At times, I've cried a little in front of this boy. It's only because, like yourself, I've lost loved ones as well.

When he asked me why do people die, I was surprised, but I had to answer him the best way I could. But I think I brightened things up by telling him that sometimes people do things to themselves that make them die a whole lot sooner, like doing illeagal drugs, suicide, alcoholism and stuff like that.

And wouldn't you guess that he wanted to know what suicide meant also, so I told him. Then I said to him that as long as he doesn't do any of those things, that he'll live a very, very, very long and happy life.

When he hit me with the question, I started to cry after telling him about dying. He wanted to know why I was crying and I told him that I lost loved ones in my family. He gave me a hug and and offered his condolences. "Sorry to hear that." he said. I thanked him for that.

My mom and dad died, my grandmother on my mom's side and I also lost one of my brothers to diabetes and alcoholism. He was only 43! Out of the nine, he was the closest brother to me. He would always talk me into coming down to SC to visit him and his wife, and I'd hop on a plane and go down there to see them and stay for over a week!!