I heard from a (former) student over the weekend. He is in college now. He's not majoring in music but something more practical. He actually stopped taking lessons from me while he was in middle school, but we follow each others exploits on FaceBook. It seems that he is accompanying a singer and he had a couple of questions about one spot in the music.
I've joked over the years about my students. "It's similar to joining the Mafia. Once you become one of my students there is no way out. I will always consider you my student." That's why I place the word "former" in parenthesis. But I like to believe that they feel the same way. They know that they can contact me after years of separation and I will be happy to help. This is the nature of a student/teacher relationship. I'm not unique in this way. There are teachers all over the world who have similar experiences.
Another satisfying thought is that he still plays classical guitar. He's a college football player with very good grades. He's not a "dumb jock" or a "geek" but is a well rounded young adult. Very cool. And, again, he's not unique. I have many similar stories about (former) students who have grown-up and made a life for themselves outside of the world of music, but still play guitar on a regular basis.
Honestly it's a lot of fun to talk about the (former) students who have become successful musicians. They perform in various styles from Pop, to Reggae, to Classical, to Irish Rock, to.... well you get the idea. It's also fun when, on occasion, I meet famous (or semi-famous) people who know of me because of my students. But for every one of those stories there are several hundred stories of regular folks who play guitar at campfires, Sunday services, or in a quiet place in their home away from the hectic world. And I'm every bit as proud of them as I am the famous ones.
My son Eric once told me that the reason he liked working with his hands so much was because at the end of the day he could see what he had done. I understand that. To realize that my time was not wasted and that I still have useful skills means a lot to me. I am no more ready to retire than a gardener would be.
In Corinthians 1 we are taught that "Love is gentle and love is kind.....". But sometimes love has the loudest laugh in the room, encourages you when you're trying your best, barks at you when you're not, and holds you in his heart forever.