“Only now, at the end, do you understand…” – The Emperor, Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi
Maybe it’s the approaching end of the traditional school year when educators (of all stripes) look back over the days, weeks and months and marvel at all that was learned, while simultaneously wishing for just a little more time for this, that and the other thing. Maybe it’s the arrival of spring, when the svelte, matte green leaves of last year’s lumpy tulip bulbs propel themselves through winter-hardened soil. Increasingly, I see glimmers of the man Padawan Learner is becoming and I am thankful for the days, weeks, months and years we’ve shared, while simultaneously wishing to slow the clock down just ever so slightly. I better understand now how time and affection and trust and a fair bit of freedom go into the making of a man.
