Death!

 What is 'death'?

I don't know how to define it. Some say it's the end of life here on earth, some say you pass from here into eternity, others say it's sleep until the rapture or the resurrection. Whatever it is it brings such sadness.

You can never, ever prepare for death. It is the visitor, that no matter how many times you speak of him, he comes when you least expect him to. You go out for a drive on a beautiful clear day and he shows up like a lamp-pole or a large tree. You go to the beach for a family picnic and he shows up like a large wave crashing onto the shore with an undercurrent. You go to school and he shows up in a simple brawl. You go to bed, tired from the day's work and he shows up like a nightmare from which you can not awaken. 

It's not only that he shows up, but he leaves everyone distraught.

It seems to me that every day someone close to you has a visit. This year 2020, I have 'lost' so many students, friends, and family members to the 'grim reaper'.  Look, I know that the one thing that is certain is 'death's visit'. Yet it is so hard to get used to it.  

Just today, another student who entered the teaching profession had a visit from death, so, not only is the immediate family in mourning but the families of the schools she attended and the schools that she taught at. She was a very young woman with a young son. So, not only has a son lost his mother, her parents have lost their daughter and students their teacher.

With only two months and a few days left in this year 2020, I feel each of us must take all precautions and look out for each other.

We look to 2021 being the best year ever.