Day 1105: Snow day

A snow day! You wouldn't think it would matter a bit to two retirees.  We needed to copy and mail all the letters to the new student leaders.  When we arrived at school, the entire parking lot was empty.  We walked right in and found Dave and Steve, maintenance men, having a confab.  They must love having the whole place to themselves.

In the print shop, no one was using the copy machine so we zipped in and made all the copies and stuffed the envelopes.  On tv, the news reporters were following the occupation of a print shop in Paris where thousands of police were fighting and killing the two terrorist brothers who killed the journalists.   It was a very strange feeling.  It seems so wrong to give worldwide attention to such despicable characters, to dramatize and romanticize their struggle.   They said they would die martyrs and they did.  Not to us, but to other extremists and marginalized people.  The focus on them, rather than the victims, was wrong and will lead to further trouble.

Brigitte arrived in the middle of the worst of the storm and spent an hour talking about Quest.   Whenever I speak with former student leaders, I am so moved by their passion and dedication.  I interviewed a parent last night and he shared the impact the program had on his oldest daughter.  His second daughter will go this year and then he wants to be sure we'll still be around for his eight year old son.  I'll be 71!  Will we still be backpacking at 71 and 74?  I hope so.  They remind me how important the program is to everyone.