Why did Gertrude read the obituaries first?

When I was a young girl, I remember my grandmother, Gertrude, read the obituaries first. In the 1950’s, Buffalo had two newspapers; the Courier Express and the Buffalo Evening News. This was well before the internet, and 24/7 news channels on TV. I remember asking her why do you read the obituaries first? Gertrude would tell me that at her age, there are so many people she knew who are dying.

At that young innocent age, I had no concept of the death of friends. It was like her telling me someday you will need glasses. Today, Gertrude’s memory hit me again. I got an email from a friend in Kansas City, that a mutual friend was found dead in his garage. What a shock! He was a great man with so many talents and a wonderful personality. He will be missed by many people. The past 12 months have made me think about my Gertrude and her reading the obituaries first. I am now at that stage of my life when I receive emails about the death of another friend, far too many this year, and have needed glasses for too many years!

Life is short and we never know when the next breathe will be our last. So, take advantage of every second we have and enjoy!