Headed for D.C. for the funeral of the daughter of dear friends. Beth Gatti died at 39 after a long battle with kidney problems and a failed transplant. Amy and I watched her grow up during our 23 years in Washington. Losing her is like losing a child we never had. It hurts. It hurts a lot but our sorrow can be nothing compared to the intense loss felt by her parents, Ron and Anne, her husband Jon or her young son Connor.

Death is never easy. Death of someone so young is even more tragic.

I don't cry a lot but I'm crying today. The tears won't stop.