It has been a sobering few days. First the word from a former student and long-time friend that her twin sister, who has traveled abroad with us, had a sudden onset of mental illness last winter and had committed suicide a few days prior.
Then a visit a couple of days ago to another former student who was bitten by a mosquito last year and developed West Nile disease, leaving her totally paralyzed except for eye movement. And totally conscious and aware. My colleague and I read her the Poohsticks bridge ...