Have you ever sensed death? I have, more than once. The most recent time was the death of one of my former bosses who died at his home of a heart attack. This guy meant a lot to me. I was just starting out, and he was a seasoned pro at the business. I can’t begin to tell all I learned from him. But I didn’t know it would be him before he died; I never know who it’s going to be. I start smelling formaldehyde. I pass the funeral home and wonder who’s next. I think about dead bodies in caskets. I think about dead people I used to know, and usually within a week someone I know dies.

It has happened all my life but I’m just now getting to where I recognize it for what it is. I once would let it make me depressed and morbid, but no more. My mother once told me not to tell her if I got that feeling about her, but it doesn’t seem to work for close relatives. At least it didn’t work when my dad died unexpectedly. And it didn’t work when my grandmother died, but she lingered on death’s door for a long time. It seems to work best on unexpected deaths of people who have passed through my life, made an impact, and moved on. I’m glad I never know who it will be.