My friend's service was beautiful, exactly what I would want for myself -- some good music performed by his friends, funny and touching stories told by friends of his from different times in his life, a full crowd. Everything very low-key and just the right tone. And, of course, this had to all be planned on very short notice by his wife, who never expected to have to think of it so soon.

It makes me think about what I want to do with the time -- who knows how much -- I have left and the kinds of relationships I want to build. Nothing specific jumps to mind, but I do think my health and fitness goals take an even higher priority when I think this way. Interestingly, a friend I caught up with today had lost 100 pounds since I last saw him, because he saw pictures from his 40th birthday party and didn't want to be that guy anymore. If I had been asked, when all 3 of us were working together, to guess which of my coworkers would die young, it would have been this guy.

Life is full of surprises, good and bad.

I never used to understand funerals, but by the end of this one, I felt all of us had a little lighter load. It's important to have a time and place for grief and remembering, and a group of people to do that with.

I promise a lighter post tomorrow.