I met a teacher yesterday who was starting a job at a certain elementary school. I immediately thought of their former librarian, Katy. She was the parent of one of my kindergartner's my first year. I'll never forget how warm and friendly she was, and how helpful. Whenever she had a day off from public school, she would come over and help me.

Her youngest son, Samuel, soon became one of my favorites. Every morning as he came down the hall past the library, he'd come in and say "Good Morning Mrs. Leonard" in the cutest little voice you'd ever heard.

She passed away right around the time my daughter was born, so I didn't get to go to her funeral. It was so sudden. Last time I had seen her we'd discussed daycares for my at that time unborn daughter.

I'veI tried to look out for her little one, over the years. I always let him answer "library' questions, since he was so proud of the fact his Mom was a librarian. He'd say, "Only a librarian's son would know that." with the most adorable grin you've ever seen.

He stopped by to see me last week; it was such an unexpected gift. He looked wonderful, and seemed very happy. I was, and still am, so proud of him. He's taken a major life blow, but he's still Samuel. Or, as I always think of him, Shmuel Yud.