Dealing With the Death of a Loved One

I'm still a little fuzzy. A friend of mine passed away a few days ago.

B wasn't even 40 years old yet.

After three weeks in the hospital, in ICU on full life support, his family finally decided that they were going to end life support this coming Monday at 11:30 AM.

Just as he did in life, B wasn't going to follow anyone's rules and he went on his own on Friday, at 11:30 AM.

B was a tattoo artist, a brilliant one. So many people in the town I live in have his art somewhere on their body. He wasn't just an artist that traced a piece and tattooed it on you, he did everything freehand. He was a master of color.

B was a friend, a brother. He was that one dude you knew was going to be wild, not give a damn, say whatever he had to say and not give two craps about what you thought about it.

The funeral services are on Tuesday and I really don't know if I can handle going. I've lost too many friends to drug overdoses at young ages. I cannot stand to go to another funeral of someone who went way too young.

I just don't know how to process it. It's all so new and fresh that I haven't really come to terms with his loss, I think. It is just so weird to know that he's not here anymore.

We are all mourning in our own ways. One of my friends is lashing out at everyone, another has closed himself off. My niece wants to make him pan de muertos on la Dia de los Muertos for him. I thought it was incredibly sweet gesture - she's only seven years old.  It really makes you take a step back and consider how everyone handles mourning in their own manners.

Never take those in your life for granted. Appreciate every day you have, love as deeply as you can.

If you have a loved one with an addiction, try to get them help. I've lost count of all of the OD or other drug related deaths that I've had touch me in recent years. I'm tired of losing people before their time.

Rest in peace, brother. Until we meet again.