As a small child, we are taught a few emotional expressions.  We all learn happy, sad, angry and surprised at a young age.  The natural maturation process eventually teaches us that all things are not so simple.  Sometimes good news has a sting to it, or we take bad news and try to find the silver lining.  When a terminally ill child passes away, sometimes there is comfort in knowing he will no longer suffer.  Or the opposite may be true; a child leaving for college or getting married is an exciting occasion, but also sad in a way for the parents staying behind in the empty nest.  I’m not sure MySpace or WordPress have an emoticon for bittersweet.  Continue reading →