Time and Birth and Change are hurrying by

[np_complete]

I found out last night that someone in my circle of friends in college has died, of a heart attack

Comments

[wickedgillie]

Last year, a classmate (also a diabetic since childhood) passed from a heart attack. He and I weren't close during school, although we certainly knew each other, but we were on the reunion committee together, so it was particularly sad. And yet, my reaction was maybe more like yours.

It's weird losing contemporaries to natural causes that are at least somewhat associated with age.

[np_complete]

I got a message from my friend B saying she had news but wanted to tell me on the phone rather than in an email. Since B. had been in the hospital on and off for months, I was greatly worried, and called immediately.

I wasn't prepared for bad news about someone I was only distantly connected to, I think.

But I am honoring my friend-of-friend's memory. I will donate to our local animal shelter or the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, or maybe both.

[np_complete]

By the way, how is Paige doing? The last I heard, she had (amazingly!) beaten the cancer into remission. Is she still OK?

[wickedgillie]

She just had another scan last week at her new oncologist's office. I"m assuming all is still well, but that's what the ongoing scans are for.

[earlgreytea68]

You clearly feel sorry for this woman's death, and that is an appropriate reaction. Don't be hard on yourself for not being *more* sorry. Everyone experiences grief in a different way. ::hugs::

[np_complete]

Thank you. You are right. And I feel better now that I've made the donations. That was the right thing to do.

*hugs*

[xebgoc]

*hugs* I've had a few of these... some expected as cancer progressed, others sudden through accidents or heart/late diagnosis progressive diseases... and it always takes me aback.

As earlgreytea68 said, everyone reacts and grieves differently... your process is your process. Don't feel guilty for it in any way.

[np_complete]

Thank you for the wise words, and the hugs.

I've given money to the JDRF and to my local cat shelter (where I got Jack). And I had a long talk with F. a few hours ago, who had a lot to process. (He and she were at one point very close.)

I feel better now that I have honored her. I visited the virtual guest book of the funeral home where her funeral will be, and saw many, many expressions of sorrow. It feels good to know that so many in her community loved her.