I was such a young, and naive social worker when I experienced my first death – Debbie – I was just 22 yrs. old at the time. I remember her actively dying in her bed. She had been fighting with her dad over many years, but he had finally come to see her. I was there along w/ the hospice nurse. She used all her might to say something mean to him – He said “I’m so sorry, please forgive me,” and tears streamed down her face. Two breaths later, the light went out of her eyes and a smile came on her face. Something sad and beautiful happened that afternoon – The mystery of life still encourages me to continue my work and my life.