Not many dead...

I had this feeling at the beginning of the year that there might be a family demise during January/February - but we are safely through those months without this happening  (actually, I think March is something of a peak death month so don't count your chickens).   I am wondering whether my sense was simply an outward expression of inner gloom, or perhaps it was a sense that "all we needed" to complete the gloom scenario was a family death.  Well, mercifully everyone is alive and kicking still, although in a couple of cases it's not clear that their life seems like the result of mercy.  Can prolonged life after you've ceased to be able to think clearly, speak much, move much or read books really be anything of value?  But still, perhaps one is glad to look out of the window in the morning, see birds and plants and now signs of spring.  That must be something one can still enjoy.