Today is both the most joyous and saddest day of the school year, for two reasons. In the morning was graduation, when we said farewell to students who have been an important part of our lives the past three-to-four years. As my friend Joe Kyle said to me, the students have no idea how much many of them have touched us while they were here. It was joyous seeing Rabbit, Jennifer, Crystal, Andra, Nini, Soo Hee, Michelle, Kim, Andrea, Preeti, Kevin, Ben, Nirav, Sagar, and Ravi graduate and spread their wings into college. But it was also sad seeing them leave for the last time.

In the afternoon was the annual retirement luncheon where we said farewell to two teachers with whom I have shared a lot of memories during my 20 years at PHS, Jane and Kathy. A part of me is envious that they will now have the time to do so many things they were unable to do during their working lives, but during the luncheon I sat with other math teachers whom I also enjoy working with, particularly Eric, Adrianne, Megan, Mike and David, so I am not ready yet to join the retirees in the wings.