Speaking of dead people.....
We had one of those mornings. About once a year I most invoke the memory of a young fellow who attended high school with me. He died freshman year after a struggle with bone cancer. There comes a day, from time to time, when people are kvetching about not feeling well enough to do any school work. (This happens with the public school attendees and the homeschoolers) Aaargh. Especially the homeschoolers - who can assume any posture they wish, in any clothes they wish, with ample breaks for exercise and snacks.) When the usual stiff upper lip pep talk fails, I must mention John Z. The pale, brave boy with one leg who still went to school day after day. Balancing his own books while traversing the campus on crutches. Today I pulled out all the stops. I told the boys that John not only went to school every day - but he died on a Saturday. He finished the week, then he died.

Poor timing, too closely on the heels of watching Radio Days over the week-end, led Chuck to say he was reminded of the story of the blind baseball player who had lost a leg and arm but kept on plugging. Oh, well. Time to motivate the troops for the afternoon work.