First year teaching.  Route 89 South.  Go.

My son's tears could be felt through the phone.

"Mom, one of my students died in a car crash."

This is every instructor's nightmare.  How do you mourn while your students need you at their most?

I immediately thought of my second year teaching, when a friend of two of my students was killed while rollerblading.  Talking to one of them in the bleachers of the football stadium...

"Why wasn't it me?  How come?"

Nothing in teacher education prepares you for the loss of a student.  To this day I have in my wallet the Mass card from a student who passed while in college.  He was no longer under my tutelage, but you think...

What if?

Why?

I believe we are put in these situations for a reasons.  Kidlet B was given this teaching job to help his kids get through this tragedy.  One soul leaves as another ascends.  

All day my thoughts were with Kidlet B, his students, his fellow teachers, their administration.  

Celebrate life any chance you get.  YOU are amazing.  You are loved.  Hug people.  Give kisses (even if air kisses!). Pet dogs.  Pet cats.  Pet hamsters.  

Know that you are the reason someone had a good day...