Every fall I marvel at the variety of colors in the leaves as they fall from the trees.  Today as I was admiring them I started thinking of Hospice patients that have died during the past year.  Some died much earlier than we expected them, and others had many more days of life than we expected them to have.  Even with a terminal diagnosis, each client in unique, with their own story, their own expectations, and a set of people who love them and who hate to be forced to say “good-bye” to them.  Leaves represent the end of the life cycle just as buds in the Spring represent the beginning of the life cycle.  What are consistent from the beginning of life to the end of life are the impressions we make on people.  Each of us has the ability to make the lives of others better.  The question is, will we take advantage of those opportunities or let them be the work of others?  I am thankful for all the ways our Hospice patients made life special for the people in their circles of relationships.