My favourite memory of Rupert has to be the time when I walked into my classroom early in the morning and found the following scrawled on my whiteboard...
1. Van Morrison was most popular from about 1967 to 1979... a LONG time ago.
2. if you asked basically ANYONE to name ten classic rock acts from the 60's and 70's, nobody is going to have Van Morrison on their list. How does ANY KG student even know who Van Morrison IS?!
3. Van Morrison is an incredible artist. Listen to "Into the Mystic" or "Sweet Thing" or "Gloria". But I really think it is a stretch to say he "rocks". I mean Led Zeppelin rocks. And Metallica rocks. Van Halen and System of a Down and Rage Against the Machine ROCK. But a singer-songwriter like Van Morrision - as fantastic as he is - does not rock.
4. the penmanship is atrocious. I mean, it looks like "Van mornison RocNs!!"
Al morning I was thinking "who could have written this? Who has heard of Van Morrison?". And suddenly it dawned on me... RUPERT!! Who else could it be? This is a guy that seems to have a strange allegiance (obsession?) to bad 80's Canadian bands... Loverboy, April Wine, Honeymoon Suite, Triumph, Trooper, 54-40... Rupert has mentioned the majority (if not all) these bands to me over the past five years. But why?
Well, Rupert is a unique guy. Quirky, outspoken, bit of an iconoclast. But also so warm-hearted, authentic, and respectful. It's been a great experience teaching you all these years, Rupert. I hope you always maintain your independent spirit, your self-confidence, and your sense of humour. Thanks for all the blast-from-the-past music talks. I KNOW there will be nobody to replace you next year for those. Best of luck to you, Rupert!