May 2022. Wow what a month it has been. I just finished my first year of classroom teaching since the 2001-2002 school year. Yes, that would be twenty years. Thanks to all the students and their parents for being patient with this old educator. Yes, I did get emails from self-proclaimed “helicopter moms”. I would have never called them that. I am delighted they communicated with me and I hope I made them feel comfortable doing so. It was a good time.
North Harrison has some wonderful students. We are blessed, also, for having a school staff we can all be proud of. I mean this. There is not a single person in the high school I see and want to turn around and walk in the other direction. I AM SERIOUS! Believe me. This is a man who has worked for six different schools and was called back to work at two of them. The first time Medora called me back I stayed 13 years. Last summer North called me back and I hope and pray this will be my last stop.
The last week of school I asked students to complete the assignment above. This was the best FINAL EXAM I ever gave. They were all on their honor. I did not ask to see them. But, three of them came my way. I did read them. And I was honored to do so. They were addressed to me.
The Kentucky Derby has a soft spot with me. My dear wife, Carrie, and I watched the 2014 Derby at the home of Mike and Bonnie Hunsucker in Medora, Indiana. Mike was losing a battle with cancer. This was the last time we laughed heartily together. The Derby means more now. I don’t care about the horses much. I loved Mike. I love Bonnie.
I added this photo on the Quote of the Day, a practice I make so each day. My students know that Millard Dunn is my English teaching mentor. An English professor, Millard and Henry David Thoreau are why I am where I am today (in additon to scores of others). The photo of Millard was taken at Jeff Carpenter’s studio as we were rueing over song lyrics in November 2016. This was a day dreams are made of. Rod Wurtele (The Wulfe Brothers) was there too.
I took this picture of sweet Kimber when son Cody was visiting from Nashville recently. I have a soft spot for this puppy.
Speaking of puppies…
My North Harrison colleague, Josh Swarens, was walking this precious hound down the hallway recently and I just had to take a photo.
This was my final goodbye photo after the North Harrison Drama Club presented the last performance of THE GREAT GATSBY. These kids did a GREAT job.
Old Sport, indeed! What a GREAT bunch of young people.
This month we lost our Aunt Thula. She was a wonderful woman. Her home was like a sweet sanctuary for me. I feel blessed that I was able to share this place with my wife, Carrie, and our boys, Jarrett and Cody. That porch behind us is a cathedral in my heart.
I get emails from all over asking me to come to their games. Places I have ordered tickets, college football, ask me to come back. I have been to The Rose Bowl twice to see UCLA host USC and it is still the most magical college football setting I have ever been blessed to be a part of. So says the man who got to kick a couple field goals in an empty Rose Bowl. I DID NOT MISS.
So, why am I so disgusted when I open my Indiana University ticket account and see a photo supposedly promoting IU Football and the photo looks like one taken when the Hooisers are getting their rears handed to them by Ohio State? Pitiful! In spite of what lives in the promotions department in Bloomington, I still root for the Hoosiers. But, they still need to get their heads out of their rearends.
I told you! They looked daunted to me.
Though it was painful, I did break the seal on this 3LP set. It was better than I imagined. I am glad I broke the seal. I was dumbfounded how the this sounded BETTER than the CDs that came out before the vinyl did. Excellent.
Finally, I stood against the fence at North Harrison High School’s baseball field and realized, at 380 feet away there was a reason why I have seen a ball fly out there. Danny Schmidt is no longer the coach and I propose we move this fence in. He may have not wanted to lose a game by a homer, but we are also removing a chance by winning one too.
The Merry Month of May Indeed!
Speaking the Rights…
Danny Johnson