When Your Teacher Dies

We had a sad phone call from our violin teacher, Nick. He said his mother was moving into Hospice House on Tuesday. She was diagnosed with lung cancer at the end of the summer (we had no idea), and it spread more quickly than they imagined. His mom was Meggar's piano teacher in high school and had a significant impact on the course of Meggar's ife. Margie was young, only 60 years old. She had not smoked since 1982, and was in fine health until August. The twins and I went to KC at noon today to visit, but she had died this morning! Captain was already heading back with Meggar from college, too (it was too stormy for him to pick her up in his plane). We are all greatly saddened for the family she left behind (Nick and Lindsay are expecting a baby in March), and the students who will miss her joyful personality. Meggar talked about the summer we took Margie and her husband Gary out to the French Restaurant for Bastille Day... And how Margie made her record a song 30 times before submitting it for the Truman State piano auditions! Meggar and I will attend the visitation and funeral service on Sunday afternoon.