I realize that the subject of death and dying is thought to be a somber conversation. Lately, I’ve been wondering if it needs to be. My father passed away when I was very young (16). He was born with a defective heart and he left this earth way too early (55). The last verse of my song, Tears on My Pillow,  is about the loss I felt (check out my “Heart Song page). He had open heart surgery about 7 months before he passed away. We (my family) never spoke of his illness nor his impending passing. I remember seeing many tears in my mother’s eyes and my grandmother’s eyes. I felt pain but did not fully understand why I felt it. I understand now, that by not talking about the inevitable early passing of my father, my mother sought to protect me from pain. As a result, I have…