Matt, you are well-loved.




So many things in this world don't make sense. And I am okay with most of them. I am having a really hard time, though, dealing with the death of a colleague and new friend.

Matt was a fourth grade teacher at CNG and a friend of some of my friends. I remember the first time I met him after school with them. He would hardly even look at me. Matt is very very quiet and very very reserved with strangers. But we went out a couple of times and the last time a group of us went to an 80s club here in town and drank and danced and laughed. And Matt was with us. It was such a good time! His wife, Nidia, danced with me, trying to improve my salsa! We all had such fun.

Matt is no longer with us. He died Sunday night. And his loss is felt deeply.

Today at school, there was a mass for the teachers and students alike. It was held in the high school gymnasium, but it was beautiful. Flowers adorned the walls and the stage. An alter at the front was surrounded by lit candles. The auditorium was packed. It was difficult but heart-warming all at the same time.

Then some of us went to the memorial mass downtown Bogota. Again, it was difficult. How can this be fair? How can this be okay?

I don't know.