A new story crept up on me last night. I'm trying hard to write unapologetically, to borrow Dan's term. It still needs some more seasoning in my head before it's ready for the world, er, group.

Former teachers I admired are consipiring against me. That's the only explanation. I had a job interview in March for a position teaching in the high school district I attended. I wanted and hoped for this job. I dropped names during the interview. I visited a former teacher, a mentor of sorts who inspired me along my current path. He wished me well and promised to put in any good words he could. Shortly after that another teacher at the same school who influenced me suddenly past away, sheer months from retirement. I sent an email with my condolences for the loss to the remaining "mentor" teacher and took the opportunity to tell him how much I appreciated learning from him and how he helped shape the person I am now. He never responded. Not a peep. This is a man diligent with his email responses in the past. I got nothing. A former professor of mine who wrote me a letter of recommendation and helped get me my first teaching job is running a class at Purdue for the next batch of student teachers set to start teaching any time now. I wrote him last year offering my services to these students in the form of a return visit complete with all the wisdom and helpful hints I could provide. At the time he thanked me and told me to contact him in the fall concerning the matter. So I did. And guess what? I heard NOTHING! Have I done something inherently wrong that I am simply unaware of, blinded by my own seemingly good deeds? Have I crossed some invisible line regarding student/former teacher relationships? Or is Dan right...does a god simply hate me more than anyone else?

Lesson learned: never get too close to your heroes, you may see something you wish you hadn't.