Should have...

So when do you go to a funeral? When is the cost prohibitive or the time not available, or the distance too great or.....whatever other 'excuse' will do? Now, I know there are good reasons for being unable to attend. There are also a lot of reasons why we don't make time in the first place before a funeral even happens. Having said that, it is still interesting to hear the reasons why people can't make it.

I think Guilt is a good one. Would have, could have, should have always creeps into these kinds of situations. "I meant to", "I was going to", "I wish I had", 'if only". Do these sound familiar to you? I know I have said a few of these myself from time to time. 

I guess it comes down to priorities. Even that is not really fair as a person may have really been a priority but 'life does get in the way'. I get it. I just don't like it.

I recall a situation in the past where a person said they were so sorry that they never got a chance to go visit someone - they had good intentions but it never materialized into action. Then the dreaded news came that it was now too late and the person was gone and MORE guilt piles up. How do you deal with those kinds of situations?

Presumably, you are sorry and no amount of apologies will change the facts. I guess you just "deal with it"! Ask forgiveness, move on and try not to let it happen again.