The Elfin Blog

On Saturday afternoon my student Seth, who had been battling leukemia for six years, died of complications related to an infection. I am unable to find the words to express my grief. Moreover, as a newish father, the thought of losing a child has new meaning. All of this brings to mind my faith.

While I will certainly miss Seth, I am at the same time happy for him. I firmly believe that he is now in heaven in a state of eternal bliss, joy, and understanding. How could I not rejoice for him? He is in a place where there is no more suffering or misery. He is in a place without chemotherapy, spinal taps, bone marrow biopsies, and cancer. He will never again have to deal with nausea, or his hair falling out, or fear. Seth has suffered enough and now gets to exist in a place where he will never hurt again. It is for those who love him and will miss him to remember this, despite our despair.

It is difficult to explain the attachment a teacher feels for his students. They are a part of your daily life for one or, in my case, two years, and then they move on. While I am always sad to see them go, I know that they will continue to live their lives, hopefully using a lesson or two that I have taught them along the way. The death of a student is a new experience for me. Seth was a spectacular person. I know I will think of him and pray about him often.

I want to write more. I know there are more thoughts here I need to develop. I just can’t right now.

Seth, you rock. Rest in eternal peace.

I had another day home from work today due to the crazy El Nino influenced snow extravaganza that hit yesterday. Normally with a snow day I would think ‘Woo hoo! Party!’ Instead I graded all morning and entered about 250 grades into the grade book. Then, while vacuuming the living room, I discovered a large chunk of what I thought was fiberglass insulation in the fireplace. After picking it up with my bare hands and throwing it into the garbage, it occurred to me that it wasn’t fiberglass at all, but asbestos. Nice. Next, while contemplating the odds of developing mesothelioma, I shoveled the front walk and road in front of my house (so MLW can park). Now I have hat head. And I’m thirsty.

Now I am certainly not complaining, because snow always rock, but I would say it’s time for a beer.

The End, originally uploaded by Elfboy.

The logical conclusion of fascism’s view of war as beauty. Eventually there can be no more war, and hence no more beauty. (No, this version of the game won’t let Germany and Japan fight, unfortunately).

1994 Samuel Adams Triple Bock, originally uploaded by Elfboy.

I had a little Triple Bock the other day. Tasty and delicious, a little oxidized, but still in good shape. I can’t wait to try the 1995 I still have in the cupboard, which I think will be in much better shape.

This pleases me. If you like XKCD, it will please you as well.