As for so many, 2020 was the year of death for me, the year of "I can't breathe" for so many. My Grandma died of Covid, my friend died of lung cancer, another of an overdose, and my dog was diagnosed with cancer and labors to breathe by my side as I write this.

It feels so lonely to go through grief, but then I remember that so many others have gone through it as well. Even pre-loss grief like you describe - watching parents age is a legitimate loss, and pre-loss grieving is legitimate as well.

Thank you for this meditation on grief.