much in the last 20, but our senior year we did a lot together and had a lot of great spiritual experiences together. When I found out his dad passed due to cancer, my immediate reaction was to go to the viewing tonight. I know what it's like to lose a loved one unexpectedly to cancer (just 6 months ago). His dad was young, considering, and I just want to give him a hug of empathy and understanding.

I told my wife this and she shot it down, saying it's inappropriate for me to insert myself into the viewing at a time when my lack of social interactions with the family in recent years don't warrant my being there. I was honestly taken aback at this, as my instinct is to mourn with those who mourn, regardless of how frequently I've interacted with them in recent years. The viewing is an hour away, and I think I'm just going to leave in about 45 minutes and go. Yeah, it will take up my whole evening (2 hours total drive time, plus time at the viewing), but I just feel with all my heart like I want to look him in the eyes, give him a hug, and tell him I feel for him and and am thinking of him and his family. Doing that would mean so much more than sending him a brief Facebook message or something. Two hours in the car is worth it to me to be able to give him that hug and a few words of empathy and understanding.

Am I thinking out of normal bounds here? Is my wife right and I really don't have true cause or reason to go? Naturally I'm biased towards my own perspective and am struggling to not be a little upset with her discouraging me from going when it's something I feel strongly that I should do.