Remembering

Last year, we lost a beloved student to cancer. A. was a cheery, athletic, friendly, and persistent soul who lightened every room she entered. And I'm not just saying that - she was almsot always ready with a smile and a laugh. And when she got down, it didn't usually take much to bring her back around.
She was a stellar athlete and a die-hard Steelers fan. In her battle we saw why: she had the same tough, ground-it-out, in-your-face approach to her battle that Pittsburgh's lines bring to their games. And she still managed to smile after every round.

We had a reception in her honor today that was beautiful in its simplicity. When our student council was trying to find a way to honor her, one of her friends suggested getting a Steelers jersey for her. She had been to a game through the make-a-wish foundation and it seemed like such an obvious idea - why didn't any of the adults think of that? - that it won the vote overwhelmingly.

So now we have it. It's got her number on it, and her name, and it's beautifully folded and framed with a little plaque. Looking at it you can almost imagine her in it. If ever a woman broke into the NFL, it would have been her. Now she's got her place with them forever.