I've heard from my parents that a family friend, Ann Knofel, just died on the road in Seward, Alaska, after the car with her and her husband in it was hit by a drunk driver. Ann followed my blog and sometimes sent me e-mails about art she'd seen, and updates on setting up life in Alaska and teaching in school after her move there from Seattle a couple years ago. She had a hard time in Seattle but really came into her own when she moved to Alaska, and I'm glad she at least got a couple years of being so happy. Here's an extract from the last e-mail she sent me:

Hello Sarah -
Greetings from Alaska where the sun is shining and spring is here!
At my school today and yesterday we have an artist from Boston visiting. He is Bren Bataclan and he is known for giving away his art. Every place he visits he leaves his paintings in random places for people to take for free. I was lucky enough to find one of his paintings in a coffee shop today! His style of characters is whimsical and I thought you might enjoy his website: www.bataclan.com.

I just want to send hugs and condolences to her family and to my parents and aunt and uncle and their friends, I know they're all taking it pretty hard. Also good wishes for her husband's recovery after the accident. He's the pastor who married Stuart and me and we care about him very much. xoxo