This is the worst my back has been since 19 years ago when it flared up for the first time and I missed an entire week of school. I have not been back to school yet this week either, because it is still too painful to drive all the way to PHS or to stand on my feet teaching all day. Unless it improves considerably by tomorrow, I will miss this entire week as well. I really feel guilty missing an entire week of school, and the pressure it puts on my Advanced Placement and Honors students who are not only learning new material themselves, but will not get their end-of-the- marking period tests this week. Hopefully I will be able to give those tests next week before final grade verifications are due, since some of the students really need another test.

It is gratifying how many people have sent me good wishes either via email or IM messages, and I would like to thank a few more of them here: Rich S, Naeema, Eric B, Meghan, Winston, and Wenjing (who along with Aishwarya and Preeti checks in with me every day). Thanks all of you!