I've been aware

 of the time going by

They say, in the end, it's the wink of an eye (Jackson Browne)

something about going to the wake of a friend that brings a lifetime of memories to the surface. I have not had a decent night sleep in the past week.....strange dreams followed by laying awake staring at the ceiling thinking about trivial details from events 50 years ago.....it's all there in the echo chambers of the brain, and then it's triggered and comes back to the forefront.......i think most people my age have also come to the disturbing realization that when our friends die, it's no longer an anomaly but rather the norm. it still feels too young, but on the precipice of 60....it's not that rare.......the beauty of growing up in a town like Bayridge was that we all knew so many people. some closer than others, but friends just the same......as we get older that beauty can evolve into a curse....it feels at times that the phone never stops ringing and the bad news never stops flowing......but stoicism is another trait we embrace......if we weren't stoic we would have all checked out in 2001......nope, we roll up the sleeves, ice down the beer, turn up the music and soldier on....some days are tougher than others.........2+3=Beeer

Are you there? Say a prayer for the pretender
Who started out so young and strong only to surrender