I can't remember a time when I have attended more wakes and funeral in two months. And today, a deeply personal tragedy: my good friend who was my mentor, friend, colleague, and surrogate parent lost her battle with pancreatic cancer, which is a cruel twist of fate since my mom died of the disease in '96.

This friend published me first in an SFRA review, took me to my first science fiction/fantasy/horror convention, picked out my wedding gown, and was looking forward to being a "great aunt" to our first bundle of joy. She was often my first reader and truly believed that I "had it in me" to write.

Even though I knew this day was coming, I'm devastated.

What's worse is that so many people I know have been to as least as many funerals, wakes, and memorials as me. This has got to make you wonder.......