The Autumn of My Life

I always enjoy the days of fall as a time of reflection, looking back on the past six months of our growing season to ponder possible changes for next spring. While the air is crisp and cold, there's also a sense of finality knowing that winter is fast approaching. Trees shed their leaves, birds begin to flock, animals hibernate, and I spend time putting away outdoor furniture, dumping the compost tumbler, and moving the woodpile closer to the house. Although retirement is still 4-1/2 years away, at 66 years of age I find myself contemplating how many autumn seasons I have left on this earth. Without sounding morbid and pessimistic in my approach to life, I have a sense of realism of what life holds for me in those golden years to come.

The cycle of life is genuine and relentless in the way it demonstrates consistency and fortitude. Whether I live to 100 years of age or die tomorrow, I have a sense of fulfillment in all that I experience. I often think of those ancestors 400+ years ago who rarely traveled more than a few miles from home. No doubt there will come a time in the near future when my descendants journey into the far reaches of the solar system without giving any thought of my rather simple lifestyle. However, we all have an imagination to build our realities on.

The end of the day and the accompanying sounds of wildlife are treasured more than ever. My senses of sight, smell, taste and hearing are amplified in ways I never imagined. While those sands in my hourglass slip away, they represent unique memories of people I've met and interacted with. I'm excited about the journey ahead as never before.

Saying Goodbye to an Old Friend

One of the realities of life is that death is inevitable. It's the ultimate statistic that proves 100% of all individuals will at some point die. How we deal with it is another matter altogether. Some have a difficult time accepting it for what it is, others face it head-on. While others might consider 66 years of age "old", I often feel more invigorated than the time I was at 26. Life today is good!

I met Lewy when he was a 16-year old kid busing tables at the supper club I worked at back in 1974. He was scrappy, quiet, and always got the job done. As we came to know each other better, we'd joke around and make the most of working together. When additional help was needed due to someone being sick or shorthanded, he was the first to step in. He never complained. Over the next four years Lewy matured and took on important roles with tending bar and spring cleanups at the resort. As manager I could not have grown our resort business without his grit and determination. It was fun working with someone who always put forth 100% effort. He also played an important role as one of the initial members of the Silver Lakers, a softball team put together in 1976. When Linda and I married in 1978, we were proud to include Lewy in our wedding party. It was nonstop fun from start to finish.

Lewy and me

After those days of softball camaraderie, our friendship never waned...despite not seeing each other on a regular basis. When our paths crossed, we always spent a few minutes reminiscing about earlier times in our life. Only recently did I learn of Lewy's struggle with various cancers that had invaded his body. When I returned home for the summer, we finally connected with one another again. We recalled playing ball, winning championships, celebrating afterward, and how we lived life in the fast lane. He shared the fact that he knew his time was limited. He chose to ignore the early warning signs of failing health and doctor pleas to get treatment underway before it was too late. Rather than finding fault with his ailments, he accepted guilt as few as able to to do.

Upon receiving word from his family that Lewy's body was shutting down, I knew that it was important for me to see him one more time. Today was the day I needed to go. I realize this is not something that everyone is capable of doing with strength and fortitude; for me it was about respect for our longtime friendship. Sitting by someone's dying bedside and holding their hand might seem morbid and dark to some, but it is anything but that for me. I was there for Lewy, providing assurance that his pain and suffering would soon pass. Despite bring unable to speak and falling in and out of semi-conscious-state sleep, I felt him squeezing my hand when I recalled happier times at the ballpark. After awhile it was not a moment for saying 'goodbye'....only "until we see each other again one day." I am thankful to have called him my friend.

The Student Teaching Experience

It was a time just seven years ago when I had the unique opportunity to be a student teacher at Weyauwega High School under the supervision of Mr. Pat Fee. It was a 4-1/2 month experience which I will forever relish and reflect back on in a positive way. I discovered much about the classroom environment, and it served as a springboard for my eventual landing at BDHS in the fall of 2012. I made a personal commitment to one-day open my classroom for future teachers so that I could serve as their role-model and mentor.

At the end of January I welcomed what I hope will be the first in a series of student teachers into Mr. D's classroom, and after six weeks it stirs my passion for good teaching- not only in providing a laboratory for a prospective teacher, but to invigorate my desire to seek excellence in my teaching skills. Almost two months into the process it has proved to be everything I sought and more, especially when it comes to demonstrating good classroom management, but the entire process is not as easy as one might think. It's more than just allowing a college student to observe and teach a few lessons, rather identifying what will be a series of transitions which impacts learning and classroom chemistry.

The first stage required me to model assorted teaching styles and communicate expectations to students in ways that were easily understood by the ST (student teacher). I've always felt consistency in my message, lesson planning, and approach with classroom management were key ingredients for being successful with students, They are the first to recognize inconsistency, and will call you out either publicly or in private if they sense wrong doing. They will make or break you!

ST is quickly learning the ropes, sometimes discovering this insight on his own, sometimes pointed out by yours truly, and occasionally revealed when students see indifference. Together we've tried some new things, which is what classrooms should be for. Every once in awhile we discover something wonderful....be it knowledge, technical in nature, or new insight on managing the classroom. This is just one reason as to WHY I love teaching!

I should also note that sometimes it's not easy stepping away from something I love to do. When I "teach" I discover that I also learn in the process. I consider it a win-win-win situation. This is a great time to explore and update my lesson plans, reflecting on what works and what could be improved (win for ME). It provides my students with a fresh perspective on our curriculum by inserting a new voice (win for STUDENTS). And it gives a future teacher the opportunity to discover what 21st century teaching is all about (win for ST). Life is good.