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Death can be a very painful thing, but there is beauty in someone passing on. Remembering the amazing life someone had can bring people who grew apart back together, and really does help put the value of life back into perspective. I'm currently on my way back to my hometown to attend the funeral for my grandfather. He lived an amazing and long life, and I truly know he was completely content with letting his body shut off, passing over to whatever unknown existence after we finish our lives on this planet. Of course I'll miss him. I'll miss hearing the same stories over and over again. How he tricked my grandmother into going on a date with him (they were high school sweethearts and have been together 68 years, my grandma was by his side when he died) and being so poor after getting married that they hunted and fried up squirrels from the local park. I’ll miss his stories about his army training down south when he was barely of age, and of course his recipe to make the perfect whiskey sour (one can of lemonade concentrate, one can of water, one can of whiskey).

He always told me as I would leave to head back to Chicago, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do, so you can pretty much do whatever you want." I'd like to think I've spent a good part of my life following his fearless advice. This week are some songs about endings and saying goodbye, yet being thankful for the amazing people that walk in and out of your life.

The Beatles - In My Life - This song is simple, yet so true. All the moments and people in life are what make life itself worthwhile, and sometimes in our busy lives we tend to forget that simple fact.

Johnny Cash - Give My Love to Rose - My grandparents had a dedicated love, and I've always equated the hardworking southern ethics of Johnny Cash with my grandfather. This song of undying love between a dying man and his true love really hits close to home in my family.

Band of Horses - The Funeral - I love the line, "At every occasion one brilliant day funeral." This just gives such a sunny disposition to an event our culture sees as something sad. I've never understood that negative connotation our culture believes in.

Modest Mouse – Lives - Everyone is afraid of truly living, and sometimes we get so caught up that it's hard to remember to actually live before we die. Death always brings these sentiments to light, putting into perspective just how much time we truly have to experience life, but also just how fast that life can pass you by.

Bright Eyes - At the Bottom of Everything - This is probably the only uplifting song about a plane crash. It's has such a peaceful view on knowing your time is up. I hope that when I'm about to die, someone is there to tell me that we are going to a birthday party, my party, and that everyone loves me very much. It's such a glorious idea to have such a wonderful memory and thought put forth when you are at your ultimate end.

The Flaming Lips - Do You Realize?? - Another beautiful song about spending your life being happy, because all good things must come to an end. Life is too short to not enjoy yourself, so let bygones be bygones, soak up every memory you can and as cliché as it sounds, try to live each day like it is your last. As the Lips point out, death is inevitable, just another routine in life that everyone goes through. So have a round remembering that person that passed, share the good memories you have and remember to cherish every person that comes in, and eventually out, of your life.