As y'all know, my household just enjoyed a miracle this week when we found out on Saturday at a doctor's appointment that my significant other's ovarian cancer tests came out for the good: no cancer.

However, last night we got some bad news.  I've only been retired for 2 years from my 40 year college teaching and hospital chaplaincy career.  For all of those years I've stayed close to the fellow students with whom I earned my doctorate.  Unlike in many professional programs, rather than being about cut throat competition, our program was built on supporting one another as if we were a family of like minds. Pretty sweet.

Last night one of them our own up and died suddenly.  Because I'd been a hospital chaplain and I'd also taught death and dying classes to nursing students, my doctoral classmates turned to me last night individually one by one they came to me via WhatsApp chat.  We  texted back and forth all evening to I could console them as best I could and help them process the shock of our loss.  That went on still all morning today, the next day, too.

Support welcome so I can pass it along.  Thanks.