Will work this into some music.

Every year, Tony hosted his annual DRUMARAMA...a student recital. My last appearance, as a student, was 1965. We never lost touch. Jan. of 2003, Tony's e-mail told that he had a low grade Lymphoma cancer. I made certain to appear in that years DRUMARAMA. May of 2004, Tony passed away...one week shy of his 44th annual DRUMARAMA.

As I mentioned this article had been forwarded to me. I replied and invite all of you to do the same. My next posting is my reply.

I no longer teach while my wife still has a few years before she can retire. The two of us have been public school teachers. Neither of our two sons set foot in a public school classroom as a student.

correction...Tony passed away May 8, 2005. There are teachers and then there is Tony...

Melodie had been writing for this column for the past year. Each month she asks for my review.....

Mel. . .

Poignant indeed. Even more interesting is that The Final Laps also occurs to the rest of us and in the very same ways. Not so much a revelation as it is an understanding. You see, the rest of "Us" know what we want our Priests, Ministers, Teachers and Police to be like. They are separate from us and that does make them more special. The irony is, like your "Charlie," we all face these days with the same trepidation. It is nice to know that we are the same...just fulfilling our dreams and ambitions by other means. However, because we know what we all want our Police to be like, it is sad to learn that those superiors who came through the ranks, and should know better, succumb to the politics and become less deferential to their brethren. As Charlie quips more about this the more he begins to recognize the signs that his long, long tunnel is showing more and more light. And that's always a good thing.

As always, Mel, an excellent article.