How many will be affected?

So today I found out that a former teacher of mine passed away from breast cancer. She had been battling for the past couple of years now and the battle if finally over. With the death of my teacher and a couple of things that have happened to me this past week, I have realized how many people are affected by death. Since it is the summer time and I am not at school I go and do one of my favorite things, watch baseball. A really good friend of mine is an Athletic Trainer for the summer team and when I am on my way to the game or I am heading home after the game she always tells me to be careful. I don't know how many times my family, relatives, or friends tell me to be careful, but I never really take it to heart.One night on my drive home (about a half hour from the ballpark), I was thinking about this and if I were to pass away or anyone pass away how many people would be affected. Not just immediate family, but people who's lives I or anyone else have touched. My teacher was a great person and she touched my life immensely. She was never my homeroom teacher but she was the women who taught me everything about English and she also taught me how be confident in myself when talking to people in higher power then me. I will forever miss her, but when thinking about the upcoming funeral and calling hours I wonder how many people will pay respects. However, after getting through calling my friends and telling them of the sad news, I received a text from one discussing how she will be missed, loved, and never forgotten. It just goes to show 1. how quickly word gets around these days and 2. how she affected people. Below is a quote that I found on the Internet that holds true to my teacher and how everyone should remember her.

“You can shed tears that she is gone,

Or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back,

Or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her,

Or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,

Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her only that she is gone,

Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind,Be empty and turn your back,

Or you can do what she’d want:

Smile, open your eyes, love, and go on.”