A Few Thoughts on Human Mortality

When I was a young boy, I started to go to funerals. Most of the funerals were for people who were either my grandparents, or friends and relative of the same age group. As I got older, I became used to the idea that people grow old and die.

By the time I was in my early 20s, I experienced the death of a childhood friend. He was killed in a motorcycle accident. A hit and run drunk driver did him in. I was unable to go to the funeral due to distance and work obligations, but it reminded me that people could die at any age.

That thought was reinforced in August of 1996, when my niece died at a very young age from Leukemia. She was not even in school yet

I also dated a girl back in 1994. We broke up and I really did not think too much about it. I found out about a year after the fact that she died in a car accident in 1997. That one also concerned me.

For about the last ten years now, almost every funeral has been for a parent of friends in my age group. I worry about my own parents who are in their mid 60's. They are still around but not in perfect health.

At the time of this writing I have been informed that my bet friend's brother passed away from lung cancer, and I have another friend who has cancerous tumors and may not live another year. I also just learned that my Aunt has terminal cancer.

We will never escape death around us until our own demise. Be thankful for today, tomorrow is not promised.