My Final Blog Post

If you're reading this post, then I've moved onto my next adventure. (C'mon zoo polar bear!!!) This will be my last chance to say

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Hi, again. Tom here. She started this about a month ago and didn't get too far. If we were Hindu I'd believe this would be a step up from being a human, I think. As we are Atheists, we're accepting that we are going to take whatever we get and be glad and thankful for it. This doesn't mean that we won't grumble about it a bit and make snide and snarky remarks about it. That is the perogative of a non-believer when they're wrong. However, this time, I don't think so. So, inspite of our non-beliefs, I'm hoping zoo polar bear too. I can always visit her and talk to her and tell her about what's going on in the outside world and how terribly boring and empty it is without her. Thank you all for the many years and many posts that you've all read, followed and commented on. She really, really appreciated it. As she told me, this will be her legacy. But we all will be the couriers to carry her memory ever onward.

Sandra J Smith
2/5/1966 - 6/28/2015
Rest in Peace, My Sweet Sister.

A New (and Sadly Final) Road Trip to Massachusetts Cut Way Too Short

If you remember correctly, my last posting indicated that now that my pain is in a controllable state that I'd start hitting the road again. I had planned a long weekend in Massachusetts and was looking forward to this trip for weeks. But as the old Biblical adage says: "The spirit is willing but the body is weak" (Matthew 26:41).  It's not often you find me quoting this work of fiction but it seemed relevant.

I started out for Massachusetts on Thursday for a 5 day long weekend. The most important part of this visit was seeing my rock star students. I've been getting messages for months about when I would be back for a promised visit and I knew I just couldn't disappoint my cherubs, so in discussions with my former principal, we decided the last day of school would be the optimal day. This way there wouldn't be any disruption to their studies. But how do you make sure that students show up on that last day -- my kiddos are notorious about blowing off the final day of school.  Simply enough, a few days before you spread the rumor that Ms. Smith will be coming to visit on that day. Instead of 4 or 5 students showing, we had a dozens. It warmed my heart.

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Hello all. This is Sandi's brother Tom. The above was the last blog she completed. She came home Saturday extremely ill and yet she managed to start this blog. I believe she may have had more to say, but I believe you get the gist. She loved her kids and was ecstatic to see the turnout. However, I believe the trip and the excitement in her frail condition may have took a toll on her. But deep down, I think she knew. She piloted this cancer from the start. She was not going to let this cancer dictate or control her life. I'm proud of her. She was one of a kind and I'll miss her til the end of my days. There will be one more post after this one. I'll polish that one up and post soon.