"Relish the moment" is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118:24: "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." It isn't the burdens of today that drive men mad. Rather, it is regret over yesterday or fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who would rob us of today.
“So, stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot oftener, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more and cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. The station will come soon enough.”
Silence followed the reading. Garcia closed his eyes, orientated his face towards the sun, and took a moment to absorb its warmth, breathing in through his nose, and exhaling through his mouth. He turned back to the audience and came around the podium, throwing off the props of a professional speaker to speak to the audience as a simple human being to another fellow human being, or sentient to sentient. He folded the paper he had read from and handed it to an adolescent in the front row.
“Admiral McCoy gave me that when I first entered Star Fleet Academy. I understood the message, philosophically, but I must admit, I didn’t really understand it, emotionally, not until this moment. Now. Now that all the opportunities to get to know him better, in person, are forever lost to me. Out of all the Universe, out of all the galaxies, out of all the stars and planets and moons there is, there was, only one McCoy. To echo the others who have spoken today, up here, and in private conversations all across the Federation, Doctor, Admiral, Husband, Friend… Father… You will be missed.”
Garcia paused for a long moment, brooding up at the crisp blue sky. “That’s all I intend to say,” he said. He concluded the proceedings and walked away.
kjº
Captain Enedelia Munoz edged a little closer to Tammas Garcia, waiting for an opportune time to rush in and speak with him. While she waited, she watched the high profile individuals that came to offer their praise and or condolences, while she sipped her mimosa. She took another cheese filled celery from a passing tray and decided now was as good a time as any to make her move. As she maneuvered herself in, two others swooped in towards the same prey. She recognized them both immediately as Captain Jean Luc Picard and his ship’s counselor, Deana Troi. She knew them by reputation only, but was no less honored to meet them.
“How are you holding up?” Deanna Troi asked Tammas.
“Fine,” Tammas said.
“Captain Munoz?” Captain Picard asked.
“Captain Picard,” Captain Munoz said, putting the celery stick in her mouth so that she could shake
Captain Picard was amused and quickly introduced Deanna Troi and Cadet Tammas Garcia to her so that she could shake hands with his two companions while her hand was free. She did so, and then removed the celery stick, with a bite missing. She chewed it, covering her mouth, and swallowed.
“Sorry,” Captain Munoz said. “It’s really a pleasure meeting you, Captain.”
“Pleasure’s all mine,” Captain Picard said. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“And I’ve heard a lot about you,” Captain Munoz said. Who hadn’t heard of the man who was once