I had a cycle of life talk with Sammy on a hike in the mountain near our home today. It started with a talk about how trees turn into dirt when they die. I thought it might have been a good time to generalize that and talk about how all things eventually turn to dirt. I included people in this at the end and he immediately got this dark look on his face and asked if I (daddy) was going to die. I knew that I needed to tread lightly here. I told him that everything that lives eventually dies like the trees. He was gliding and dwelling in it for another 15 minutes or so. Then we stopped for a break and he asked if I was going to die this year. I decided not to go in the direction of maybe. Probably wouldn't have gone over too well. I just told him it would be a long time. The same question arose with grandpa and I answered the same.

All in all a little uncomfortable for both of us but probably a good lesson to start before we have ti deal with it at a funeral or with a pet.