I have just heard some very sad, terrible news

[polmaven]

and now I need to do something I really am going to have to struggle to do.

Just over an hour ago, my pastor called to tell me that a friend's 38 year old daughter, who is, or used to be, also a friend, was struck by a car this morning and killed as she walked along a road in Virginia. I have known her and her mother for nearly 30 years, and only have lost touch because she got married and moved to VA from MA.

She has two children, an 11 year old boy, and a daughter who will have her 8th birthday on Monday.

This, of course, comes just 10 months after my neice's 38 year old fiance was killed in a motorcycle accident last July. My neice and "Merri" were friends when they attended Sunday School together as kids. I just don't know what to say...how to tell her.

This is just so sad.