Thoughts on Life Inside and Outside of Room 26
Congratulations, Mum!10/30/2016 When I realized that my mum was a teacher, I was in high school. Before this she WAS my teacher, but I clearly recall the moment, two years after she was my teacher, when it became clear to me: “Yes. Yes, she is a teacher.”
Mum, you may recall this moment very differently, time and age alter our memories of events sometimes, but this is how I knew that my mum was a teacher. I was in high school, in the 1980’s when music was considerably better than what we have now, and fashion was decidedly worse. I was given a homework assignment to explicate a sonnet by John Milton entitled, “On His Blindness.” I was furious. I did not get it. I just didn’t get it. Clearly exasperated with my lack of effort, mum was not having it. She picked up two pencils and I slammed the offending sonnet to the table in the kitchen. We sat, heads bent together and she showed me how important working on poetry is. How poetry uses the least amount of words to say the biggest things. How taking the time to honour a poem can enrich our lives, and in some cases, change them. When I consider how my light is spent Ere half my days in this dark world and wide, And that one talent which is death to hide Lodg'd with me useless, though my soul more bent To serve therewith my Maker and present My true account, lest he returning chide; "Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?" I fondly ask. But Patience to prevent That murmur, soon replies: "God doth not need Either man's work or his own gifts; who best Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state Is kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed -- And post o'er land and ocean without rest: They also serve who only stand and wait. There is a metaphor for today in the last line of this poem: “They also serve who only stand and wait.” Mum, you have been working in the field of teaching for a long, long time. You have been serving and serving and serving. You have never had time to stand and wait. So now, it is your turn to do your things, to stand and wait until a spirit of adventure leads you to the ideas and learning that you have been saving for this time. Please, let’s raise our glasses, fictional and non-fictional, to our Mary: wife, mother, friend, teacher, who can now stand and wait for what is to come. Happy Retirement Mum and thank you for being my teacher, still and always.
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