only the good die young

i heard today a coworker who has been in the hospital died on tuesday.  i am most sad.  while not a good friend, i knew her well enough to know she was a warm, compassionate, wonderful person.  and she was my age. it was cancer.  my mother always says 'if you live long enough, cancer will catch up with you'.  and she's certainly at an age when your friends do start to die regularly.  i hear us saying 'at least she didn't suffer very long'.  but suffer she did and i wonder if people say that to ease their own pain at the loss.   it's always tragic when a young person dies but as i get older i find it most painful when someone my own age dies.  we expect to die when we're 'old' but what defines old.  my deepest condolences go out to her family.  i am blessed to have met her and had her add to my life.  appreciate those who are close to you and let them know you love and appreciate them.