I have been away for a while, and it actually has nothing to do with school. We enjoyed a short Easter break, and then jumped right back into the swing of things. We've been tremendously busy and there is still a lot of uncertainty, but it hasn't kept me from blogging. Some days, the teaching is the easy part.
Some days, life is the hard part.
My husband and I received news on Sunday that his father's melanoma had moved beyond the point where it is treatable and arrangements have been made for him to come home, with the support of hospice, to live out the rest of his days in peace and dignity. To try and put the overwhelming sadness that my husband is feeling into words is completely impossible. To try and explain how helpless I feel when I look at him and know there is nothing I can do is equally impossible.
I'm not sure many how many people read this little blog, but if you do, thank you. Please do me this favor. If you're outside enjoying the sun, as I love to do, please wear your sunscreen. Please check yourself. Please set up an appointment with your dermatologist for a routine skin check and go each year for a recheck. All of these things can lead to the early detection and treatment of melanoma. With those two things, less families may have to say goodbye to somebody they love much sooner than they should.
You can click here to find more information about melanoma, it's treatment and it's prevention. Or a google search will also get you a wealth of information on the topic.
There's also one more thing. Each and every day, take some time to remember that it's not all about teaching - it's about life. We need to make sure that we appreciate every single person in our lives and TELL them that... before it's too late.