I REMEMBER IT AS IF IT WERE YESTERDAY!

 

 November 18, 2007, it was a beautiful day, the sun was out and the temperature was about 84 degrees. It was a Sunday and I was playing my usual paddleball.  On this Sunday, I was partnered with a lefty named Jose. At best, Jose was a mediocre player and the only person who volunteered to play with him was me. I don’t usually play the power side but no righties were available to play with  him. (I want to say that in the years since Jose has become a very dangerous player) curses a whole lot, but a much better player. On that day we had won 5 games in a row, things were going very well. In the middle of a game I started to feel a little dizzy and I had to call a time out. According to the guys, I went pale and I started to feel a cold sweat so I had to close my eyes and relax. I didn’t feel any better so I got ready to leave, the guys offered to drive me home or to the hospital. I said no and that I would feel better soon. I got into the car and blasted the a/c in the car. The cold air on my face felt great. I inhaled the cold air. I left Broward College on my way to Deerfield Beach looking forward to laying down and resting. On my ride home on 95 I started to feel a wave. I can only describe it as it felt like a big bear grabbed me from behind and started to give me a bear hug. That’s when I knew there was something wrong. I flashed a vision of a car crashing over a cliff. I was afraid that I would crash my car into another. As I got off at the Hillsboro exit, I’m thinking I will not stop for any lights and let the cops follow me home. I got home, and I am now in a cold sweat, I’m shivering. My savior, my son Jason is home. I ask him  to call 911. I went to the bathroom to get a towel to wrap around me and by the time I returned to the living room, EMS was walking through the door. They gave me some quick assessment and placed me on the gurney. I remember seeing my mother and thinking to myself, I love you mom and I’m sorry to do this to you.

It was 12:25 when I got on the gurney at 12:35,  I’m at Boca General Hospital and they are cutting my stinky paddleball shirt and shorts. When you are dying you have no time to worry or thinking about your pride. I was now thinking that my wife, who is in Orlando with her girlfriends, is going to feel abandoned. I said something to the nurses and immediately passed out. I woke up around 5:30PM and thanked God that I was still alive. Lil’s smile and Jason’s beautiful face warmed my heart. 

I recently turned 65 as many of you know. I had a Cat Scan done, visited a Pulmonologist and my new Cardiologist and got clearance from both allowing me to think that I might reach 75. Dr. Colleen Rossano, one of my angels, is trying to push me to 85. I should be so lucky.

My stent is doing fine. Lungs look good…still no drinking and no smoking.

Sometimes we have to learn our lessons one lesson at a time. 

Very glad to still be here. San Francisco here we come!

LOTS OF LOVE TO MY FRIEND GEORGE VEGA WHO WILL GET HIS PACEMAKER ON FRIDAY. MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU.

An Ending and a New Beginning

The following is dedicated to my wife Lily Muniz who for many many years kept  saying  “ You should go into teaching, you’re going to love it.”   I finally followed her advice and  now 18 years later, today is  my Retirement day!  My wife has been the motivational and driving force for any success I may have had. I always wanted to impress her and show her that I could handle the job. I have loved every minute that I have been an educator. Below is the speech I shared with staff members on my last day.

I have been told that there is an office pool with the over/under on how many times I will cry. If you took the over , you are probably a winner.

My parents brought me up to always be humble and to let others recognize you and your accomplishments whether they were big or small.

Since I made my announcement, many people have sent me some very heartwarming sentiments and well wishes.  I just want to tell everyone that my retirement is not due to any health concerns, I am not dying!  But thank you for your concerns.  

So what am going to do you ask ?  I get to stay home and watch Morning Joe live instead of my DVR . I get more time to work on my blogs,

More paddleball at Hollywood Beach and returning to tournament chess.

I get to bother my wife around the house.  That should keep me busy for about a month! 

Recently some reporters from our school newspaper, the Paw Print Post, asked me what do you want your Legacy to be?  As I pondered their question ,I began to cry because legacy questions are for important people, people who have accomplished things in their lives.  Me, I am just an Assistant Principal.

Like our friend Patty Brown used to say, she was here in service of our teachers and of our students. Today I wholeheartedly agree.  We all get into teaching because we believe that we can make a difference ,even if it’s only in one child’s life.

I have now had a couple of weeks to think about that L word.

Things that I feel I have made a difference in:

1. In over 12 years as an A.P. I have mentored and assisted 22 people become Assistant Principals and Three Principals. One in Arizona and even one in Dubai.

2. I started a debate club with Liz Bowers and have developed over 200 students whose mission was to challenge and question their teachers. Eventually this led to our Debate classes. Ms. Kannal and Ms. Manriquez, you are doing such a fantastic job, congratulations.

3. I started a Chess Club 6 years ago with the most brilliant of students.  We have had over 300 members. In my 45 years playing chess I have finally found MY BOBBY FISCHER.  Mr. Rosasco you have a great crew to work with.

4. We have started a new tradition at the Ridge and with the help of our PTO the HISPANIC FAIR, will now be a mainstay in our school.

5. Finally, the most important accomplishment, with the help of The Mujeres Latinas Organization and Big Brothers, Big Sisters, we have mentored over 150 Hispanic Girls who will go on to be better students, better sisters, better daughters, better wives and eventually productive members of our community.

Students past and present that you should be watching;  Evan Bass, Caitlyn Dang, Hannah Krohn, Julia Dale, Susan Rossano and Jordan Applebaum.  If you have had the pleasure of interacting with these students, you know how very special they are.

People that I will miss dearly, Ms. Lisa Bastos, Donna Webb, Maddy Benacqusto, Charlene Read,  Jackie Jones, Marta Garcia,  

Ms. Faerber, Mr. Harrell, our PTO ladies Ms. Kusten and Ms. Silverman and Carolyn Krohn.   Special mention to Maria Rozenberg for being challenging and always making sure that her point of view was heard and not ignored.  And of course Rose-Edith Morgan and my  bestest of friends Andrea Tower.

If you have ever been in my office you would have noticed the words to the song THE CHANGE by Garth Brooks.

I hear them saying you’ll never change things,                                                                      and no matter what you do it’s still the same thing,                                                                        but it’s not the world that I am changing,

I DO THIS SO THIS WORLD WILL KNOW THAT IT WILL NOT CHANGE ME!

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES………