IN MEMORY OF MIYAMOTO SENSEI

This morning I came in a little late as usual to the staff room, but something was a little odd. There was somber mood in the air, then in the discussion I heard Miyamoto sensei's name, and I looked over at his desk and I didn't see him there. The talk continued and it sounded as if he died? But I thought that couldn't be true, he was always happy, people don't just die. But to my horror it was true after some teachers and staff came up to me and told me the bad news. He passed away just last night, due to a heart attack I was told. How sad it was, Miyamoto sensei was an English teacher and I always talked to him, he was always cheerful and we always talked about food and students. I knew he loved his job and his students, he was always looking out for them. I teach his homeroom and he always hints to me to help their grade a bit, ya know, just for university he said. He always used big words and funny phrases and always worked hard at everything. He had a full plate at work, I don't know how he balanced it with his home life. At school he was a homeroom teacher for the special English class, always keeping his students in check, he coached karate and was always proud of his student being the best in the Kansai area, I remember him trying to figure out how to use the video camera just to video his students. Then during the cultural festival he was always busy running around with his students, I remember helping him take down the photos of the kids trip to Australia. We always chatted about catching a drink or seeing the baseball game together, but he was always so busy we never got around to it. He didn't say much sometimes, but you could tell by his actions that he cared about what he did for his students. I remember talking to him just the other day in the sofa room, he came in a bit tired, I knew he just came back to school after a bout of the flu. He was massaging his back with a long rod, I asked him you've been gone for a bit are you alright? He responded that he just got over the flu, and it was the first time ever to get the flu, and it was the first time ever in 30 years to miss work, he was the ironman just like Cal Ripken Jr., he was always there, always first at school and last at school. He told me he was stressed about being the meeting chairman, he had to chair the upcoming meeting about the big entrance exam for the junior high students to be held this weekend. He was stressed that he didn't know what to do. I thought he could do it, so I just told him to just relax and everything would be ok, and just do it. I was thinking of giving him some advice on how to conduct the meeting but I was hesitant because sometimes I feel funny telling older people what to do. Later on we chatted a little more about work, but then I wished I had a time machine to go back and chat with him more, to know he was ok, to know if I could have helped him. But I don't, only Doraemon has a time machine, and life goes on. Miyamoto sensei was always so kind to leave me some goodies in a bag under my desk. Randomly when I arrived at school I would find a treat of beer and sake and other goodies courtesy of Miyamoto, he said it was just a little thanks for helping him out. I was looking to repay the favor, looking for some fine sake to give to him, but I was a little too late. I felt bad I couldn't have given him his sake. At school the teachers were in shock, a moment of silence was given to Miyamoto sensei during homeroom. Talked to some teachers a bit, but everyone deals with death in their own way, plus the cultural barrier, sometimes I was at a lost of what to do. I just remembered some of the photos I took of Miyamoto and his students, and collected a few last ones as I walked by his homeroom. His desk was decorated with flowers, the table top clean with books filled up high. I always remembered his glasses, suit, and Zippo slippers, and the notepad he carried in his pocket. He was a busy man and always checked his schedule with his notebook. Even going to the cafeteria today the cafeteria ladies asked about who died today, I gave them Miyamoto's description and the replied with a sad awww , they called him the udon man. Udon was a favorite of Miyamoto sensei, I will miss those times talking to him over lunch. He always looked out for me from day one, he gave me his number and said if I ever get into any trouble to contact him, he said he knew some tough people in the city, tough as in karate masters and yakuza which are always good friends to have anywhere. Anyways there is so much more to say, but I will leave it as is .... Miyamoto sensei I will miss you, your laugh, your smile, your kindness, you can't be replaced, you will always be in my heart, I'll do my best to help your students because I know thats what you cared about most ...take care, til we meet again someday in another time ... may you be happy wherever you are ..