if I keep writing ...

A friend I have worked with for twelve years comes into my classroom. His role at the school has changed so this is an unusual visit this year. I say, "Can I help you?"

Not really.

He walks past my students who are learning about the reasons and consequences of the Missouri River "sinking" faster than expected.

He stares out the window where the aloe is in all its glory.

Wordless he walks back to the doorway, turns, says, "can I talk to you a minute?"

I think, "hmmm what did he expect to see? what student needs to be "dealt" with???" I am so wrong.

He tells me a friend has died. He tells me someone had said, "go tell Stratz before the e-mail gets sent."

Two men who shared their sacred stories. two men who listened with open hearts to mine. two men who always greeted me with a smile for 12 years. enough. I don't want to be missing smiles and hearts. It won't stop.

So my stoic heart turns and we continue on with the geology lesson.

The heart that was so warmed by these men is finally touched. Again, it happens with music, with amber glass in my hand, with God in my studio.

and a CD chosen randomly has the song that broke through my stoic self. It starts this way ...

I should be getting some sleep
I try and I try but I can't keep
From picking apart everything that we said
Yeah, I shouldn't be running this maze
Trying so hard to find a way to raise up the dead...

Kim Richey "I know" from her album Bitter Sweet.