On Wednesday a friend of mine (the mother of one of DD8's friends) phond to tell me her husband had died at 37 of a heart attack. He died before the ambulance could come to him. He left behind an 8 year old, a 5 year old & a bubba who is 2.

The tragedy of talking to that little girl & hearing her say "my Daddy is dead"... Of listening to my compassionate 8 year old talk to her & both of them wonder to each other where he is and wha he felt...

I wasn't anywhere near as close to her as I am to Michelle but I relived that bewilderment of the feelings we all had (so minimally in respect to what Michelle felt). The feelings we all still have every time one of our community - weather in here or in our town or our family - loses a loved one so suddenly.

It's a ripple that goes throughout - the positive is that it shows how connected we all our, how are hearts all have a common chord that is pulled when there is this type of pain.

I feel yours tonight & I feel all the other posters. Weather it's a parent, a child, a baby, a sibling, a partner - an animal. The grief is real... Even thoe of us that have lost a marriage - itss a grief. But not the same as the heart wrenching loss that comes when that bed is empty or our arms & womb are empty...

I feel all of your pain & I wish I could take it away... Just for a moment.