May 2015

Today is my last day of teaching, I am excited to no extent, but also sad. A bittersweet goodbye.

        “Well class, today is my last day as a teacher. You all have been great students and I wish you the best in life. Good luck on your endeavors.”

        “Thank you, professor, have fun golfing and playing bingo!” said one of the more comical students. I needed that brief intermission of small-time comedy. I knew the student had been humorous so that I didn’t have to be emotional, and I really appreciated that. So, I joined in their laughter for a short bit.

        “Very funny, farewell all.”

I stepped into the hallway to begin that long walk to the exit, for the very last time. I just feel so… so... ITDOESN’TWORKITDOESN’TWORKITDOESN’TWORK!

        “John! Wake up!”

        “…”

        “John, its Johann, wake up!”

        “ITDOESN’TWORKITDOESN’TWORKITDOESN’TWORK.”

        “John, you’re scaring me. What doesn’t work?”

        “My… cure, it… doesn’t work.”

        “What cure? What are you talking about?”

        “Where am I Johann?”

        “You’re in the back of an ambulance, heading to the hospital.”

I looked around to catch a glimpse of my surroundings. Where was I? An ambulance? How did I arrive here? At that point, I realized something was wrong with me. I wasn’t just getting old, as Etna liked to say. I had a condition, I don’t know what, but something was wrong.