So, when I retired eight months ago, set on my journey to pay attention to my health. Not that I could ignore my past issues of course but I thought it was time to show my vigilance. Catscans, MRIs, bloodwork and well other things that are just ugly. Having said that, I can truthfully say that your hearing and your vision are also vitally important to your health and if you are aging, double, triple, quadruple that necessity.
So after a pretty severe illness, I decided it was time for an eye exam. My wonderful eye doctor checked my vision and even though all was "normal or no change" he suggested that I see his retina doctor..."Just to be sure..." Wonderful...Another worry. I made my appointment. I showed up early because I am always early for everything and well...anxious and nervous. A young man, with the kindness face and smile came and called my name. "King?" I got up and walked with him to the eye exam room. He took a double look at me as I sat down. "King? Mrs. King??? Are you Mrs. King?" "Yes, yes I am," I replied. "Mrs. King!!!! You taught me! I had you in English class, probably back in 2017 or 2018.! " I looked at this kind soul and said, "And your name?" "Peter, he replied." I looked at him and suddenly, thought about those specific years. They were excellent teaching years, before Covid and all of the nonsense that followed all teachers when Covid struck. "OMG! Peter! Really? OMG!" "You were an excellent teacher Ms. King! So fun, never boring. You taught us so much!!! I loved you!" He told me as he hugged me tight. He continued to tell me that he intended to become an eye doctor and that he was shadowing my eye doctor and my retina doctor. Immediately, all of my fear left me.
I did not go into a full dissertation as to why I was seeing his mentors. Maybe I should have but I wanted to protect the moment and him. We spoke for bit, but he had to move forward after checking my vision and eye pressure. He did it well. My exam with the retina specialist went well and as I left the office I thought about how my career and held back some tears.
I thought about how most teachers never really realize or they forget all of the wonderful students that cross their path. We remember the tough years, the horrid years but never the years with those kids that loved being with us. I thought about this young man and how happy he looked doing what he loved. I knew that feeling. I had that feeling and even though I knew when I had to leave, I had forgotten how full my heart had been with teaching hundreds and hundreds of eighth graders. All of the hard work and the worry and at times the heartaches, culminated in this one visit to my eye doctor. I had suddenly walked out of a fog that I was not aware I was in since I retired. Teaching matters, Teachers matter. The work spoke for itself with that visit. Bless that young man. What he is doing, matters too. He is on his way to help so many...Over time, he will find out how that feels just like "Mrs. King' did.
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