I am stepping away from school work for a moment. ...

I am stepping away from school work for a moment. … On Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, I faced the worst of times, and the best of times. I attended a memorial service for a former Addison (Mich.) High School classmate’s father. My friend Pat Mitchell’s father Bill was an avid outdoorsman, and Bill and Pat shared a strong appreciation of the outdoors and hunting. Bill was nearest my dad when I hit my first grand slam as a switch-hitting sophomore in 1987, and he celebrated with my dad. As a member of the Board of Education, Bill told people there were certain graduating students he wanted to hand the diploma to during graduation, and I was one of those students. After Bill’s service, I celebrated my dad’s upcoming 70th birthday with him and my mom Judy at Bob Evans in Adrian, Mich. My dad Richard turns 70 on Monday. My dad and I share a great appreciation of sports, and I joke that my dad is a walking historian of local sports knowledge from Lenawee, Hillsdale, and Jackson counties. Since June 2009, each faced cancer. My dad was diagnosed in June with prostrate cancer. He endured a surgery in August, and he has returned to his normal lifestyle. Bill was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September, and he died Saturday, Jan. 30. I hate the loss of good people, and Bill was a good person. How come my dad was fortunate, and Bill was not? We will never know that answer; however, it sure makes a day like today feel bittersweet to me.