The good and the bad of high school teaching:

I generally have very nice students, between those in my AP and honors classes, those in my two Asian clubs, and those who hang out in my office. Already this year I have two senior girls who visit me every morning and every afternoon to chat and discuss life (particularly their classes and their college applications). It’s easy in the summer when I am writing fulltime to look forward to retirement, but when I spend every day surrounded by such wonderful students, retirement looms like a punishment rather than a light at the end of the tunnel.

Since Jean has not taught in a public school in a decade, she is not immune to as many diseases as I have become. Thus she is sick this weekend, with a throat so sore she cannot swallow at all, eat, or sleep. Ugh.