[GMScud]

Unfortunately I've been around death quite a bit. I'm only 31, and I've seen 3 out of 4 grandparents pass away. All three were open caskets, all three obviously upset me a lot.

During my senior year of high school, one of my close friends lost his older brother in a freak car accident. That funeral was so effing sad. The guys middle name was "Dearborn," and just seeing his parents' faces... man I get choked up even thinking about it.

Less than a year later, the start of my freshman year of college, was just the worst. I went to college with that same guy who lost his brother. Well, less than a month into our first semester, his long time girlfriend (who was just about the smartest, most beautiful girl you could ever imagine), was killed along with three other girls by a drunk driver down in Winston-Salem (she went to Wake Forest). This poor guy lost his brother and the love of his life in an 8 month span. I was in his dorm room when he got the phone call about his girlfriend. One of the worst days of my life.

Then, about two months later, my grandma was diagnosed with advanced stage 4 colon cancer. She was dead 6 weeks later. I was very, very close to her. A couple of months after that, a kid I grew up with my whole life decided to hang himself.

I can honestly say that was hands down the worst year+ of my life. But I sure as hell learned a lot about gratitude.

You have my condolences.