My Days In Arizona - I Lament, Reflect, Am Humbled, Am Grateful

• I lost my teaching position in Illinois and couldn't find one until I was given a short term position in Tucson. My daughter told me not to screw it up for her.
• I moved to Tucson and found out I had diabetes and will be on medication for the rest of my life.
• My mother Margaret died. I only made $21,000 a year and I couldn't afford to go to the funeral.
• My mother was cremated and my niece lost her ashes.
• My Uncle Peter stole all my mother's possessions.
• My Uncle Peter got all mt grandmother's possessions when she died.
• I got none of the possessions from the Mississippi farm.
• My younger brother Jimmy died. I couldn't afford to go to the funeral.
• My son and daughter get together for a family vacation each year and I am not there.
• My dog Dickens died and Jill paid for the cremation expenses.
• My hot water heater stopped working. I did without one for a long time and Jill sent me money to get one.
• My second dog Einstein had to be put down.
• My retina detached. I needed surgery.
• My prostrate had growths and needed biopsies. 
• My wrist broke and needed a plate put in it.
• My water main broke.
• My mailbox was broken into and I had Identity Theft on several credit cards
• I was bankrupt.
• I had Africanized bees living in my wall and attacking my neighbors.
• I had termites.
• I had roaches.
• My refrigerator broke.
• My garage door broke.
• I needed a new front door.
• My roof needs repair.
• My kitchen stove had only one burner working.
• My air conditioner stopped working.
• My furnace needed repair.
• I was harassed at school by parents who wanted a pound of flesh and a principal who wanted to get rid of me.
• most of my fourth graders transferred to Basis.
• My MAI class was changed to a leveling class
• I left my leveling class to create a math boosters class
• I was given an intent to discipline by the principal..
• I felt like sitting in my truck in my garage with the door closed and the engine running.
• But my kids are doing well. They have vacationed every year in places like San Francisco, Disneyland, Sea World, Mexico, Disney cruises, Atlantis, Jamaica, Mackinac Island, rental homes by the water.....
• I have been told by various people that I am: selfish, cheap, a pinhead, have a hole in my mouth, am average, can't pronounce embarcadero, can't give directions to an LA freeway, can't take down a tent (C-), the ugliest person I have ever seen' I was told to lose 50 lbs and start using the stairs,......
• My neighbor Oscar died.
• My truck needed a new clutch.
• My truck needed a new radiator.
• I had a fender bender.
• Joe in church died. 
• The old couple's husband Ed died.
• I was told in church I was taking up space.
• Dot moved to a retirement home.
• I wasn't able to go on several fishing trips.
• I started going on the fishing trips and I was told I was banging around,.
• My Pope quit.
• My next Pope only talks about social justice which translates to a redistribution of wealth.
• My priest and pastor quit and got married.
• My new pastor said we should live simply so the poor can simply live. Then he went on a one month vacation to the other side of the world.
• My friend needed surgery. 
• My friend Moni's dog Augustus has to be put down.
• My friend Moni's dog Ellie died.
• My stamp guy Dale moved and sold his store.
• My neighbor built a wall like the Warsaw ghetto. 
• Through all of this God has been with me during all of this and I met Moni the last four years of it and she has been a best friend.
• My hot dog stand Lukes closed.
• Tommy lost his job.
• Adam divorced Toula.
• Pat had her stomach made smaller.
• I adpoted Lucky.
• My former students are at Harvard, Princeton, William and Mary, Cal Tech, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Michigan State, Baylor....
• Martha died.