Do you ever feel almost afraid to open another Christmas card?
Today I got the news that one friend's DH 's prostate cancer has spread to his pelvis, another 's DH has just been made redundant, another lost her mother early last year, another passed on the news of a mutual friend who has been diagnosed with cancer in at least 3 places and finally (although this came by email, not in a card) a dear friend died peacefully this afternoon in her local hospice.
I know it happens, but I am reeling. 
What slang do you remember school teachers using?


Much sympathy. No wonder you feel nervous about opening the Christmas mail. What a lot of sad news. So far, the ones I have received have had mainly good news - everyone in one piece, although several new joints.
