Emotions ran a bit high around our home last week.

For many parents I can sum up the reason in two short words: Science Fair. This year was not our first rodeo at the annual event. It was, however, our first time completing this as a class requirement.

For those noticing the usage of the word ‘our’ that is where the emotion begins. While the assignment came home in my son’s backpack, the Science Fair has a special kind of way of bringing a family together. There’s a bit of sarcasm in that sentence. I’ll let you interpret it as you may (insert winky face here).

But oddly this column is not about the annual event that brings families together in a ‘special’ kind of way just months after the joyous holiday season. No. This is about the bigger picture. Things that truly matter and the perspective I was able to gain as we had 24 hours left before handing it all over to my son’s teacher.

This is about angels.

You read that right, the 2016 Science Fair reminded me of the blessing in knowing angels. It’s a crazy tangent, but that’s how my mind works. Perhaps that’s why I’m a writer.

While I am a believer in angels, my thought on this simple little word isn’t going to expand on visits from the afterlife or hearing them speak to me when I run (which they have). This is about the realization that we are able to live among them in day to day life.

Not to be confused with the Good Samaritan, kind hearted or ever giving … those too are a special breed of humans. Many of which I am grateful to call ‘friend.’ But when I gave this thought (lying in darkness before my kids woke) I realized that what’s most fascinating about the angel is we don’t truly realize who they are until they are gone.

Yes I know there are the cynics who say we only speak favorable words upon a person once they’ve passed, but this is bigger than that. Those of us who have known these special people don’t just speak of their strengths once they’ve passed. We recall the WHOLE person, the positives and the negatives. Recognizing often that we learn just as much from their shortcomings as their strengths.

As I pen this, my mind can muster five people I know for absolute certain were/are angels. During day in and day out life they were no different than the next person. They loved their families, overcame adversity and would rise up to challenge. They were also kind hearted, easy going and fun to be around. They did little if anything in the way of promoting themselves or lives in which they touched through living life. Truthfully I think they were oblivious that this was even happening. They just simply did life as they felt it should be done.

Of the five which sit very present on my mind is one very common thread … how they were received and the lives that they touched. Angels get along with everyone. The simple mention of their name conjures a bright smile, perhaps a chuckle and without fail a story of something unique, selfless or inspiring. They touched lives without effort. They didn’t set out to be the person who inspired a mom to get her college degree or a student to overcome the bullies on the playground, they just lived as they were intended. By doing so they touched lives and changed people more times than not for the better.

The five I speak of never appeared on a talk show promoting a book, none were public figures, yet each of their memorials were standing room only occasions. Testament to lives which touched so many, that they put their lives on hold to pay respects. Testaments filled with tears and chuckles as four of the five were taken long before the birth calendar would indicate they should have.

So how did I get here? How did I go from Science Fair to feeling the blessing of angels? It’s all quite simple.

Prior to his passing, as he fought to beat the dreaded dragon known commonly as cancer, my angel friend Jason and his wife, sat with me for a story about his journey. A fundraiser was being held to help their family offset some of the costs from alternative treatment. During this interview the two of them shared a lot. Many words and much honesty was shared.

So last week, as I pondered how to best serve my son in his Science Fair project and how to relieve stress I thought of the wisdom of my buddy Big J. I thought of the kindness and the chuckles of my angels and then I returned to a quote. One simple quote I once scribbled on a notebook which now serves as great reminder to myself and many more. These are the words left by an angel. I just didn’t know it at the time. Science Fair … no problem ... no worries … done.

“Things don’t always go your way, that’s just a fact. The trick is to do your best through it … Not everything is as important as we think it is.” – Jason Turnage.

Teresa Hammond is a staff reporter for The Oakdale Leader, The Riverbank News and The Escalon Times. She may be reached at thammond@oakdaleleader.com or by calling 847-3021.