When It Rains It Pours

This year has barely begun and yet I'm wondering what else could go wrong. We've gotten a lot of bad news this year. Thankfully nothing that affects us directly, but our friends are suffering. It seems every week there is more bad news.

First, our good friends who also happen to be our neighbors lost their home. We were very excited when we bought this house, as all first time home buyers are. It became even better when we discovered that there were people we already knew that had just bought the house across the street from us. Even better, they were pregnant too. Our children could be long life friends! Unfortunately, the tough economy and poor planning had other things in mind. Still, there is hope. Perhaps they will be able to get their house back when the bank finally decides to put it on the market.

We learned soon after this that other people we know were suffering through post partum depression. I don't know much about this sickness, but I can tell you from dealing with these good people that it is a very real, very scary thing.

Yesterday I was able to reconnect with a fraternity brother. I have been trying unsuccessfully for years to track him down. Our various moves across country didn't help matters. I finally got smart enough to dig around on the university's alumni page and found a work e-mail for him. I was very happy.

I just received a response that tells me of his diagnosis of Lymphoma in his brain. He has been fighting it for some time now. Unfortunately, I don't know about his prognosis. I do know I'll keep him and his family in my thoughts and prayers and I won't be losing touch so easily this time.