"May every soul that touches mine-

Be it the slightest contact-

Get therefrom some good;

Some little grace;

one kindly thought;

One aspiration yet unfelt;

One bit of courage

For the darkening sky;

One gleam of faith

To brave the thickening ills of life;

One glimpse of brighter skies

Beyond the gathering mists-

To make this life worth while.”

~George Eliot

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This is terrible. It is almost made worse by the fact that neighbors remember the husband as a kind, friendly person. You never know what the day is going to bring - you can only hope that people who deserve kindness never meet this sort of tragedy. But who - if not everyone? - deserves kindness? We're taught not to judge, yet we all do.

Grineline James smiled at her students and treated them with respect. Honestly, as badly as I want to be known as an innovative, profoundly learned teacher, I think the greatest honor we can strive for is to be remembered as compassionate and respectful. And happy to be called to the profession. She seemed happy to be there, every day. And that's what I'll remember about her.