Has any body else's close friend, uncle, parent, etc. passed away? I would like to know how you deal with it- I just can't handle it right now.
This sounds very late, but...
Just a couple of weeks ago, an art teacher I had in 7th grade died at the age of 29 in late March.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-liteac244673540mar24,0,2674386.story?track=mostemailedlinkHis name was Ryan Zinna. The year I had him wasn't a great one, because this was the same school year as the 9/11 attacks, and pretty much everyone in all my classes hated me for stupid reasons, so I was in sort of a depression.
The Semester I had Mr. Zinna (actually, it was a quarter, I had home ec. the first one, and art the second) he seemed like a very nice guy, and he was. He came into the classroom with a smile on his face every day. He always had conversations with me and a friend of mine while we were working on our art projects.
Him: Gamecube? I've seen the commercials for it. Are you getting it?
Me: Yeah, definitely.
He made me very happy at the times I felt sad.
The day he died, I was not aware of it until I saw a friend's away message that said "RIP Mr. Zinna :(". I IMed him to see what was going on. He told me he collapsed while teaching a class.
The next day, we had a moment of silence in the high school shortly before the morning announcements, and were told the flags were at half-mast all over the district. Later that day, there was an announcement forbidding high school students from entering the middle school.
That weekend, they held a day of the funeral for former students. My sister and I went there separately (I don't know why she went, I don't think he was her teacher). I wore a black dress shirt and black pants from earlier that day, as we were celebrating my father's 50th birthday at a nice restaurant. It was a chilly March evening, but I ignored the cold as I waited in the long line into the funeral home with my father. I also pointed out to him former teachers of mine. In front of me was my 6th grade band teacher, and a relative of my 7th grade band teacher. As we got in, I also pointed out two cafeteria staff members who both retired, my current phys. ed. teacher, and my current science teacher. There was a board that students could write on saying their goodbyes to the teacher.
When I finally got into the room, I saw many students. My father and I walked up to the coffin (this was a wake, so it was open). He wasn't wearing a suit, but a casual dress shirt. We stood there in silence for a few minutes. My father wanted us to leave, but I insisted on staying longer. He left and waited in the car.
I stood back near the entrance again. I saw that girl who told me to not play the high notes in that Miss Saigon medley there, as well as her twin sister. Whenever they hugged someone, such as one of the chorus teachers (the man who played the Phantom in the Phantom of the Opera piece), they broke out in tears. I also went to the guy I IMed the other day, and asked him how he was doing. Knowing I wasn't going to be talked to by anyone else, I left and went back into the car and went home.
I talked to my father about how kind he was, and how young he was when he taught me.
So, I can sort of sympathize with you...Juat pray every night for your friend, and know others are praying with you.
