English Dept. colleague and friend Eric Pontier died today of complications from Covid-19. He battled in ICU, but succumbed today. "Now a noble heart is breaking. Good night, sweet prince. May hosts of angels sing you to sleep."
Mike Ryan
1,965 posts
Mike Ryan
@MikeR2095
Hiker, dog rescuer, retired teacher, and perpetual thinker.
Joined September 2019
- Thinking of Eric Pontier & his family today. He lived well. He played music & sang with kids on campus, championed the lonely student(s), always found ways to help the kids & school, and when I asked him to MC our first senior day, he was all in. He was amazing! Miss your spirit!
- Officially OFF the clock and retired as of two minutes ago! YAY the next stage of life!
- 10:45 this morning part of my heart was torn out when Kirk passed away in my arms. It ripped me apart, but it's 100% the right thing to do. He was excited to see me, but had trouble breathing & yelped a little when he tried to sit up. He was distressed & his kidneys were failing.
- This is the puppy I helped rescue Saturday night. She was dumped with her crate in a cul de sac which opened up onto the desert. Because she looks like a deer, I named her Bambi. She was deathly afraid and very skittish, but now we're best friends.
- Replying to @FrankCastl67913 and @GunnelsWarrenCanada protects its own coastline. It has no direct enemies & works well with most nations. Canada sent military personnel to help the US & has a storied history of coming to the aid of other countries in need [WWI, WWII, Korea]. You might want to search out the Avro Arrow.
- Missing Kirk... Two photos of him after he climbed Bell Mountain [when he could see], another of him at school, down on the turf, one of his faves [he loved to roll in/on it], and one of him on my stomach. comfy and ready to fall asleep. I miss my baby boy!
- Just weird. Felt I needed to say something, given this is my last year at SH and seniors had a weird and different end to their last year of high school. So, from Apple Valley, top of Bell Mountain, congratulations South Hills class of 2020!
00:00 - I was honored and somewhat taken aback to be the voice for the Yours Truly video. I had the music and the script, so I only saw the video today and it was extremely well done. Tried to make it real and put life into the vocals. Thank you South Hills.
- Kirk and I on one of our many excursions up Bell Mountain. He would make it up all on his own, but on the descent it was often knee troubles, so into my arms to snooze on the descent. He would sleep almost the whole way down, opening his eye to check on me once in a while.
- Cleaned out my classroom today, turned in my keys and textbooks, and I'm out. Thank you to all! Bonne Chance!
- You should always tell the ones you love that you actually love them, no matter how weird you might think it is, no matter how repetitive it might seem. Each moment, each breath is sacred, a wondrous moment of life. Don't take it or the possibility of tomorrow for granted.
- Day 1 of Retirement... Hiked Kearsarge Pass, got snowed on, saw six deer, had a Coast Guard helo fly right at us, and saw an F-15 flying above is and circling the mountains. Great day to 11760'.
- No matter what, no matter how sad, how lonely, how out of balance, or lost you might feel, know you are not alone. Well, you kinda are, but your not alone in your aloneness. Be safe. Be caring and attentive, and this will soon be a distant memory.
