Erica and I are headed to Mississippi tomorrow for the funeral of her grandmother—her mother’s mother, Juanita Bane. Juanita’s death isn’t a surprise: she’s been ailing for some time and was put into hospice care just after our Christmas visit.

But this news comes on the heels of Christopher and Katie’s move to Africa (which is both happy, but also sad) and just after the news that Mike Enriquez, a Chicago improv friend, has lost his battle with cancer. Erica was a lot closer to Mike than I was, though I always appreciated him both as an unfailingly-positive presence in the improv community and as a solid performer. He’ll be missed.

• Erica: Juanita
• Christopher: Goodbye to Mamaw Bane
• Chicago Tribune: Chicago improv veteran, teacher Mike Enriquez dies at 42