As a lot of you know, the last month has been rough for me. Quite a few of you have been very helpful and patient with me, offering me words of wisdom, letting me talk incessantly, and knowing when I needed to be quiet. For this I thank you. You have been a tremendous help. This Tuesday I will be walking into my best friend’s office to help her husband clean it out. It will be one of the hardest things I will do but I also feel that this will be one more step in making this seem more real to me. At the end of the month, we return to work, and our building will be missing 2 very dynamic educators. It will be rough, but together we will get through it. Someone suggested a book for me, and I felt the need to pass this on. If any of you have ever lost someone, you may want to read Don Piper’s book, “90 Minutes in Heaven”. This is a true story of a man, who after being crushed by a semi-truck, died, went to Heaven, and then made the journey back to earth. It has been very calming for me to read and some of you may find the need to read it as well. I truly believe that when we lose someone that we love, they remain here with us, at least in memory and spirits. There have been many times that I have felt my dad or my brother’s presence over the last few years. I know that I will still feel my friend along my side as I begin a new school year. She will help guide me as I teach, just as she guided me when she was alive.

(I am holding the phone-my good friend is on the opposite end.)

This has been the most unbelievable day of my life. I have a good friend and colleague that has been bravely battling breast cancer for five years. She has put up a valiant effort in her fight and remained a dedicated educator until the end - her students always came first. She passed away last night. Although we knew this was coming and I know in my heart, that she is no longer suffering and is in a better place, it still tears my heart out.

12 hours later the unthinkable thing has happened. My best friend and fellow educator died suddenly and unexpectedly. This is beyond words. I cannot even fathom what has happened.

In twelve hours, my close-knit building has lost two of the most dedicated, enthusiastic, and loyal educators you will ever meet. How do you put this into words?

 Below is a picture of my dear friend who has valiantly fought cancer for the past five years (she’s looking in the mirror). This was taken at Relay For Life, May, 2007.