With a splitting headache and exhausted by what she later found out was leukemia, Celia went to church with her family and stayed the whole three hours. Then she went to Duane’s ward for Josh’s blessing, adding another hour or so of church. I’ve gone to church with a headache before, and it’s a chore sitting through all of the talks. I can’t imagine the discomfort Celia must have endured to be there that day.

That was Celia. She did what she knew was right, even if it wasn’t convenient for her. I don’t know how long she had leukemia before she found out, but I can imagine that she had been worn down by the disease for at least a few months. Even when she was exhausted, she gave all of her energy to teaching her kindergarten class and taking care of her family. I doubt that anyone felt that she slacked in her duties during those last few months. Celia was never one to give a half-hearted effort in anything.

Even when Celia was in the hospital after she found out she had leukemia, she didn’t just lie in bed and let others wait on her. She made time to visit with her family and plan what she was going to work on when she got out of the hospital. I didn’t see her without a smile on her face until she was drugged up and on a ventilator. I’m sure she would have smiled even then if she could have.

So I went to class today. If Celia could endure all that she did without a word of complaint, surely I could sit through two classes with a minor headache and sore throat — which, by the way, were both gone by noon. Celia, thank you for your example. I wish you were here to celebrate your birthday with your family, but I hope you know that we celebrate your life. My world, at least, is much brighter because you were such a big part of it.

p.s. I’ve watched this video a few times the past couple of days. It makes me cry every time, but it makes me smile, too.

• My family. Two parents, seven siblings, 15 and counting nieces and nephews. It’s a whole host of people who will be my best friends for the rest of my life. I’m so glad I get along well with all my brothers and sisters. I think it’s sad when people dread family visits — I don’t think that will ever be me. It has been extremely gratifying seeing everyone pull together to help each other through the hard times we’ve had this summer.
• The gospel. Losing a sister is the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through. I know some people would say I’m weak for believing that we’ll be together again as sisters after this life. Then yes, I’m weak. But I’ll never give up the strength that the gospel gives me in times of trial.
• Losing my job. The second-hardest thing in my life has been watching my mom go through chemotherapy for colon cancer, but I’m thankful I could be there to help her through part of it. I have some great memories from the four months I spent with her in Joseph City. The timing of the P-I’s closure couldn’t have worked out better for me.
• Climb Ev’ry Mountain. The Hunt family singers all got together to perform for the first and last time at my mom’s farewell concert when she retired from Joseph City Elementary. I still cry every time I watch the video, but what a memory.
• The drive to Mesa. After my mom’s concert, the whole family went to Mesa for Josh’s baby blessing that same weekend. I rode down with Celia and her two oldest girls and then stayed at Celia’s house Saturday night. I’m thankful I had the chance to spend a few more hours talking and laughing late into the night with one of my best friends.
• Friends. Early in the summer I asked my dad if he felt a little like Job in the Old Testament. His reply was “Our friends haven’t forsaken us.” The love and support I’ve felt from my friends has been amazing. Thank you.
• The Holbrook pool. It was difficult getting up at 5 all those mornings I went swimming with my mom, but I’m grateful I could watch the sun rise over an outdoor pool while my mom got heaps of healing fresh air, exercise and sunshine. My mile will be faster next summer, Mom.
• My bike. I love it. I’m not even close to being on track to accomplish my mileage goal this year, alas. But riding is such a release for me. Hooray for two wheels!
• Grad school. I haven’t started yet, but I’m thankful I got into grad school. And I’m thankful I got into UW. I can’t imagine how stressful it would have been to move across the country to Syracuse with everything else that has been going on. Thanks for accepting me, UW.
• Books. Hooray for words on paper between two slabs of cardboard! So much more than the sum of their parts.

So, this isn’t by any means a comprehensive list. Maybe I’ll add to it from time to time. What are you thankful for?

G: Why did the chicken cross the road?

Me: I don’t know. Why did the chicken cross the road?

G: I don’t know, but it got smashed by a car and died!

The Primary president was visiting my class that day so I tried my best not to laugh, but a tiny guffaw slipped out. I think that’s one of the best chicken jokes I’ve ever heard. Plus, she was so naughtily cute when she told it. My other favorite chicken joke is one my high school buddy Elizabeth’s dad told me, but it’s best told with salty language, so I’ll leave it off my blog.

I applied to grad school in the beginning of January. I’m planning on getting a master’s degree in library and information science. The highlight of my application process was doing an interview with Nancy Pearl, my librarian hero. I listen to her podcast, and I have a deluxe action figure of her with shushing action. A little dorky, I know. So far, Syracuse has accepted me, and I’m waiting for decisions from the University of Illinois and the University of Washington. I’m going to  visit Syracuse in a couple of weeks and then spend a few days in NYC. Anyone want to join me?

The other big event was on January 9. Steve Swartz, the Hearst head of newspapers, came to the P-I and told us that Hearst is tired of losing money publishing the newspaper, so the company was going to try to sell it. If a buyer isn’t found within 60 days, Hearst will close the P-I. The 60-day mark is next Tuesday, so we’ll see what happens. You can probably get a pretty good idea of what we’re going through at the P-I by watching the video on the Rocky Mountain News website. It’s sad to see newspapers dying, especially with the up-close and personal view I have.

• Other cyclists are really friendly, except the super serious people who ride professional racing bikes and wear spandex. They never say “hi” back because they’re too busy being serious. Maybe it’s just carrying over from their accounting jobs.
• Pedestrians, on the other hand, aren’t friendly at all, with one exception — the guy who called out “Bye, beautiful!” as I rode past him.
• Goslings are really cute and fluffy-looking, but their parents are pretty darn scary. I think my mph went up by 10 miles when the mama (or papa) goose came flapping and hissing at me when I rode past the goose family.
• For all the talk about people in SUVs driving like they own the road, I’ve noticed they give me more space than the Prius drivers. They drive like they’re trying to murder me because they’re angry that I emit fewer greenhouse gases than they do.
• Long, gradual hills are waaaay harder than short, steep hills. If you have warning for the short ones, you can get up enough speed to make it most of the way up and then pedal like crazy for a few seconds to get to the top. The long slopes just make you pedal and pedal and pedal, and they really lower your average mph.

That’s it for now. There are some really beautiful spots along my ride, so I’ll post some pics as soon as I get a bike bag that leaves my camera more accessible than it is in my backpack that I strap down onto my rack with bungie cords.