Musing

It has been a LONG time since I've written anything on my blog. It isn't for a lack of things to write about in my life. In the last 12 months I've: Had another surgery on my eye, now I can see 20/20. Got TWO wonderful, beautiful, fabulous new daughters-in-law. Ran my first 5K. And many, many other things. Life has been mostly good, but isn't it always? Today has been my day of feeling....reflective. I took my mom and Aunt Kay to Montana to see Marti. I wish I had a picture of her face when we walked in! She was SO happy! It just made me glad I thought of taking them up. We had a great time driving around and seeing Marti's old stomping grounds. She and Wayne somehow understand each other, and she was directing him all over Dillon. Whenever he'd get where she wanted him to go, she'd say, "TADA!!!" Since her stroke, she hasn't been able to verbally articulate how she feels, what she needs, what hurts...the list goes on and on. We underestimate the power of speaking. Of being able to say, "I love you." Marti is the kind of teacher I want to be just like. She loved her students. She helped them have successes, even in the face of really hard issues. She has worked with some of the most difficult students there are. Some had cognitive issues, some had problems socially, others were students with behavioral issues so pronounced--some thought them unteachable. She taught them skills that gave them sources of income. She gave every single kid a chance. Every SINGLE one. Now she's in a rest home recuperating from a broken pelvis. In this home is 'boy' in a cowboy hat. One of her former students. When we were taking her out for a walk, he raised his hand to say hi, but when we approached him, he put his head down. Two other residents picked up his slack and asked her if she was going out. "What a deal," she said with a grin. This is one of only five phrases she can articulate. They don't care, they love her. We love her. It's hard to know how she was, to how she is now, but today we got to see a glimpse of her old self. It was a good day. The other reason I'm feeling like this is that a girl who was in choir with Kelsey was killed in an accident last night. I barely knew her, but I have such fond memories of her. She sang like an angel. I remember the solo she did for Jr. Miss like it was yesterday. I remember how kind she was to the younger girls. I remember her helping us cut veggies at at special dinner. In all, I probably spent only 6 hours of her too short life with her. Yet, I am profoundly saddened by her passing. SO...it makes me wonder about how many people are, or will be affected by me in MY lifetime. I swear, everybody in Montana knows Marti. She has obviously had such an impact on so many lives...she still does. Sarah was just starting out. She could not have known the impact she had in my life. It just really makes me have the feeling I should be so, SO much better.