Bittersweet Day

[Jo]

I love you guys.

Mecki, a year ago I posted from time to time, but I have slipped into 
lurk mode for several months now.  I even had a post half finished to 
you the other day before I clicked the cancel button.  I am so glad 
that things are beginning to look brighter for you again.  

Tonight I needed the smiles and chuckles I get from this list since I 
have just learned that there is one less HP fan out there.  My sister 
has been battling cancer for the last couple of years.  Just after she 
started chemo treatments I gave her a tape to listen to while she 
received her treatments.  She became as addicted as I am.  This last 
summer when she realized the the battle would soon be lost, she gave 
me all of her Harry collectables. I received a call a few hours ago 
that she died tonight.  She was less than two years older than I and 
one grade ahead of me.  We shared a bed growing up and were best 
friends.  It has been a hard fight and I am glad she doesn't have to 
do it anymore, but I can't help feeling the great loss.

ON A LIGHTER NOTE:  Our story this week in my fifth grade class was 
"We Will Never Forget You, Roberto Clemente."  It is about a baseball 
player who dies in a plane crash while attempting to fly supplies to 
earthquake victims in Nicaragua. On the test the students are asked, 
"Where was Roberto Clemente going when he died? Why was he going 
there?" One of my precious fifth grade girls who wishes she could be 
Hermione (or Hermonia as keeps pronouncing it) answered, "He was going 
to heaven because he helped people who were in need because of the 
earthquake."  I just love my job!!!

I enjoyed the all of your posts tonight.  Thanks for the virtual 
shoulder.  I will now gather up all of my tissues, dry the keyboard, 
and join my hubby for a couple of hours before the alarm starts 
screaming at me.

Professor Phlash
smiling through the tears