Three years ago, I heard the sudden news from one of my preschool student whose father passed away because of cancer.

Christmas time last year, I heard my friend Pam's daughter J, whose child was one of my student. J received cancer treatment last summer. But the treatment was not effectively. So she had mastsectomy of both breasts. Still it did not stop the cancer from reaching to the rest of her body. Cancer clinic said there was little they could do. Facing her mortality, she tracked down someone who went to Germany to receive a much more aggressive treatment which cost tens of thousands of dollors. Her good friends and sister did fund raising for her. Pam's husband and J's father also passed away during December. The family did not even have time to mourn for the lost one. J flew out to Germany. I went to R's celebration (memorial )service in Janurary and met the whole family. E - P's other grandson, was also my former student, the nicest and brightest boy I have ever taught, whose mom is a single parent and R was like his dad, He was the one crying most for R.

R was a small man, who appears insignificant as he had work injury years ago. He just help out anywhere that needs him. But he drew a crowd which filled the whole theatre at Surrey Art Centre and so many people told stories of who he was. Their family tie just touched my heart so much. That family has gone through a lot, yet they hold each other up even tighter than before.


This month came another news that one of my alumi, now a ten years old girl, her mother died of brain infection. I feel so sorry for the children. But that is life, it is so fragile - today we are here, but tomorrow, we may be gone.