day 74 - the Ides of March

 Today is the 4th day of the 11th seek, the 15th day of the 3rd month, the 74th day of this writing experiment [and 2023], and:

• Buzzards Day
• Dumbstruck Day
• Everything You Think is Wrong ((I can easily believe that))
• Ides of March
• International Day Against Police Brutality
• International Day of Action Against Canadian Seal Slaughter
• International Day to Combat Islamophobia
• International Eat an Animal for PETA Day
• National Brutus Day
• National Egg Cream Day
• National Peanut Lovers Day
• National Pears Helene Day
• National Shoe the World Day
• National VO Day [Voice Over]
• Small Business Development Day
• Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action
• True Confessions Day
• World Consumer Rights Day

I didn't take honors English in my sophomore year of high school, and so I was introduced in the 10th grade to one of the best teachers I even had, one that by the end of the year, I just called "Wherenberg".   She was a little old stick of a lady, opinionated with a German temper and an absolute passion for teaching and literature.  Nobody dared give her any sass or act up in her classes and some students were terrified of her - but I thought she was great.  She convinced all her classes  that since we were studying the Bard that term, we should all wear black armbands of mourning on the Ides of March.  We were so proud of ourselves, grinning conspiratorially as we passed each other in the halls, convinced we were participating in some secret scholastic ritual

I had her again for honors English in my senior year as she was the head of the English department, and by then, had formed the habit of popping into her office on any off period just to talk to her, finding her amazingly articulate with a very dry sense of humor.  She had us write a major paper each term, as well as complete such assignments as list all the implied, off-stage action in Hamlet.  She asked us what we wanted to study for our last term, and in accordance with our wishes, took us through some of the most rigorous grammatical and writing lessons I ever had.  The quality of work she demanded of us far exceeded most college professors' expectations 

I never wore that black armband again, but every day on the Ides of March, I remember this gifted woman, and how she brought literature alive for her students