what is life if not a joke?

it’s hard not to be consumed by the anguish of a life lost too soon. it’s hard not to drive down the road and think, will my number be up today?
this week, someone died and i only knew him through his girlfriend, whom i used to work with, but haven’t even seen or spoken to in almost a year. and yet, every time i thought about him or her, i began to fill with raw emotion. it’s just so sad to be ripped from this existence at 22 years of age. and what of the family and friends left behind? what could you possibly do when someone is taken from you? go back to work? eat? walk the dogs? these things seem too trivial.
death is something the american culture prefers not to acknowledge until it’s absolutely necessary. but it’s not something we should ignore. we are all going in that direction. in our youth, we like to think we are immune to it, but we are not.
i hope to live until i’m at least 64. but if not, i’m happy for every day i’ve been given until now. it was one hell of a ride.