Lessons

The Hidden is always present. We don't know what lessons we are learning, until much later. We don't know what lessons we are teaching.

My father taught me that home was a dangerous place, and anger is the only option. My mother taught me the potency of negativity, and silence, as well as how to sew a seam and make a bed and iron a shirt.

One teacher, whose face I can see clear as day, but I can't remember her name, or which grade she taught, was so organized and gave constant quizzes and thorough, but fair, exams, that I took in how important consistency and stringent but reasonable expectations are. Her classrooms were calm, and I learned more from her than I can express. I think I imbibed her assured methods, although it took many long years before I could emulate them.

Another teacher, full of enthusiasm over science, made crap up for the sake of her story, never consulted notes, and proved to be wrong so often that a great deal of unlearning had to take place before truth had a chance. Many of my fellow classmates struggled with this for years. I caught her in a huge mistake, which she defended, so I held my peace, and resisted excessive credulity.

From my drill sergeants, I learned how to shout without anger, and not to expect anyone to care about my lame excuses. Do the job, don't get caught, keep my buttons done up, know which pocket I put things in.

From my wonderful anatomy teacher, that artistry serves many uses, enthusiasm pinned to real knowledge is a potent force, and the best things in life take a huge effort - but are doable. And coloring is not just for children.
(This was the main text book. And the teacher freehand drew the structures in chalk on the board, and colored them in with us. What a guy.)

And a nursing school instructor who loved to put on a flashy show, then ask for unreasonable projects. I made up a series of interviews with a geriatric patient (who was supposed to submit to hours of grilling and report a lot of very personal information) in my "neighborhood" (???) based on several people(aunt, mother, granny) I knew long before. Got an A. And she gushed about how much I knew about "her." How "she" was so brave, despite health problems and age. Really can fool some people, especially if they are very good at fooling themselves.



I learned from Dr. Evil, a transplant surgeon who carried around a chaos ball, and enjoyed using it, how to be awful and prickly. Eventually, he was my prime example of how NOT to be. My boogie-man.


And I learned from D loyalty, and not turning anger at those I love, and patience and steadfastness. Among a host of examples of kindness, trust and compassion beyond anything I'd ever seen before in my life. He shrugs this off, but I remember.