Date: Wed 8/21/2002 4:18 AM
Random Thought: Opening Night

It's "opening night!" It's the beginning of the semester. Nothing ho-hum about it. It's exciting. No, it's downright electrifying. There's an energy in the air. There's a stimulating and refreshing newness all about. There is a permeating expectation. There is a penetrating anticipation. Thers's a rush of enthusiasm all around. It's so magical! It's as delicious as a warm melt-in-your-mouth glazed doughnut!!

You know, the one thing about teaching is that it isn't a dull, monotonous, unchanging, over and over and over again factory production. It is a glittering stage production that changes every day. There's always something unique about each day. The audience is always different; the chemistry is always different. The delivery of the lines is always different. Each day everyone gets further and further into their role. Each day their understanding deepens. Each day is a tweak here and a tweak there. Each day is a try this or that and see what happens day. Each day is one of unlearning, relearning, and learning. Each day is one of growth, development, and change. Each day, from the first to the continuing to the last, there is mystery and surprise in the air. Each day is a special, precious, thrilling, adventurous, memorable, anticipating, heart-fluttering opening night.

No, nothing ho-hum about any of it. And if you treat teaching in this way, the result is a sustained run under the lights worthy of standing ovations and encores.