Loss can lead to an up-and-down battle with our emotions.

The painful feelings can be tied to situations as varied as the death of a parent, loss of a job, divorce, end of a friendship, or even a move to another state.

But one of the beautiful things about loss is that it reminds us of the solid relationships we have and the communities we share.

The following story ran during the December 24, 2012 10p.m. newscast on KVOA News 4 Tucson, the NBC television affiliate.

It is an example of how people can come together in a singular community like scuba diving to remember each other.

One of the reasons I became a certified open water scuba diver more than two years ago is because of the general friendliness and spirit of the divers I met. The energy and love most of them share about the activity and about each other is palpable immediately.

Yes, there are dramas and toils and troubles that can plague the community. Despite our fish-like ways, we are but human and this can mean we don’t all get along and we have our disagreements.

But you never leave a diver behind. That’s why, many times on the boat, the staff members call out the names of those onboard during roll calls. Answer for yourself and yourself only. That way we all know who’s present and who’s missing.

And you always have a dive buddy. That’s a person who makes sure your air hoses aren’t tangled, finds the octopus hiding in the rocks, helps pull you out of the current, and sometimes retrieves the fin that somehow slipped from your foot.

My best friend and favorite dive buddy Randy reminded me recently that I could walk into either one of the main dive shops in our city and see someone I know and be welcomed.

My wish for you is to remember you have a community, you have a buddy, and you will never be left behind.