Westward Ho

As of June, T's picture graces another faculty yearbook page at WHS. His year was productive and, as always, entertaining. My favorite story: a complaint that a child could not swim because "it was winter." Note: his students learn how to swim in a heated indoor pool. He continues to work with a student athlete leadership group that he co-founded, coached football and basketball, and tried to ride his bike to work as many days as possible so that, among other admirable reasons, the seniors could not charge him to park in the faculty lot on senior prank day.

Outside of school, despite the number of train trips I wracked up, T definitely journeyed my way more often than I was able to reciprocate. For a brief interlude we were both totally thrilled by the prospect that he would be joining me in Michigan next year. He applied to and was accepted at a certain rather large alternate state institution here that shall remain anonymous, but after confirming his acceptance, the graduate assistantship that they had offered was reneged (there's a story there, we're sure). In the end, after much investigation and exploration at that institution and others, we decided the out-of-state tuition rates weren't worth the expense without an assistantship. While we both regret that we will go another school year apart from one another, it gave T the opportunity to revisit his priorities and explore possibilities. Specifically, he was offered an unsolicited opportunity to coach football this coming school year with his alma mater. He's already found the connections (interestingly, he'll be coaching a couple of his former students) and opportunities to learn there quite rewarding; it will be an adjustment to coach when game-days occur in the daylight (Saturdays) rather than under the Friday night lights of high school football, but I'm especially excited that they'll be playing one game in this state this year. 

- D