This must be the day for it...Dammit, I'm sad about this...

[Mikimouse]

A few days ago, there was a news piece about a young photjournalist who was electrocuted while manuevering a crane into position for a shot in Hearne, TX. He was pronouced dead, apparently at the scene. I did not pay much attention to it at the time, but was looking at the university paper this morning and they had the article about the accident. I wish I had not looked. He was one of my A students, back in 2002. This really is a shitty day, all around, and I think I am going to crawl back in bed, curl up with the cats and let them know that Daddy is grateful for their presence. :cry: Matt Moore, good kid, good student, too young!

[Mnemosyne]

1. Hang in there.

Matt was too young and it's a terrible tragedy. So sorry for your pain.

I'm in mourning too, lost my Dad on memorial day, my special cat last Mon. and a dear friend since childhood Fri. a.m.

All you can do is be so very grateful for the time you had together and love and appreciate those still here even more.

They may be gone physically, but always in our hearts.

Take care of yourself.

Vicki

[Mikimouse]

2. I am sorry to hear about your Dad...

That's really hard to deal with, and I wish you all the best. As far as your cat is concerned, I would be lost right now, without my three. They are really all I have, and I am not looking forward to the time that they are no longer with me, even though they always will be. I believe that when our fur children leave us (in body), they are still with us, always checking out the path, just out of sight, but always vigilant. I grieve with you for your friend, and can only say that I hope that they did not suffer and were not afraid, as I hope that Matt never knew what hit him. I have always had a very good relationship with my students, one for which, at times, I have been criticized by some of my peers. Still, once they are in my courses, they become 'mine' in a way. Matt and many others have made my career a truly positive experience. Hugs to you for responding to the thread!:hug:

[juajen]

5. What a marevelous teacher you must be

I'm very sorry. What a tragedy! As for your furry friends leaving you, the very best antidote for this is to rescue another one. Though the sadness doesn't go away, it is abated. I'm still grieving over our beloved golden retriever and I refuse to replace her; but, we keep rescuing kittens, so our cup runneth over, as there are so many needing love and attention. Good luck to you and your precious furry friends.

[Mikimouse]

6. Thank you for the kind, if totally undeserved, words...

Really, my only claim to fame, as it were, as far as teaching is concerned is that I care about my students and value teaching as a profession. This has not gone over well with others, who tend to denigrate teaching and compare it unfairly to research (I do both), putting it down as a 'lesser' activity. Do I know everything, hardly!. Do I know much? Resounding NO to that one too, as I learned in my graduate program that the most important thing one must realize is how much we don't know. I had a great example as a mentor at Texas Tech. University, a 40 year professor and researcher, whose example I have carried into my own career, so it really is his approach, not mine. My cats are my friends and my children. They are all rescues and would have probably not lived this long had they been left out in the streets. In fact, my Pooky is walking around on the desk right now, letting me know that it is time for an afternoon nap with the kitties. Love them dearly!

[Mnemosyne]

8. thank you miki, we all go on

[wellstone_democrat]

3. One of mine: Iraq last month (I found out today)

A bright earnest kid from the first university course I taught as a graduate instructor. Seems he was now in the Army with a wife and child left behind. So many from my current institution (big military area, big ROTC programs) are in the ME now that its not going to be the last I fear of those I know.

It is quite a day all around.

[Mikimouse]

4. Yep, I am waiting for exactly that sort of news from some of the ...

other students, and am dreading it, as I am sure you do. My university is an established military/academic institution, with a large contingent of cannon fodder. It gets to me sometimes when I realize just how many of these students will not be back. It is heartbreaking that they are dying for nothing (not that I would be any happier if they died for something real, but it would be a bit easier to deal with). My sympathies to you on the loss of your student. All we can do is give them the respect they deserve while they are 'ours', I guess.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

7. I'm so sorry that happened.

I wish we had faculty like you. I've never had a professor care if I was around. Thanks for caring. :hug: You should come here and teach our staff here at SWOSU a thing or two.
Duckie

[Mikimouse]

9. One never knows...I could end up there in the not too...

terribly distant future. It is a safe bet that the university here isn't going to hire me after graduation (they don't hire their own Ph.D.s). Professors HAVE to care, that has always been my major beef with the current educational system. After all, we were undergraduates at some point and did our fair share of complaining about OUR profs. too. One has to recognize that students today are under the same pressures academically, but more pressure to consume, than we were at the same point in our lives. The drive to consume didn't originate with the students, they were socialized to it by my gneneration. Must...have...American...Dream...NOW! Hogwash, you have all the time to do what you want to do, you don't have to have all of the fake displays of success early in life. Love what you do and you will never be frustrated.

[NJCher]

10. I know what you mean

I looked at the pics of the people who died on one of the 9/11 flights and saw one was my student from years ago.

A very sad moment.

The worst part was that she was a goof-off in my class but when I read her obit, I realized she'd gotten her act together.


Cher

[Mikimouse]

12. It is a damned shame, it really is...

I have an appreciation for that. I have had a number of students who goofed off in my classes and paid the price, but then a few years later came back and re-took my course (sometimes more than one course) and had turned themselves around. To lose one of those is a real tragedy. I grieve with you.

[Darth_Kitten]

11. What is it about today?

:grouphug: My thoughts to those who are hurting. :hug:

[Mikimouse]

13. I don't know but it appears to be pretty widespread...

and it isn't a good day for a lot of people. The worst one, clearly, is Lisa, but it seems that it doesn't get much better as one looks at the list. My love and hugs to everyone today.