I received word today that a long-time friend died last month of a heart attack. I had sent her an email a couple of days ago, and the man she was planning to marry responded to tell me she had passed. She was only 50 years old, and had never had any symptoms that would lead anyone to believe anything was wrong.

Last fall, I had learned that another long-time friend had died, at age 48. Hers was expected - I'd known she had stage 4 cancer. But it still hurt to learn that she had succumbed, because she had fought so valiantly.

And last April, my stepfather died.

I'm feeling sad tonight.