Sue's Shell

I won't say I got the best gift but I was the recipient of the most thoughtful gift.

Sue and I have worked side by side for fourteen years. I was the new media specialist, she was the seasoned media assistant who transferred over and help the rookie. Needless to say, she does more than put up with most of my crazy ideas, she makes them happen. We have hosted 100 guest readers to celebrate Dr. Seuss' 100th birthday, hosted a Readers' Cafe every December for kids to sit back and remember the joy of reading, we have taken apart and put back together our 3D printer more than once. I'm lucky to work with Sue, not just because she usually says yes but because she is so good at what she does. 

One day last June Sue went home with a sore throat. By the next morning she was in ICU, diagnosed with streptococcus pneumonia. The woman who never took a sick day was suddenly very, very sick. During the next two weeks, while I found out how much work goes into shutting down the media center for the summer (a lot!), Sue's husband, Mike, was introduced to the concept of life is random, love is not. How else do you explain the outpouring of support our school community showered on their family? Oh sure, Mike knew Sue went off to work every day but he had no idea how beloved she was. 

Sue was released from the hospital and part of her rehab was to walk. Each day she walked a little further. 

"My goal was to walk to Grass Island the "long way" which was a huge distance to me at the time. After lots of walks I finally made it there! Every day after that I would pick up a shell to prove to myself that I could do it. The shells were not perfect in any way but to me they were worth a great deal."

I was gifted with one of those shells and it is perfect - a perfect reminder that:

LIFE IS RANDOM LOVE IS NOTTM