stunned

Andrew,

I am reminded of a visit I was to make to a friend who was helping me with a project to write a local history in my family's home county in a neighboring state.

I arrived only to find the EMTs. She had gone to a college recognition dinner the night before, and come home early to rest. Her housekeeper (she was 90+) found her that morning dead in her bed, hands folded on her chest, with her cat sitting watch at the side of the bed.

I lost the last connection with my Dad's early history (her husband was my Dad's CO before WWII).

But the good news was that I met her, and we had a year of time in which to get a few Saturdays to talk about things that were important to both of us.

We get the good days we are intended to have. Every day is a bonus. The rest are not important.

You are still here. There is a reason.

There is no "easy" on our path.

Sorry for your losses Andrew. That's a lot in a short time. Like Steve said, best to take some time for you.
Mike

My daughter complains about having to go to so many weddings (I think 5 are scheduled this year).

She has no clue that when you get older you can replace weddings with funerals.

I prefer weddings

Mel

Andrew -- a buddy of mine recently had a heart attack at work and didn't breathe for 25 minutes. he was brain dead and they pulled the plug on him a couple of days later. he had no history of heart problems and he was only 50.

I know where you are coming from but life has been showing up so frequently the last few years I swear I'm almost numb to it. what I do now is I'm there for friends who are ill or survivors of friends who have died, which is pretty much new behavior for me beginning with my own trip into the bucket. take care.

ed

Anderw, so sorry for your loss. Death is a life progression. That being said does not make it easier for us to understand. One of the reasons that I try to make each GFMPH gathering is they are fun and we are allowed to live our life above this C. and we get the shake a hand and hug a dear friend that we only get to see a couple of times a year.

I hope the prayer service helped bring you some peace.

Cajun Jeff

100 years old. What a jewel she must have been to all those whose lives she touched. May her spirit shine through all who will miss her.

I am sorry to hear of your young friend. May his loving memory bring warmth and comfort to all those who will miss him.

God Bless,
Swim

"Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
It seems to me most strange that men should fear,
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come."

--Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Act II, Scene 2, lines 34-37.

Maybe so, but its arrival is still rather unsettling when it does come.

BTW, Andrew, the above art from your workshop is superb, as usual.

I was talking to a friend at church last night and I asked, "Why do good things happen to bad people?"

Laughter was good but of course I meant to ask, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" but we ended up talking more about the first question.

Perhaps I think a bit different than most. At first I was stunned but now have gotten past that and now seem to be spending a lot of my time helping other church members understand what has happened.

It is all about the cycle of life, death comes to us all but when it's sudden and the person is young, it's harder to understand. I guess it's the thought of things left undone that bothers me the most.

Peace,
Andrew