Every once in awhile I write an actual blog, of course to those (Martin)might be disappointed because it isn't poetry-related. But sometimes I come in contact with people who relate an event or a story which gives me pause to think. Today was such a day, a person that I know recently lost her husband. I had not seen this person in a couple of weeks and I was taken surprise by the news. From what I gathered it was sudden and took place while the couple were asleep, she didn't realize anything was wrong until the morning. Then there was his age, he was 56 years old...just a year older then myself. I expressed my condolences to this woman, gave her a hug and told her if she needed anything to call me..which is a genuine offer. I thought about the rest of the day, and I think when there are times when a person passes and you wonder why? You think of all the ways that people come to the end of the line here on earth, and the ones that are frustrating are the "innocent bystanders". Those are the people who are strolling along life's path one day, and the next day they are no longer here. Sure there is always a reason why, illness, accident, natual disaster and the list goes on. It also caused me to remember my fathers passing, which was about 2 1/2 years ago. My dad was 3 weeks shy of his 88th birthday, he had managed to outlive 7 of his brothers & sisters..5 of which hadn't lived to see their 60th birthday. The other 2 lived to be 71 & 65, and his parents were 66 & 72 when they passed. But my father I want to believe knew that his time was coming, for health issues had been mounting in recent years..culmenating with a removal of 1/3 of a lung that had a cancerous tumor. My dad had called my sister 2 weeks before his passing and told her he was tired, and I was called but I was sleeping from working on a graveyard shift. He had told my daughter that he was worried about me and hoped I was on the mend, I never got the chance to call him back and thank him for his concern. He slipped away silently one morning in January 2011, just the way he wanted..no nursing home and no extreme measures to bring him back. I can only hope that upon my passing that I will go silently, and with dignity Be able to live my life and not be a slave to it, praying..looking for someway out. I hope that woman I talked to will be able to take comfort in the memories of her husband, and the life they shared and the children they raised. I apologize for the length, but as my wife forever tells me I am not an point A to point B person when it comes to telling a story, but eventually I will get there.