When my mother died I was living in Ohio, near Akron. I'd spoken to her on the phone and with my siblings, of course. And then, at 2 a.m. EST, I woke up. My wife asked, "Mike, what's wrong?" and I replied, "Mom's dead."

Then the phone rang.

Later, I learned that my brother Ted was with her when she she died, and he left to get my brother and sister. One was already halfway to the room and the other was just leaving the "family room" down the hall. My other brother detoured to call me.

I just accept what happened, I don't try to explain it.