Mark’s Remarks

I think one of the things I look forward to most when summer begins is quiet. A time when your head doesn’t have to race around thinking of every little…

In a day and age where we see massive educator turnover, it is special to see the folks who have made it through the long haul – the 30-plus years…

Next Tuesday will be my last day as a teacher.  I really can’t quite comprehend it. But still, it’s happening. Are you looking forward to not reading about my retirement?…

I can hear my anti-fans (mostly “friends” and family) now:  “Here’s Tullis, writing another teacher column.  Here he is, writing as if he’s the only teacher who ever retired.  What’s…

Do you ever have conversations with people and then you walk away kicking yourself for continuing the conversation? I mean, there are just people you have to take in small…

I just read an article in my hometown newspaper, written by my college sociology and composition teacher who happens to be a phenomenal writer and historian. She wrote about a…

As a kid, I was terrified of tornadoes. Storms didn’t bother me too much, but tornadoes really messed me up. I could really whip myself into a dither thinking about…

My wife has been threatening me for the past few years as my retirement loomed.  Not in a bad way, by any means, but sort of a gentle coaxing. Not…

I wonder how neglect of certain items in our lives began? I look in my closet sometimes and see a pair of shoes that are sort of squished back in…

When I was a kid, I didn’t really like eggs.  I thought they stunk. I thought they looked gross, and I never really cared for the consistency or texture. If…

 pants to wear to church. I didn’t have new shoes, or a tie, or even new underwear.  It had always been a tradition for us to have new clothes at…

We had a lot on us when we were kids. Do you remember? I sometimes think back and wonder how we made it through with all the stress. One of…