Upright and Alive

My sister-in-law Sheila is one of the best-hearted people I know.  No matter what I asked of her, she would do it.  I love her.

Now to the point.  She likes to talk.  Wow, can she talk.  She called on Mikey's birthday to tell him she'd bought him a really cool present and lost it,  so it would be in the mail when she found it.  She gave me the run down on each of her five kids.  It took about 10 minutes for each one, listing  all of the struggles--none of which seem too terrible to me.   2 are engaged, 3 are in college. 
Joe has quit law school to go to film school.  Yes, he already has a BA in film.  He isn't passionate about the law and having a lot of money won't make him happy.  All I could say was I would like to try it out and see.

At the end of a really long monologue  (yes,  I'm glad she calls and enjoy listening most of the time)  she said,  "Well, at least they are all upright and alive."  Yes, that's a direct quote.
I countered with,  "That beats the alternative."
I  got off the phone and cried.
I hope I didn't make her feel too bad.