When it Rains, It Pours

But everyone knows it doesn't rain in EC when the rest of the state is predicting rain. And again, no rain. So why the title? Because once it started it seems like it doesn't end.

It is sad to see so many of our elderly citizens in this small town pass away. There is no easy way to say it without it meaning what it really means. This people have been stalwarts in the community, examples to so many of us. It started a few weeks ago with our home teacher, Ted Thomas. Saturday night we got the word that our neighbor, who has been in the hospital for about two months, passed away earlier that day. It was so hard to ask the family how Bland was doing and knowing that he wasn't doing too well. It hasn't been that long since his twin brother passed away, so I am sure there has been a happy reunion.

Now today, another major person in the lives of so many of us. Mr. Curtis, Bishop Curtis, President Curtis, Patriarch Curtis, all these titles fit that great man. He has suffered from the effects of Alzheimer's disease, a terrible disease that takes the mind away from the person. Now he is no longer suffering from the confusion he must have been feeling. What a relief for him. It was just last March when his daughter, my close friends, passed away. Now he is able to join her as they keep busy helping to prepare for the rest of the family.

In the meantime, these wonderful examples in our small community are leaving us. I remember then Ray and Christy Humphrey were the "old people" and when they passed on wondering what life would be like without these older people to look up to. Then Ted, Bland, Roger, and all the others stepped up and became the "old people" in town. Who will be next? I guess that falls to those of us still working but getting older each day. I pray that I can leave the kind of legacy they left for us.

Mr. Curtis was every one's teacher. I remember him reading books to us each day. He would use different voices for the different characters. I can't hear his voice reading, but I remember the feeling of wonder as he changed his voice and read with feeling. Perhaps that is why I enjoy reading to my students so much. I don't change voices, but do put in a lot of acting in my reading. I love to watch as my students pay attention to the stories. There is one boy this year who is just glued to the stories. I can tell his mother reads to him at home (she said she does), and he knows how to pay attention and visualize the story. Others are as involved as he is, but there are still others who just can't sit and listen. I think that is really sad that they can 't get into a book and enjoy the escape. I remember Mr. Curtis telling us that we could travel anywhere and to any time we wanted to if we would just read. What a great example to us.

So, another day......Hopefully tomorrow will be a bit better.