So, there I was Thursday morning. Out a bit late. Standing patiently at a railroad crossing, waiting, my walk interrupted by a long, long, slow freight train. Waiting, red lights flashing, waiting, warning bells ringing, waiting for that interminable train to pass, waiting to continue my walk. I notice a gorgeous luxury car idling in line next to me.
“Nice car,” I commented. What followed was one of those “you just don’t ask” moments.
The driver turns his head towards me. Looked intently. “Dr. Schmier, is that you?”
“Yep, that’s me.”
“I’m…. We were in class together back in 1997 when you were changing your ways with your trust falls, triads, journaling, biographical interviews, projects, and a bunch of other stuff, throwing out lecturing and testing. I see you’re in good shape and still smiling. Figures. You still at the college?
“No, I reluctantly had to retire back in December of 2012.
“Their loss, the students, that is. Hey, while we’re waiting and I’ve got you here, I want to tell you something.” He leaned towards me as I walked over to the car. “You know what I liked best about your class and that I still use?”
“No, what?”
To a emphasizing cadence of taping the steering wheel with his hand, he said, “There was something new and interesting every day. Every day! I mean we came into class not knowing what to expect. Nothing was routine. It wasn’t a place for boredom to set in. And, you came into class every day interested. Every day! Interested. In each of us. Us! Each of us! Who we were and was going on with us! Us! Each of us! You appreciated, noticed, respected, and as you said so much, loved each of us. Laughed and smiled and had fun. And, we learned. Most of us did more, more than we thought we could or wanted to do because of that. Lordy, I do remember our talks to this day. You may not, but I sure do. Man, you ‘out-interested’ all the other professors I had at that college put together.”
I smiled as he went on. “Yes, sir. ‘Out-interested them all.’ I never forgot that. I used that in college; use it now in my job, with my family; and, I am teaching it to my kids. It’s a light that’s been there guiding me for my whole life since that class: every day be a learner; make every day a first. It’s the only way to stay young and on your toes. It’s the only way to stay out of ruts and not get stale. It’s the only way to learn, change, and grow. It’s the only way my best gets better every day. Every day I always look for that one new interesting thing and reason not to be bored.” He turned to the lifting railroad gates, Then, turned back to me before he hit the gas pedal, “You’re my ‘interesting thing’ today. I guess this is where I say ‘thanks.'”
With a tear in my eye and a choke in my throat, I barely got out a “And, this is where I say ‘thanks.'”
He drove off with a wave.
I tell you, teaching is not confined to a course, by the walls of a classroom, to a term. As I’ve recently said, it is forever. It’s a “ner tamid”: an eternal light.
As I finished the last 2 1/2 miles of my route, I thought about what he said: “out-interested.” “Ineresting,” I said to myself over and over. My daily “interesting thing,” too, that day. More on that later.
Louis