Scott Hunter lost his wife a year ago this Christmas. They had been married a little over a year, still the honeymoon stage by any one's calculations. A tragic automobile accident took his spouse on Christmas Eve 2001. Eileen hunt was a designated organ donor and her gift after death helped save the lives of two other people last year.

Personal tragedy effects people in many different ways. The events of September 11th, 2001 taught our country's citizens this lesson a thousand times over. In the year since Eileen's death Scott has grieved and moved forward through life in new and exciting directions.

He left an unfulfilling career as enrolled in the Teacher's Education program at Sierra Nevada College, a first semester student like myself. He shared his recent personal history in class with me this past autumn. He was helping me deal with my mother's terminal illness. It made my other complaints about a difficult romantic relationship seem so insignificant. He spoke clearly and honestly about his wife and where he is in life presently.

Scott was kind enough to invite this casual stray to his house for Thanksgiving. I met his new girlfriend, Sarah for the second time. I also met his extended family and after a typical over entreed holiday meal I learned how happy his loved ones are for this new love in his life. They consider it a blessing for the second son and believe his Eileen found Sarah for him.

I believe I've found a new friend. When my car wouldn't start last week Scott came over and helped me out (on a day when school chores required a working car). Whenever I feel myself sinking into selfish sadness I think about Scott's loss, his courageous reaction and the teaching challenges adventures we will soon both experience.