Always a thought of mine, what will my later years become. Doing what I do for a living I never know when someone else' mistake will call me home. I try to tell everyone that means anything to me that I love them. Some friends looked at me funny early on but they got used to it. It helps me find comfort when I think of things like that. Dad went home in '93, Mom in '96. Miss them every day. Spent a lot of time with Mom before she left and wish I had spent more. The story you told happened to an ex-brother in law, his Dad had been gone 4 or 5 days. He left peaceful, just sat down, laid his head back after mowing some grass and went home. That was the only comfort in all that. Things have changed so much from when I was small regarding older relatives. I lived in the 'burbs and there were several families that had Aunt's, Uncles. G parents all living with them. Part of the deal. I wonder where I'll fit in? We all need to make time for others and let them know how we feel no matter how uncomfortable it makes us.