Offensive or not?

Dear anonymous,

Lauren sent me a text today. It was a joke about how her electric blanket stopped working so she is holding a funeral. To any other person, I suppose this would be funny. Maybe a year ago I would have found this funny. Except today when I received the message, I immediately became upset. Upset because who jokes about funerals? For an electric blanket, nonetheless? I understand that she holds that blanket near and dear and jokes about it being her husband and so I can understand where the funeral joke came from. Yet I am upset and offended. Do you think I'm justified?

Part of me thinks I'm so upset by it because of the situations surrounding people close to me right now. Suzi's mom recently passed away and I was hoping to go to the funeral but it turns out they had a private service for cremation instead. Then Krista's dad is also getting more ill so his time will inevitably come in the next few months. These are my closest friends and I am seeing them suffer. In the supposed best years of their lives, funerals for their best friends are an occurrence. So perhaps I'm emotional about this and it makes me find the joke offensive.

I can't decide.

Love,
Michelle

Is life selfish?

Dear anonymous,

It feels like life can be so selfish. People do everything they can to be good. To have integrity and to make others smile and to treat others with dignity and respect. Then life just lashes back at them in the worst way possible. Illness, depression, poverty, abandonment, fear. It seems pretty selfish. To take away the good from people. To take away the good that they deserve. It feels so damn selfish.

I hate life today. And every other day when I talk to my friends who are suffering. When I hear of situations 'causing others harm. I hate life when it takes people away. I hate life when it shuts us down. I hate life when it is cruel.

Love,
Michelle

Choosing death?

Dear anonymous,

What would it be like if you chose to stand in front of a moving train? In front of a speeding car? Jump off a 20 foot bridge? In a crowded place. The subway platform. The busiest street in your city. The bridge that everybody crosses to get home from work. 

What would everyone's reactions be? Would somebody yell to try and stop you? Would they try and physically stop you? Or would they just stand by and watch the mess unfold?

I've always wanted to know. 

Love,

Michelle

Being dealt the wrong set of cards?

Dear anonymous,

Disclaimer: This is not my story but I feel confident sharing it with you because this story has its own honesty blog. Feel free to check it out after you've read my side. The link will be at the bottom.