"I'm sorry for your loss."

Hey, I didn't realize I'd been so long since blogging til' my friend Shawn, the author of my favorite blog, gently reminded me! Thanks Shawn! On a sadder note, the subject of today's blog is loss. I "lost" two friends this week. One, my cousin Eric, a really kind-hearted soul of 32, died of gastrointestinal hemorrhage this past weekend. The other, a friend of mine from work, Benny White, another amazing dear brother who died from respitory complications, possibly from asbestos exposure, some 30 years ago. Without going into too much detail, as I'm preparing to go to my cousin's funeral. Coincedentally, both funerals were today, so obviously I had to pick the fam first. Both men were good-hearted, kind men, with a ready smile, and listening ear. My cousin Eric, was a guy who always found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Benny, I didn't know as well, but I understand he has always been a great guy. There are no real words that I can offer their immediate families to take away any of their pain. I'm not a "gusher", although I feel very deeply for people. But I have concluded, over the years, that the best thing to say to someone in this situation, is simply, "I'm sorry for your loss." They won't rememeber anything you say later, only that you cared enough to share their hurt. I already miss these two guys, and I will think of them from time to time for a very long time, and miss them. Goodbye Eric, I love you. Goodbye Benny, I loved you too.