialist was kind and compassionate as he explained the problem and the eventual outcome. But as he gently explained that I would need to replace my Apple watch, I was laughing on the inside because the conversation sounded like we were discussing a human being, not a piece of technology.
As I processed the finality of the Specialist’s words, I reflected on the fleeting nature of technology and the impermanence of the devices that accompany us through life. The end of my Apple Watch was a reminder that while gadgets may fade, our memories and experiences endure. I resolve to try to cherish every moment, no matter how brief, and to live fully in the present.
A Norvell Note © Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved