Dear Priscilla:  my thoughts and prayers are with you.  I will be there for the memorial. 

Rebecca and Karen:  Thank you!  It is very sad. 

John was such a sweet man.  Everyone loved him. 

I've been crying off and on since last night when I found out. 

John's life flame was extinguished early.  John had such a sweet nature and giving heart.  Even in his death, he brought joy to several families whose loved ones will live because of him:  John donated his organs and several people will enjoy his generous gift of life...

It was hard working yesterday and I did so with a heavy heart.  When I finished my work, I drove to North Carolina to spend time with my best friend, Deidre.  She and John were together for several years and although they were no longer a couple, they still loved each other.   We reminisced about John and had our own memorial by the lake.  It was so appropriate, for the sun was setting right above the water...   Deirdre's face lit up, while her eyes shed abundant tears.  She said:  "I hope my mom and him are together now!"  Her mom loved John and she passed away last year.

Life is precious.  We take for granted the moments, yet none of us are guaranteed time.  Appreciate the now and live it as if that's all you have, for that might be the truth...

I am grateful for your kind support!  In joy, as in sorrow, sharing makes it all so much better.  Thank you!

Suzanne:  Thank you very much!  As I do with everything else, I embraced the sorrow of this tragedy full force and I've cried all my tears.  Today I was functional.

My best friend is still crying.  Because her mom passed away last year, this loss, the loss of the man she deeply loved, is punctuating the finalization of it all, the permanent absence of the two people she was most attached to.  She is in deep pain right now.  I've advised her to cry all her tears.

Our culture discourages feelings of melancholy.  "Chin-up!", "face it like a man!", "Smile!"...  all of these are typically recommended and the drugs de rigueur are usually prescribed to "take the edge off" and to ameliorate the "discomfort".

The pain is there for a reason.  It is only by embracing your pain and crying all your tears that you make it to the other side. 

I feel for John's mom.  That is the one person whose tears will never end...  My thoughts and prayers are with her.   I will add to that my own prayer: that I will die before either one of my children do, for to endure such loss would indeed be unbearable!

Priscilla, you are in my prayers! 

Beady-Cat, I love you!  You have always been an inspiration to me, a woman I greatly admire.  You have been such a brave soldier and I look up to you and admire you for all that you've done and for being able to cope with such loss as you've had throughout your life.  May God bless you with many more good years, so that we can continue to benefit from your wise and loving guidance.  I'm glad Priscilla has you by her side!  You are, and will always be in my heart!

Don, you are a very sweet man!  Thank you!

Liz:  I appreciate it!

Sharon:  Thank you very much!  We appreciate it!

I did well this week after crying for about a day and a half.

I just got this from Deirdre and I have to save it and read it when it won't make me cry.  These are some great words of wisdom:

http://www.tut.com/ecards/?uniqueid=32d72063b97403c04a4a2fde77cbbb39

Karen:  "Heaven needed another angel."

That was such a beautiful thing to say about your father!  It really moved me.  Thank you!