I'm Too Young For This!

I have heard that when you get older, you start attending a lot of your friends' funerals. I really didn't think that I fell into that age bracket, but apparently I do.

Last month a really good friend and colleague of mine passed away. I taught with Teressa for over 17 years. We taught 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grades together. She was a fantastic teacher and wonderful friend. About 9 years ago we took our 5th grade classes to Timpanogas Cave. That was the time that she noticed she was having health problems. After months of being in the hospital, it was determined that she had a virus that had attacked her heart.

Several months later, she had a heart transplant. She continued teaching for the next 8 years. When things went sour at our first school, we moved together to another one. Instead of going to the luncheon at end of the school year with the principal who was a nightmare, we had our own celebration at Chilies.

At our new school, Teressa taught 6th grade and I taught 5th and 6th grade science. We were able to work together and collaborate just like we had done for so many years before.

The next year, I moved to my own 5th grade class while she continued teaching 6th grade. I was lucky that I had her daughter in my classroom. They would often come to my house to visit and see the many animals that we always seem to have.

I knew that I would miss working with Teressa when I moved this year to Cherry Hill, and I asked her to move with me again, but this was to be her last year teaching before retiring.

During our time together we had the opportunity to work with many great teachers. I made some really great friends at Rocky Mountain Elementary that I still keep up with even though most of us have moved to different schools.

This morning I opened an e-mail from one of these friends that told me of the death of yet another colleague, Jeanette Monson. Jeanette was the 5th and 6th grade history specialist when I was the science specialist. I am pretty sure she wrote the book on classroom discipline and how to teach 6th grade. She always had students who were respectful to her. When she taught 6th grade core, everyone wanted to be in her class. They loved her, had a great time, learned a lot, and were really good for her. I never remember her saying that she had a hard time with any of her students.

I always wanted to know Jeanette's secret with 6th grade. Whenever I teach 6th grade, I always seem to have my witch's hat firmly glued to my head. Jeanette taught for over 30 years and never seemed to put on her witch's hat.

A few years ago Jeanette began having health problems. She found out that she had colon cancer. Jeanette continued to teach 6th grade during her chemo therapy, but retired not quite 2 years ago. She was a great friend and example to everyone she taught with.

Like I said before, I think I am too young to see my friends pass away. I thought this would happened when I got older. Maybe, I am older than I thought.