Number 81

Take nothing for granted. Life is fragile.

Sunday is my day to watch football. Even during this project, I make sure to set up early at Starbucks and watch the Arizona Cardinals play on my laptop. This has been the source of a lot of frustration, because I tend to take sports too seriously. Watching the New York Jets dominate the Cardinals to take a 34-0 halftime lead put me in a bad mood.

But at least I have my fantasy football team. I got into fantasy football a few years ago as a way to enjoy watching football when the Cardinals aren't very good, which is always. Despite the Cardinals being down three touchdowns with less than a minute to go, my favorite Cardinal, Anquan Boldin, had played well and helped my fantasy team to a monumental lead over my best friend and arch rival.

So, as is fantasy sports etiquette, I called to brag about my big lead. Only my bragging was stopped short as my friend and I simultaneously witnessed a horrifying scene that made football seem completely unimportant. Boldin, while going for a late touchdown grab, was hit by a helmet to helmet blow and was lying motionless on the field.

I have since read updates from the Cardinal's head coach that Boldin was talking afterwards and can move all extremities, but it remains a jarring reminder of just how little we can take for granted in life.

All it takes is one moment and suddenly everything can change.

Hopefully, nothing has changed for Anquan Boldin.