Common themes between Of Mice and Men and What's Eating Gilbert Grape

I have listed some common themes we brainstormed in class. List events/scenes that could be used as evidence when completing a CER prior to your compare/contrast literary analysis.  Give page numbers when referring to Of Mice and Men.
Death
Survival
Infatuation
Relationships
Responsibility
Freedom
Discrimination
Loneliness
Tolerance
Dependence

Bucket List

At the end of the play, the "dead" students verbalize what they will miss due to their premature deaths.  Now it is your turn; list 10 things you would miss if you were to die while still in high school.  These things could be as small or big as you would like them to be. I have written my "Bucket List" below.  (Of course my list is as if I died in the near future...not back when I was in high school!)
1.  becoming a grandma
2.  time spent with my husband, daughters, son-in-law, and Austin
3.  day-trips with my husband
4.  a roaring fire in our fireplace
5.  great books
6.  country music
7. Thanksgiving meals
8.  power-walks with my best friend
9.  shopping
10. "feel good" movies

Bang, Bang

If you were Josh's mom or dad, how would you handle the situation Josh is in?  What steps would you take to deal with this situation?