The Daily News

"You want to know what I'm going to do 

now that I'm retired? By God, I hope to

become the new face of Scientology."

--David Letterman, Last show.

1   Haha, so long Dave.

2   Short and sweet.

3   Class act, that guy. 

4   I won't miss him that much because homie don't stay up late anymore. 

5   I recorded Letterman and will watch at leisure. 

6  I used to stay up for stuff like that, a lot in fact.

7  My sisters will agree that some of our best memories of Mom were sitting up late and watching Carson. 

8  In recent years I've become too exhausted from prepping lessons, grading papers, and stressing the vagaries of modern living. 

9   Which reminds me, it's Garbage Night, and I'm as excited as a 50's seventh grader at a sock hop.

10  

11  Someday you'll miss my lousy analogies. 

12

13  

14  Or not. 

15  At yesterday's meeting I was the last retiree honored. 

16  My friend Charlie West said some kind words, even referenced us jamming and singing Grateful Dead tunes at Camp Anytown. I'm pretty sure Uncle John's Band was one of them, but not sure. 

17  My good friend Lynne Bramlett then presented me with a farewell gift from the English Department. It looked like an award certificate but it said this on it:

This certificate entitles you and Mrs. Harrington to

A 7 play subscription to B Street Theater's

Mainstage Performances in Sacramento

Wednesday, matinee performances at 2 p.m.

18  But I work on...

19

20   No you don't.

21   Awesome.

22   The special ed department also gave me a signed card, which I thought was amazing. I've worked well with them over the years, so that meant a lot. 

23   My students wrote so many nice things in my yearbook that I had to buy another yearbook.

24   My fave: "Congrats on your resignation..."

25   

26   The school's great nightmare is over.

27   I'm retiring, not resigning. I thought it was cute, easy error. 

28  Unless it's the Super's son. 

29   My friend Gwen Dixon, on behalf of the East Side Teacher's Association gave me a black leather travel bag, really nice.

30   I got home and went on Facebook and tons of people left comments, former students, friends, current students and all the rest. 

31  I usually get like two.

32  AnywayZ

33  Thanks to everyone out there; I know there's a lot more going on in everyone's lives, so thanks for the kind words everywhere I turn. 

34   It all made for a nice evening, and a wonderful morning. 

35   I go in today and finish up The Taming of the Shrew. I'll probably sing a song and play guitar for the students. I want to do Punky's Dilemma, an obscure song by Simon and Garfunkel, but I consider it one of the best because it's sort of a poem about breakfast. 

36  Great title.

37  Everyone is excited for the end of the school year, despite Finals and all. 

38  So I'm going in. I'll keep this short.

39  And I can think only of this:

40  Garbage Night!

41  Whoo-hoooo!!!

42  Have a GREAT day. 

43  See you again.

44   Peace.

~H~