Good golly...I took a few days off here just to regroup a bit and there has been no end to the calls and emails asking if I am okay...you are all very sweet to think of me. Really, I am fine. I just wanted a few days of quiet and reflection...one just needs to do that sometimes. This was one of those times. And, now I am back, and ready to roll out of town for sectionals tomorrow.
Before heading out of town, however, the CSC Summer State Swim Party was tonight and CSC had a lot of state qualifiers as you can see from the group photo. I can't begin to tell you the names of all the little ones, but Matt's group is composed of, by and large, the swimmers sitting in the front row. (Michael and Elliot are in the second standing row, the first two boys in; Ali is up on the right in front of the boy with the red bandana.) Here's an attempt at the ones who appear most often on the blog and in conversations. Sitting in the front and reading left to right: Mike, Johnny, Mickey, Rhiannon, Jessie, Trish, Carly, Daniel, Megan D., Matt G., Matt F., Harrison, and Andrew. Then in front of them are Lauren S., Matt S., Samantha, Megan J., Josh, and John. In front is Charles.
The swimmers are always a lot of fun and when I was circling around, camera in hand, there was the great cry of "I want to be on the blog!" So, here are some tables
of swimmers who are at their photogenic best and humoring me with nice snapshots of them that I will treasure forever. (Left: Trish, Daniel, Rhiannon, Matt S., Megan D., Jessie, and Mickey. Below are Matt F., Matt G., Johnny, Ali (wet hair), and Caroline I.
At left: Harrison, Andrew, Mike, Charles, and John.) And, for those I didn't get, sincere apologies as we needed to leave early this evening to get Matt to another meeting at church that was scheduled for the same time.
The first thing I heard after "Hi," was this: Rock: "I have some bad news." My heart sank...bad news always seems to come in little pockets of pairings. I definitely didn't want any more bad news. Mark: "Rock has brain cancer and only a year to live." OMW, the look on my face must have been really devastating because they both quickly chimed up and said, "No, no, no...really, it's not that, but the real bad news will seem much better now."
Rock has accepted an offer from a school in Alabama and will be leaving Indiana in a month. While we are, of course, very happy for his promotion, which is a big deal and comes with a big paycheck, we are also very sad at losing such a great role model, coach, friend, etc. not only for Matt, but for all of us. 
Oh, and you would all be very proud of me as a few sad tears did not come until I was talking to Laurie and Buddy about it later, when I looked over and saw...well, this next photo, which is Rock telling Matt. Matt handled it all pretty well, but he was so looking forward to motoring with Rock on the high school swim circuit again this coming year. We were very lucky to have had everything work out for last year the way it did, and Rock indicated that it would all work out....Guerin is all about providence, after all.
Okay...so, once again...we are In. Search. Of. A. High. School. Swim. Coach. Anyone? Anyone at all? It will need to be someone very special and terrific to fill Rock's fins. After all, his current team set all new swim records at Guerin and had 100% attendance at Indiana State Swimming this year!
It just seems I find wonderful people, and before I know it, my time with them is up...it's all just a little overwhelming when it happens. But to Rock: we are very happy for you and it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. Best of wishes in your new adventure...they are very lucky to have you!