you're right, it's one of the many things left unsaid. And you said very well, thanks for that :)
I guess I'll read that book (btw don't regret not reading it earlier, it's never too late to learn something)
I only disagree with something, Dying old doesn't make it any easier IMO. In fact, I think I'd rather die healthy before I become a burden. I know it's not something people would usually say, but if that happens I hope people will just say "well he got what he wants". It's also interesting to think about what the person we lost would want us to say and to feel. Nobody wants his friends and family to suffer after him.
Ah and congratulations for the curie :)
Yes, it's never easy. I only meant that for the people left behind, it may be easier to accept the fact of a person dying if that person has had a long enough and hopefully fulfilled life. When a young person's life is cut short, those left behind not only grief the loss of the person but also of future experiences and new memories they were supposed to have together. But I agree, old people and their loved ones have different challenges and it's almost always a sad part of the journey.