Leaving = Dead?

Since I'm leaving I've asked my principal, assistant principal, and temporary AP for letters of rec. I want to be prepared for my return, and I want to get them to write the letter now while my stunning performance is still in their memories.

So I got to read 3 letters about me. Praising my work, my ethic, my professionalism, my classroom management techniques. Basically, I gots the skillz to pay da billz.

So, here are some people saying all this wonderful stuff, like in a eulogy, and I've been thinking how sad it is that no one gets to hear these things until they are dead (and, by definition, can't hear them).

I'm not dead, but I'm leaving for ever which is like being dead, and sometime in the future someone will say, "Remember when Mrs. Newsome said/did XYZ?" and people will smile, chuckle, and wonder.