Now, just before bed, I had the pleasure of opening the following, from someone whose email address I didn't recognize and who I actually didn't know well at all:
Dear Mr. NovakThat kind of thing, of course, is just the thing to make a [former!] teacher's day, so I think I'll quit while I'm ahead and save the normal death-threats and mailbombs for later. "Tunisian Blue" just spun its way onto my iTunes and there's nothing like your own prettiest song to cap a good mood and lull you off to bed. Chalk this day up as a victory.
I was your student freshman and sophomore year
at St. Joe High. I just wanted to say that your
classes taught me a lot and impacted my life very
strongly. You'll always be one of my favorite teachers
and I hope school is going well for you. I pray you
are in good health - as I last remember, shortly after
your surgery you flung yourself from a wheelchair into
the hallway to chase some class-cutting students. When
you returned you informed the class that, "Oh yeah, I
can walk now.", great times. - Anyway, God Bless, drop
me a line sometime at this e-mail.
Sincerely
[Name supressed for the Google-bashful]