When I think of John Lovas, I think of an individual who lives by the code that it is more important to feel good and not to disagree than it is to discuss truth or reality. I think of all the times he said, “I believe these issues are too contentious, let’s not talk about them.” He has certainly never been one to question the status quo and we all know how easy it is to win an argument with John.

Just a minute - I think I may have been describing a student of John’s, John Savol, who lasted two days in one of John’s classes, dropped out and went on to a long and illustrious career as the Wal-Mart greeter in South San Jose. (Like DaVinci, I sometimes write some of my words backwards. If I forget to look at them in the mirror, confusion abounds. Fortunately, I picked up my mistake early in this tome.)

Speaking of DaVinci, did you know that everything in the DaVinci Code is entirely true and historically correct? Jesus did marry Mary Magadalene and they had three kids – Roscoe, Scoey and Manny. The sequel to the DaVinci Code is DaVinci, Yo’ Mamma – the historical account of the three children. Roscoe goes on to found PETA, Scoey, after meeting a melancholy Dane becomes a nun and Manny starts a cart repair shop that will later become Auto Zone throughout the Middle East.

I read Mick Sullivan’s letter to John. And we’ve always known about Mick’s Irish background, haven’t we? I should mention that with my mother’s maiden name being Reilly, I have just as much legitimacy saying to John, “Top of the morning to you John. Did you like your potatoes for breakfast?” So take that, Mick, m’lad.

But I digress.

Like so many others, I have always found my discussions with John engaging and thought provoking. He was actually right some of the time, in that he agreed with me on a handful of issues, but even when he was wrong, his points were well reasoned and intellectually stimulating.

Like Barbara Illowsky, one of my daughters had John for his poetry class and found him to be an exceptional teacher. And I agree with Randy Splitter that John and burnout would be oxymoronic. And, like all the others, I am thinking positive thoughts for a highly valued colleague.