(a fun and happy post….)

these aren’t things we think about every day, though i think its safe to say that just about every one has had to deal with either the death of someone close to them, or a serious illness.

for my part, i’ve been witness to the slow decline and ultimate demise of three of my four grandparents (the forth died when i was very young). needless to say, it’s not fun. a friend of mine has been battling serious illness for some time and i received news today that they’ve taken a turn for the worst. while i sort of knew it was comming (‘it was only a matter of time’) i can’t help but be shocked. floored. saddened.

in light of this news, i feel the need to reflect a bit…. most recently (a couple of years ago) my grandfather (my father’s father) passed. after my grandmother died, he was still active, though depression set in and i think some will left him to continue. it was just about a year later than he died. cancer. when he took a turn for the worse, i traveled to arizona to visit him in the hospise center. even though i knew the situation, i wasn’t prepared to watch him die. i wasn’t prepared for the phone call, urging me to rush over because the end was near. even in light of the situation, the thought of death was somehow pushed out of my brain.

in the last days, he was asleep except for brief moments; the pain medication made sure of that. thankfully, i was able to spend some time with him at the end. and was able to say goodbye.

we all know death is inevitable. it’s the only true certainty in life. and yet, we’re always seemingly caught unprepared when death does come to someone close to us. its never easy….

honestly, i’m not sure where i’m going with this. my brain is a bit frozen and i just sit here, shaking my head… shaking my head. my thoughts and prayers (if i really thought they’d do any good) are with my friend and his family.