Winter Dreariness

Winter. Snow. Cold snap. Static. Block ice. Accidents. Today, there is death.

Thelma is our Dean's assistant. A very happy gal - always greeting everybody, RS's shock absorber, but most of all - a good person. Her sister died today in Ottawa - car crash, head on collision.

She and I exchange good chats every now and again. Afterall, her workplace is just an earshot away from me and we converge on the front printer where everyone queues in for their print job. We are all shocked, frustrated, teary and sad for her loss. That was her youngest sister - who also is their mom's caregiver - who is confined in a long term care facility.

I don't know much about her sister except that she is the one who was kind of designated to watch over their mom. But, that pang of sadness for her sudden loss took us all aback. In a quick flash, she's gone.

How many of us forget this? That life is short and we need to love everyone whom we see? That anytime, we can get called permanently - no ifs, no buts, no exception.

To Thelma and her bereaved family, our thoughts, prayers and sympathies go to you.