Weekend wrap-up

Weekend in Nablus, which means I have the energy and time for an update.  I'll keep with the present for the most part rather than playing any catch-up on the time that I wasn't posting.

I spent the entirety of my last weekend at school working on lesson plans and preparations for the week to follow.  The difficulty I've had making lesson plans was rather surprising, but after co-planning my last week with my director, I feel that I have a better handle on what I should be doing.

In the midst of my marathon work weekend, I received an email notifying me that Josh Rake had died in a car accident.  For those of you who don't know, I basically grew up with my best friend, Melissa, after the age of 12.  Her brothers are like my brothers, and Josh and his twin Matt have been close friends of her younger brother Ryder for the last decade or so. 

Immediately after receiving the email, I got a skype call from my family, along with my 2 year old niece.  Seeing her smiling face, singing Itsy Bitsy Spider with her, and making faces back and forth allowed me to wipe away the thought of the painful news I'd just received. 

Josh's funeral was held two days ago.  Ryder was a pallbearer.  The Itsy Bitsy Spider's effects finally wore off on me by Thursday.  Not being around people who share your grief seems to compound it.  Not being there to comfort the people you love who are grieving sucks, too. 

The Strouds had another loss this week, Uncle Rick.  In less than a week's time, Bob and Ryder will both be pallbearers for their close friends.  If you are reading this, please keep the Strouds in your thoughts and prayers right now.  Please keep the Rake family in mind as well.  Josh's parents just lost their 20 year old son, and Matt just lost his twin.

My great-aunt Beverly just passed away yesterday, as well.  Beverly had been suffering, and we all hope that she has now found relief. 

On a lighter note, I heard Avril Lavigne's "Complicated" played on the banjo yesterday.  Must say that it was the highlight of my day, if not my week.

Love to all.