You're not supposed to have to do this when you're 33.

[heidi]

You're not supposed to have to be greeted by your junior high school classmate, the one who works at your son's school, when you go to drop him off, and have her tell you that Sandra - little, sweet, generous, good-natured Sandra - died of a heart attack in her sleep yesterday.

You're not supposed to have to call your friends from high school, the ones you've known since you were five, or seven, or eleven, and say, Sandra, whose bat mitzvah's 20th anniversary is in a few weeks, died of a heart attack in her sleep yesterday.

You're not supposed to be relieved that you'd already cancelled plans to go to Disney for the weekend because you were simply tired of traveling, because it means you'll be here for the funeral of Sandra, who died of a heart attack in her sleep yesterday.

I'm very lucky - I got all the way through high school with nobody dying. Darren was in a coma for a bit after a bicycle accident, and Lori tore her knee apart when her mother had a heart attack while they were driving to North Carolina for Winter Break, but of and among my classmates, they were all at least alive when we graduated, and even through the college years.

But you're not supposed to end up at 33, coordinating who's going to watch the kids while you go to Sandra's funeral, because she died in her sleep, of a heart attack, in Boston, on the ides of January, 2004.

Comments

[acusa-dora.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry. I hope you and your friends will be a comfort to each other and to her family.

[meggitymeg.livejournal.com]

*HUGS*

I've been there - last month, in fact. If you need to talk, just let me know.

[debellatrix.livejournal.com]

Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry to hear that.
*sends loff and hugs*

[ladylaw7.livejournal.com]

*HUGS*
I'm so sorry...I know how hard it is to lose someone too early. You'll be in my thoughts.

[kristieflowers.livejournal.com]

Aw, I'm sorry, Heidi. *hugs*

[datta.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[zorb]

*hugs* I'm so sorry, Heidi. *hugs*

[psychobarfly.livejournal.com]

>:D

[ari-o.livejournal.com]

Oh good lord. I'm so sorry sweetie.

*hugs*

33? woe. so wrong. My dad died when he was 32. Its just crazy.

[shelaghc.livejournal.com]

If you need to talk, I'll be around.

Take care, hon.

[erised1810.livejournal.com]

****hugs** I" msorry .Fate can be abitch sometimes. Hugs to yo uand everyone involved.

[awelkin.livejournal.com]

Much, much sympathy to both you and the family.

Catherine

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Hey sweetie--we spoke earlier, I know, and as you know, I have sadly had friends, friends my age, who have died and frankly, it doesn't get any better. And you're right. At our age, we shouldn't be doing this, worrying about this, thinking about this.

I'm certainly around if you just need someone to chat to, about this or about inconsequential matters to get your mind off it, or anything at all.

[casira.livejournal.com]

*hugs* so sorry to hear this....

[hailebop.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry. Death is a tradgedy at any age. My thought are with you.

Hailey

[annearchy.livejournal.com]

Dear Heidi,
I'm so sorry about Sandra's death. Nobody should die at 33 in their sleep, of a heart attack. Life is a cruel and heartless bitch sometimes, and death is even crueler. You and Sandra's other friends and family have my sincere condolences.
- Hugs, Anne U

[ashkitty.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry. :(

[aome.livejournal.com]

*hugs you* I'm so sorry. Early deaths are horrible and feel so unfair.

In grade school, a classmate was killed by a drunk driver.

In high school, a former gymnastics friend fell asleep at the wheel. [Will lost a first cousin on the eve of his twin's wedding, for this same reason.]

Two (three?) years ago, a college friend who lived with a benign brain tumour suffered a massive seizure.

[breve.livejournal.com]

Oh Heidi, I'm so, so sorry. I hope that you and your friends can all be of some comfort to each other through this, because it seems as though you're a tight-knit group. Although, being so close might make this all the harder. Oh - I just don't know what to say, because you're right. It shouldn't be this way. It shouldn't. *hugshugs*

*sending prayers and thoughts of light and strength*

-Kala

[rachet.livejournal.com]

No.....you're not supposed to be doing those things at 33.

I'm so sorry that you have to. I've been lucky, too. We've only lost one person in our class so far. Accidental shooting (drunken party, found a gun, "Oh look!" kind of stupidity)

But to die of a heart attack at such a young age....unbelievable.

My thoughts are with you.

[effervescent.livejournal.com]

Oh Heidi, I'm so sorry. We've lost a couple of people from my graduating class since we've left highschool, and it's not easy to even think about death occurring at a young age.

My thoughts will be with you, your friends and Sandra's family. *hugs gently*

[dindongbell.livejournal.com]

I am so sorry to hear about your loss.

Din

[guardian-writer.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[vlamidala.livejournal.com]

Heidi, I'm so sorry. You'll be in my thoughts.

*hugs*

[slytherincesss.livejournal.com]

Oh, Heidi . . . I'm so sorry. How terribly devestating, and on your birthday to boot.

We've lost three from our graduating class of 63 -- one homicide, one scuba accident, and one plane crash. It's really devestating. Oddly, none of the other classes surrounding the class of '87 have had any deaths. It's so poignant to see a life lost when it's barely just begun; I don't know about you, but I still feel quite young, and that there is tons ahead of me that I have yet to discover/experience.

Geez . . . are they thinking a congenital heart defect that went unnoticed?

I'm sorry for you loss.