Doris

I once talked with a woman named Doris, who, in her 60s, went back to college to pursue a master's degree in education.

Then she completed her PhD.

A widow, Doris and her husband had a full, full life together. They were a wonderful couple. And then, in the early 2000s, he died. That's when Doris went on to finish her graduate work.

I asked her once why she studied education. She said it was because she loved children and teaching children, even though she and her husband never had children.

For a brief moment — quite literally the blink of an eye — there was a slight expression that crossed her face, a sadness in her eyes.

"I'd rather not talk about that, if you don't mind." I didn't. I'd just been curious.

In the years since then, I've come to understand that look a little better.