I received word that a long time friend and member of my community died suddenly of a heart attack this morning. He was 44 years old. As I sit here and write, I am aware of the shock that I feel at his passing. There is a hole in my community. There is an empty seat at our table today that will never be filled in the same way again. I am very sad.

To Dave...I will miss you. While we weren't the closest of friends you were always there when I needed you. The times I reached out to you, you reached back quickly with help. You were a stabilizing force for me at a time when I needed it - I never thanked you or let you know how much it meant to me. So my friend, thank you. I trust that you are looking down on us, comforting us, and smiling in the gregarious, mischievous way you always did.

To my fellow community members. Let us to come together and care for one another. Let us come together strengthen our community during this time of need. That's what we've done in good times and now so again when we need one another. Some of us are closer to one another than others, and right now that doesn't matter. Let us to set aside our differences and focus on supporting Dave's partner, family, and close friends.

And to the reader not directly connected to me or to this situation. Thank you for listening and being there to "hear" my story and help me grieve. Also remember, life is short. Take time to let the people you love know how much you love them. Love yourself as well. Live today to the fullest and reach out to those in need. It is easy to forget how interconnected and interdependent we are. It is at times like this that I am forced to remember.