Dear Angel of Death,

My, but you've been working hard lately! Just look at all the people of note you've visited just in the last couple of weeks: Gregory Peck, David Brinkley, Catherine Hepburn, Herbie Mann, Buddy Hackett, Buddy Ebsen, Strom Thurmond, Leon Uris. And those are just some of the ones that are household names. Throw in the usual number of Grandmas, Grandpas, Moms, Dads and other assorted friends and relatives and you've been a busy Angel indeed, haven't you?

Well, some of us think it's time you eased up. Why not take a little vacation or at least relax the pace a little bit? After all, you're going to get to visit each and every one of us someday, so what's the rush? Relax a little. You're doing a good job. And a tough but necessary job it is. You certainly don't have to prove anything to us. Believe me, nobody on this side wants to trade places with you.

I had been thinking about writing this little note to you just on account of all the famous people you've taken away lately, but I was having second thoughts about it. I reasoned that in a "media age" where there are more well-known people than ever before, it's inevitable that a higher number of well-known people will die. I mean, more famous people equals more famous people getting old equals more famous people dying. Right? So maybe you weren't really working harder than usual. Maybe it was just a hiccup in what we think of as the smooth curve of probability. So, there's really nothing personal in it. Right? After all, I only know all those people from movies, TV and such. It's not like I knew any of them in person.

But then our friend Phil stopped by yesterday and told us that his two-year-old grand-daughter had drowned at a July 4th picnic and it made me change my mind. That's hitting a little to close to home there, Bub. Knock it off! You've proved your point! Enough is enough! You're The Man and we all know it. You don't have to work so damned hard to prove it.

Sincerely,

Bruce