25 years and two daughters together, and he dies in his sleep - on the bright side, if we must look for one, he did not suffer the prolonged, ugly, excruciating death of cancer. Or a long, expensive hospital stay for the aftermath of a car wreck, only to die anyway. To go in your sleep, quietly: a special blessing, it is, even if it means unfinished business and chance to say goodbye. I *cannot imagine waking up one morning to find my husband dead (it's happened to at least three farm wives I know of).

And Lizelle's storm - washed out roads, toppled buildings - that is a special kind of pain too. But as you already noted, to be ALIVE is the bonus for all this suffering. To be alive!

Thanks for this sad but thoughtful post.