June 1978...My Grandfather lost his two Best Friends literally a week and a half apart. I VIVIDLY remember him just staring out the window as he told me....."There's nothing worse about getting old than losing people around you". My Grandmother had passed back in 1952. At the time, I had JUST turned 11 by a day or so. I gave it some thought but ...Meh! I was just 11. I had another 58 years to reach my Grandfather's age at the time. Fast forward to 2007.....About 2 months before I turned 40, IT STARTED. A girl I had a huge crush on in 6th grade through High School suddenly passed. In 2011, my Brother passed....2012, my longest and very best friend passed....2013, My Dad ......2017 another great friend.......2018 My Mom. All these people and several others I knew or worked with. It REALLY REALLY has changed me. Makes me think of MY mortality more than ever. Right now, I'm only 56 and a half but the recent years has made life feel like it is closing in on me. I think about my Brother and Best Friend especially. They were the ones who I could always talk to and lighten up my day. LOL They were also BIG TIME Gator Game Day Wingmen! Though my Grandfather's statement was almost 46 years ago, it's more loud n clear than ever.

Aside from ALLLLL that, simply seeing Celebs from TV shows I grew up with, passing away, is also a punch in the gut and makes things seem even tighter.