(no subject)

We learned this morning that a dynamic and beloved adjunct instructor lost her battle with kidney cancer. Last month Taylor agreed to move to an assisted care facility because her regimen was just too demanding for her husband, mother, and home care nurse. Her recent posts were upbeat in spite of the setbacks. She sounded so herself. I suppose this news isn't unexpected, but it is still shocking. I barely knew her, but everyone who did recognized that she was a remarkable lady who gave 150% of herself to her work, family, and friends.

I don't know how the news got out. I saw Molly's tweet, and then frantically Googled hoping for confirmation. Karla IM'd me immediately after getting off the phone with Linda, who had just heard from Taylor's mom.

When students would graduate and leave our office, we would joke that ITD and GSLIS were like Hotel California. Today, more than ever, I'm thankful for that, because it meant that I heard this news right away, and that I knew there were people spread across the country that I could talk to, and with whom I could share the news who might not have heard otherwise.

Connection and community. It's what Taylor was all about. She was 54.