When Josh Beal died this past summer, our staff was in shock and disbelief. The grieving process still continues. Losing Shannon was hard last month, but we knew it was coming. We knew when her body lacked the energy her mind was still popping with, forbidding her from sending her short, sweet, sassy texts and updates. We knew and started to process when she mercifully was accepted into hospice. When she was diagnosed four years ago, cancer is a sneaky bastard and after losing Alicia there was some familiarity with what was to come.
A friend, and counselor, said that grief brings up other grief.
And when whatever demons overcame Josh that summer day, grief flowed heavy and swift. There is not one of us who has replayed that last week with our friend and colleague over and over. Looking for missed clues. His incredible wife Justeen, an untouchable strength she wields with grace and comfort, has said multiple times that he has finally found the peace that evaded him since returning from his 4th tour of duty....
It is heartbreaking to have bared witness to what we did when we sent our troops overseas, and brought them back without showering them with an overabundance of the best care and support this country has to offer. No hassel, No loop holes, No endless merry go round of paperwork and offices pointing at one another, shifting responsibility for misplaced files that are more than files...people lost and adrift in a sea of hidden pain filled with experiences and memories so unbearable they are secretly unconsolable behind a well crafted mask of the day to day mundane.
Losing a student is tough.
A friend, and counselor, said that grief brings up other grief.
And when whatever demons overcame Josh that summer day, grief flowed heavy and swift. There is not one of us who has replayed that last week with our friend and colleague over and over. Looking for missed clues. His incredible wife Justeen, an untouchable strength she wields with grace and comfort, has said multiple times that he has finally found the peace that evaded him since returning from his 4th tour of duty....
It is heartbreaking to have bared witness to what we did when we sent our troops overseas, and brought them back without showering them with an overabundance of the best care and support this country has to offer. No hassel, No loop holes, No endless merry go round of paperwork and offices pointing at one another, shifting responsibility for misplaced files that are more than files...people lost and adrift in a sea of hidden pain filled with experiences and memories so unbearable they are secretly unconsolable behind a well crafted mask of the day to day mundane.
Losing a student is tough.
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