Such Things Happen

I got a call last night that a former colleague had passed away. Although he had been a teacher in the school  when I was a student, he was a brand-new baby teacher then, and was really in my age range. He retired the minute he turned 55, and was 62 when he died the other day, playing racquetball.

 

I always wonder about why some deaths seem to have more impact on us than others. It's not a matter of closeness; of course, we are most affected by the deaths of those we love, and who love us. I've actually heard about three deaths in the last 24 hours, all of them men who were taken before their time. (In their fifties and sixties, but not elderly.) But it isn't even a matter of knowing the people; sometimes, the death of a particular famous person has more impact on us than others'.

 

Perhaps we simply identify more with some people than we do with others; we have a greater sense of tragedy with some than with others. I don't know. I guess I'm in a morbid state of mind today, as one might expect. I'm not bummed, just thoughtful.

 

On a happier note, we went over a lot of wedding details and budgeting information yesterday, which was fun and all good stuff to know. We're going to go dress shopping this Saturday, R and K and I, and the SnL's mom, henceforth to be known as the machetenesta (which is the Yiddish word for what she and I are to each other, or will be after the wedding.) She's very nice, I like her a lot. I could see hanging out with her here and there, especially once we all relax with each other.

 

A quiet day at school today, hot and cold, hot and cold. Or maybe that's just me. Anyway, all I have to do today is the workout, and then I'm making some kind of pork chops for dinner. The new plan is that I will make dinner on Mondays. Fine with me. K isn't home for dinner on Wednesdays, and she can cook any other night she wants to. And if not, also fine. I can always cobble together something.