Life. The Old and The New.

The transition into college has been difficult. Things change. October has been a difficult month, in my experience at least. Besides school and the stress of school, which I'm beginning to get the hang of, there have been some experiences which I feared and some which are sad.

The biggest fear of going to college was something happening to one of my parents. Thankfully for now, all is and will be okay, I just pray nothing changes too soon or everyone would like to wish that nothing will change, but we have no control over anything. In the last two weeks, my dad had a biopsy. My mom found a lump on his back and the results came back last week with skin cancer. Fortunately, the doctors think they found and got rid of it all and there will be no chemo or treatment needed. However, my dad is still a few years away from 50, and it frightens me that he's having a problem this early. But I have come to accept that it could be much worse and that he has nothing anyone needs to worry about right now.

Also in the last two weeks, I've had two music professors pass away. I never actually studied with Ms. Karen Adrian, however, I was scheduled to be a student of hers until Ms. Helen Blackburn was ordered to take over all of Ms. Adrian's students for at least the semester while she recovered from some health issues. On October 17th, Ms. Adrian fought her last battle with cancer, only having fought a little over a year. I was looking forward to studying with the Fort Worth Symphony flute Icon, but she is now sharing her music with the Lord.

Early this morning, November 1st, Ronald Shirey, the famous Choral Professor from TCU passed away as well. As I continue to look forward to singing in the TCU Concert Chorale, I enjoyed getting to know him in Choral Union as well as from the many stories from my mother and past choir teachers. He was a wonderful man and I am disappointed I will no longer have the opportunity to learn more from him throughout the rest of my college career. He has been at TCU forever, way before my mothers time. I am thankful to at least have learned a little from this man. May you rest in peace and may the music you have made live with you forever!

I hope that November will bring a new tide. A more hopeful tide to say the least. Speaking of change, I need to begin working on my schedule for next semester. Beginning of November means, beginning of advising!