Blogging is not coming easily to me right now. It's been a busy week because I've chosen to make it so. And friends have helped by contacting me on Facebook, e-mailing. calling, inviting me out for coffee(thanks, Peg and Sandi) and just making their presence felt in my life. Tuesday, I was an emotional wreck, trying to function on too little sleep and too much stress(ICE ON THE ROADS!), Then when I thought I could crawl get to bed early at 9 p.m. the phone rang, and it was Alison, sobbing about Ashley's departure, not being home with us, and definitely needing her mom to listen, not snore on the phone! So, Wednesday came and thankfully, it was Book Club, then a high school gymnastics meet; I was doing lots of rushing around, which kept me from the computer and from brooding on the lack of contact. Thursday arrived and with it, TWO e-mails, an entry on Ashley's blog and a surprising phone call from Senegal. Because I was so shocked, I didn't say or ask anything I wanted to--plus the connection wasn't the greatest. But still...I heard her voice! She e-mailed me today that she is doing better than she expected emotionally, but that hearing my voice made her weepy. Today she meets her host family, so I hope that will go well! And I DO have the best friends ever, who don't ask too much but just let me know that they are thinking of me. That means more than I can say. Today was the last day of 1st semester, and I spent several hours working on grades, correcting quizzes,and dealing with students who don't make up anything until the last minute. It feels great to be finished...until Monday when it all starts over. *sigh*