Today is the last day of school. Yesterday the children left. Today the teachers finish up and go home for the summer. Some of us, however, are not just leaving for the summer. Some of us are leaving for a new adventure –

My friend is one of those teachers heading for a new adventure. He and his wife are packing up and moving clear across the country. Of course I am excited for them and I wish them well, but I am also extremely sad.

You see my friend has a very smart mouth and a quick wit. He knows and appreciates the fine art of sarcasm. He is quick to laugh and appreciates the humor underlying every disaster. I eat breakfast and lunch with him almost daily, and while we eat we share the stresses and joys of teaching. I can’t imagine next year without him.

Aside from appreciating my friend socially, he is also a great teacher and the perfect colleage. He shares thoughts and ideas on teaching, he accepts suggestions, he shoulders his share of the work load and quite often volunteers to help others. He’s helped me become a better math teacher. More than once he’s helped me keep my perspective over one stressor or another. And he’s even been my classroom clock — since the one on my wall hasn’t worked all year.

He has been the perfect teaching partner. We shared some of our more tedious chores — and occassionally our more tedious students, (”Joey, go to Mr. R’s room now. I need a time out or I’m going to kill you!”) And we even shared our movie collections.

Now we have to share good-bye.

Good-bye Mr. R. I will miss you.