I just heard of the passing of a dear friend this morning (I am writing this column on Thursday, Feb 2nd). I first met and knew her as a young friend of my mother, and later, as a friend and colleague when I worked at the then Guyana Broadcasting Corporation. Her passing is sudden, and I think, yet again, of how frequently these days I am hearing of people I know transitioning from this life. A friend explained that it is likely a feature of our age – we are at that stage where people who have been part of our lives from childhood or teenage years, are leaving. At times it feels like my orbit is fading, disappearing, depleting.