Recovery

After missing more time in the past two weeks than I have in my previous years here combined, I'm back to work. Dad is being moved out of ICU today. It is still a struggle for him to breath. He's not eating much either. It's even a struggle for him to talk. Our house has been besieged by calls from friends asking about Dad.

Dad's sister has flown up from Texas to be with him. I spent most of last week with him. Then on Sunday morning - around two am, I was hit with the flu bug. Koko was sick last Monday, so I must have caught it from here. I spent the night and the morning alternating from nausea and sweats to running to the bathroom to sleeping for a few minutes before repeating the process. I haven't been that sick for years. So I couldn't go up to visit Dad. But Kevin went up to watch the football game with him.

Kristie's brothers and nephew are in town. I'd love to spend more time with them, but given Dad's situation, that's not going to happen as much as I'd like. Her dad is coming to town later this week. His mother is dying from lung cancer and is losing five pounds a day. On top of that I have a funeral to attend today for the husband of a dear coworker. Her husband lost a long and hard battle with cancer too.

For the first in my career, I almost feel out of place in my classroom. I am lost. I don't have a good feel for where the kids are and what they need. That stinks. But as the day goes on, I feel more comfortable and loved and realize that I need this place.