moving and worrying

for the past year and a half we've been living in my in-laws' home, and we've decided that it's time to move on.  now that it's pretty much feb, we've had to speed up the search.  going through it all has made me a bit fearful of having to go through buying a home.  it just gnaws at the nerves to find places a bit too late or finagle just how much we're willing to pay.  

we're looking for places in the nearby vicinity of my school for multiple reasons--easy access to needed freeways, much shorter commutes for both of us (i'm hoping that i'll be able to walk), and fondness for the town itself.  it has a small-town/community feel that is really rare in socal.  although our schools may not be top notch, i'm thankful to be part of a small district that takes care of me.

in the last month, though, our little town has been rocked by five gang-related shooting incidents that have left three people dead and two injured--four of the victims have been young people in their teens.  when i read about the most recent one in my email this morning, i was heart-sickened.  it occurred merely blocks away from the street where i drive every morning, where our preschool and administrative offices are, and where many of our students walk.  i have to confess that the earlier shootings didn't affect me as deeply because they were "on the other side of town,"--i.e., south of the freeway.  it is scary and i am so, so sad for these kids who became targets--contrary to assumptions, most of the victims had no apparent gang affiliation.  

i don't really know what to do other than continue to be the best teacher that i can be.  i fervently pray that our schools will continue to be safe for our kids, and we can keep shaping their characters for the better.

--e.b.