They say it comes in threes

Much has happened in the last day.

We came home from Chicago yesterday afternoon just so we could get our Christmas trees.  After we got home from the tree lot, our vet called to let us know that Breezer, our 13 year old black lab, had died.  Although Fatty and I knew that she was old and somewhat felt the end nearing, it was still a shock.  Fatty and I started dating two days before he got Breezer so the three of us have always been together.  It's very surreal - I keep feeling like something isn't right and then realize that, oh yeah, Breezer isn't here.  I am sad that I didn't get to say a proper good-bye and at the same time, I feel very fortunate that we didn't have to make a decision regarding her life, that she didn't die in front of the girls and that we didn't wake up one morning to find her dead on her dog bed.  She was a great dog and a wonderful pet.  I am missing her already.

Then this morning we received a call letting us know that Fatty's grandfather passed away.  He had been ill, but it still came as a surprise - I guess it always does.  We are packing up the car and going to pay our respects on Tuesday.  Ralph was a good man and, although I didn't know him well, I enjoyed spending time with him each and every time I saw him.

A couple of hours later, Fatty learned that one of his employees died suddenly this morning.  He was a 25 year old young man engaged to be married that died without warning and with no apparent cause.  Such a tragedy to lose such a young person whose life was really just at its beginning.

I am counting my blessings.  First on the list, the gift of life.