Jennifer,

I'm so very sorry. My mountain biking buddy's mom is lying on her deathbed from stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and they expect her to go any day now. I have tried to be a supportive friend as she goes through this very difficult time.

Losing a parent is the hardest thing I've ever been through. I lost my own dad in a car accident in Oct. '05, and I still shed a tear or two at least a couple of times a week. Time does help, but you are forever changed from this point forward. It took me 9 months after losing my dad to ride my bike again. It's a very tough thing. I hope that you have supportive friends and family members to hold onto now. Those relationships were what kept me sane during my most intense grieving.

Big virtual hugs,

Emily