I use to eat lunch at Mary's table every week or so. Others enjoyed eating with her too. She said she enjoyed eating with me because she could complain about anything and it was OK. Most people tell elderly, oh, don't think about that, think about something nice. Well about 6 or 8 months ago she told me "Dorothy, I am so tired of living, I am ready to go." Death is not something people will talk about. I will, I have come to terms with that subject and am not afraid to talk about it. I told her that she had accomplished something most people would never be able to do. Live to be 101 years old. And I said "Mary when you decide that you are REALLY ready to go, you will go. So with out saying so, she decided to live to her 102 birthday, then go. Her secret, her way. And she did. I went to see her a few days before she died. She had company so did not get to really talk to her. But her eyes were shinning when she did talk to me. I think she was telling me then, I'll do it one more time, and she did. I will miss her, but I know she was really ready to go. She was not afraid to face the hereafter. Her friend Dorothy Longacre