This classroom… the people in it… it’s daunting.  I came in with the belief I had knowledge and creativity with much to learn… but never in a million years would I have realized just how much! These kids are brilliant… coming from previous degrees and diplomas where they’ve already learned many of the skills necessary for this course… and it’s terrifying! Don’t get me wrong… I’m smart… I’m just not sure I’ve got what it takes to pull off the imagination some of these kids are obviously gifted with.

It’s been a long week… both Bones and Spiderman had difficulty getting up this morning and when I spoke with The Tall Blonde the other day, her voice was so hoarse from being part of St. FX’s “hype” group during Frosh that she sounded like a cross between a dolphin and a chronic smoker… possibly a chronic smoking dolphin.  Me… I’m happy my classes don’t start, for the most part, until later in the day but it makes suppertime incredibly rushed not to mention getting “the littles” to their various activities on time… and with everything they need.

The thing is though… I have no right to complain. Everything going on with me seems trite compared to the news this week. A story of a beautiful family struck by tragedy has left so many people reeling. I honestly can’t remember a time I’ve said so many prayers and shed so many tears for folks I have great respect for… but barely know. I’m counting my blessings… praying for their recoveries… hoping nothing that heinous or tragic ever happens to me and feeling ultimately guilty that such a selfish thought could enter my head. On top of that… the death of a young boy during Frosh week has me again, counting my blessings that my own child came through the week with nothing more than a touch of laryngitis. Add to that… as if this week’s news isn’t frightening enough… a child is missing in BC and while his parents are frantic with fear, I know exactly where my three are even if I’ve made a change that keeps me away from them more than I’ve ever been before. Suddenly, nothing going on with me is in any way important… people are in horrible pain.

For every single one of us… life is busy. In the blink of an eye, everything can change. Your child goes missing, is hurt… or worse.

We need to slow down… count our blessings… tell the people we most care about how very important they are.

It’s been one helluva week but not for me… for the folks who’ve had their lives changed so drastically… that they’ll never be the same again.