The Color of the Day

This week at school the first graders have been learning their color words.  We were asked as a staff to wear the appropriate color each day.  I gave up after three days when I realized I didn't own anything red, orange or purple.  

It was at lunch that I heard the news.  It didn't even make sense to me for the first few minutes and even after it did, I realized it was more devastating to those around me and so I toughed it out and filled in for those that needed to leave.

Pam died today.

And an entire elementary school grieved with the news.

And while I can soothe myself knowing that she's in Heaven dancing with her brother.  While I know that it's better this way than to have suffered through months of treatment to arrive at the same end.  Today, with rain pouring down, my heart aches for a woman that was a best friend to hundreds of people.

It wasn't until later, when I was welcoming a first grade class into the library that it struck me.  It was all I could do to keep myself together and read to the kids.

Nearly every teacher in the building and seven classrooms of students, including Pam's class, were all wearing black.

Today is a very black day indeed.