My heart and condolences go out to you, your friend and everyone else who is suffering through this tragedy. Whenever I hear stories like this where friends of mine lose someone who was close to them, I feel very deeply for them.

When I was a senior in high school my father passed away from cancer in October. Five months later my mother passed away from a Lupus induced heart attack. The last words I ever said to my mom was “I love you” just prior to leaving to hang out with a few friends. We had just got done fighting and I walked out of the house without saying “I love you” but we had a rule between us. So, prior to leaving I went back inside, apologized and said “I love you”. Those were the last words I ever got to say to her.

The point is not to tell my story but to let you know that I know what you and your friend, as well as their family is going through. It gets better. Time will heal the pain.

Use the memory and the thought of your loved ones as a driving force to keep killing it in '09 the only way you know how. Thanks for being awesome and so transparent, even with something so personal.

Hi Nicki, Happy New Year!

Hi Jason, Well said. It is a lesson for us to keep things in balance.

Woody