A Conversation

A reader retired from private school life writes me:  "I have to tell you that I'm laughing out loud already, even though I just started your book."  (Two days pass) "Ok now I'm really laughing! You had to shave your legs and armpits as promised! I once offered to shave my head if they ever won the championship game.  It motivated them, but they still lost.  I kept my hair."  (Another day passes) "OMG we really have to talk one day. The name of our 5k running/walking team to raise money for cancer research is called the Forest Bathers!"  Another reader who teaches in public schools:  "I have stories, too, that will make you laugh.  My colleagues do as well. Could you please write them all down for us?  Let's talk!  We need these stories recorded.  This could be your next book." The community of teaching professionals may be fragmented by school, region, or philosophy, but there's a commonality of experiences.  One reader commen...

 "You know, Cathy lives in Seoul," one of the women who swam on the team I coached in the 1980's reports.  I had seen Cathy's enthusiastic Facebook posts about being a swim coach, traveling internationally, and connecting well with high schoolers. There's little that energizes me more than seeing a former student take on a role similar to one I assumed, especially when she excels and moves beyond what I ever did.   Paul and I were traveling to Korea so he could participate in an international meeting in Busan. We were to fly in and out of Seoul, making our own way by train to the southeastern coast. It seemed like tacking on a day or two in Seoul could really happen.  I sent Cathy a Facebook message. Even though nearly thirty years had passed since I had seen her, I knew that we would jump right back into a friendship.  She answered my message immediately and began making plans.  Arrival at the security gate at the school, the official needed verificat...