New Music, Death, Ireland
I have a new music love. His name is Joshua Radin. He has done a few songs for Scrubs and I guess is a good friend of Zach Braff's. He has this beautiful pure voice and kind of haunting melodies. A lot of his songs are a bit sad, but they are so beautiful. I downloaded 4-5 songs of his from iTunes last night and have been listening to them pretty much constantly. I have also really been enjoying some songs from Joseph Arthur and Colin Hay. Really any artist that has had a song on Scrubs I've been listening too recently.
Let's see in other news my favorite teacher from grade school passed away this past Thursday. She taught me in both 5th and 8th grade and was a very special lady. She was one of those teachers who is really tough, but in a way that really challenges you to learn and do better. She reminds me a lot of Mrs. Greene from Lee. Mrs. Cockayne was tough, but had a great sense of humor and love of life and of God. Sometimes on nice days she would decide to take our class for a walk in the middle of the day. Sometimes we would walk around the school and say the rosary or go to mass instead of having religion class. She would give us Tootsie Roll pops and let us have extra recess, and yet I still learned more in her classes than in most of my other classes at St. B''s. She got me interested in Church history, taught me that algebra could be fun, and helped me through some tough times. She was my teacher the year our house burned down and helped plan the "Queen for a Day" surprise party the ladies threw for my mom after we lost so many things in the fire. She was a very funny and loving woman. She actually spent several years in a convent before leaving and getting married. She showed me how nuns could be completely normal people and strong women. She also had a great love for Ireland. Before I left to go to L'Arche she told me all about her travels there. She and her husband rented a car and drove all over the country for 3-4 weeks. She said she couldn't wait to go back again, but I guess that didn't happen. She was a great teacher and really helped me grow into the woman I am today. She had been struggling with cancer for the last few years and it finally got the best of her. She will be greatly missed.
One really shitty thing about all of this is that her funeral is this Saturday, the same day as Becky and Francisco's wedding. Since about 1/2 of their bridal party went to St. B's and knew & loved Mrs. Cockayne it makes it a bit tougher. Robbie, Francisco, and Adam all will miss the funeral because if the wedding. I am going to try to go to the funeral and leave as soon as it ends and haul butt to the wedding. I am hoping Melchers will be able to meet St. B's or something to go to the wedding. I guess we shall see.
In less depressing news I leave for Ireland in three weeks! I cannot wait to see everyone. I haven't seen Eamonn since January and I haven't seen Nuala and all of my friends in Cork since November. Any time I get annoyed about work I just think of the rolling green hills, the fresh air, the tasty beer, and the smiles of all of the people I love there. In a way I really feel like I am going home for the first time since November and it makes my heart happy. I am just worried that once I get over there I will not want to come back. Leaving there the last time was so hard & I just don;t know how I will deal with having to do it again.
Let's see in other news my favorite teacher from grade school passed away this past Thursday. She taught me in both 5th and 8th grade and was a very special lady. She was one of those teachers who is really tough, but in a way that really challenges you to learn and do better. She reminds me a lot of Mrs. Greene from Lee. Mrs. Cockayne was tough, but had a great sense of humor and love of life and of God. Sometimes on nice days she would decide to take our class for a walk in the middle of the day. Sometimes we would walk around the school and say the rosary or go to mass instead of having religion class. She would give us Tootsie Roll pops and let us have extra recess, and yet I still learned more in her classes than in most of my other classes at St. B''s. She got me interested in Church history, taught me that algebra could be fun, and helped me through some tough times. She was my teacher the year our house burned down and helped plan the "Queen for a Day" surprise party the ladies threw for my mom after we lost so many things in the fire. She was a very funny and loving woman. She actually spent several years in a convent before leaving and getting married. She showed me how nuns could be completely normal people and strong women. She also had a great love for Ireland. Before I left to go to L'Arche she told me all about her travels there. She and her husband rented a car and drove all over the country for 3-4 weeks. She said she couldn't wait to go back again, but I guess that didn't happen. She was a great teacher and really helped me grow into the woman I am today. She had been struggling with cancer for the last few years and it finally got the best of her. She will be greatly missed.
One really shitty thing about all of this is that her funeral is this Saturday, the same day as Becky and Francisco's wedding. Since about 1/2 of their bridal party went to St. B's and knew & loved Mrs. Cockayne it makes it a bit tougher. Robbie, Francisco, and Adam all will miss the funeral because if the wedding. I am going to try to go to the funeral and leave as soon as it ends and haul butt to the wedding. I am hoping Melchers will be able to meet St. B's or something to go to the wedding. I guess we shall see.
In less depressing news I leave for Ireland in three weeks! I cannot wait to see everyone. I haven't seen Eamonn since January and I haven't seen Nuala and all of my friends in Cork since November. Any time I get annoyed about work I just think of the rolling green hills, the fresh air, the tasty beer, and the smiles of all of the people I love there. In a way I really feel like I am going home for the first time since November and it makes my heart happy. I am just worried that once I get over there I will not want to come back. Leaving there the last time was so hard & I just don;t know how I will deal with having to do it again.