It's a hard time in life, when friends start to have health issues. Last year, a high school friend of mine passed away and it was a shock to me because it was the first person from our group of friends to die, and by medical complications. I think he was 29.

And it's a hard month for me, too. Although they're not at young, I found out about two coworkers of mine having cancer. One of them was like my mom when I worked in the library. I'm not sure I'd even be able to last through the funeral if she died. I've already lost one coworker to cancer, and I cried it up a lot at her service.

You're right, though. We can't really prepare yourself well. I wonder if one day we'll be old and wise and have some great perspective of how it's all part of the natural order of things, and while we miss the people, we can still look back at our memories of them and smile. But for now, it's hard, especially because we're just having these experiences for the first time.

That sucks man. Adding you (and her) to my prayer list right now.