“Beware the ides of March,” Shakespeare declared in his play Julius Caesar.

The eponymous Caesar was assassinated on this Roman day, coordinating with March 15th, 44 BC. While Julius evidently didn’t heed this advice, the words are as true as ever. March’s start has brought its share of misfortune to two RCSD teachers: Mr. Frischknecht and Ms. Baer.

Friday, March 1st, Ms. Baer was out walking her dog when she slipped on ice and broke her left wrist. She had to undergo surgery; plates and screws were inserted into her wrist.

While Ms. Baer is expected to recover fully, she won’t return for another two months.

Ms. Baer’s left hand being the victim of the fall, one might be inclined to think the injury was fortuitous, that her writing would be spared. However, the artist is left-handed by nature.

What are the odds? Well pretty good, as fellow lefty Mr. Frischknecht met his own dastardly, dexterous fate two days later.

When Frischknecht attempted to sweep snow out of the chute of a snowblower on March 3rd, his left hand got stuck. He quickly pulled his mangled fingers out of the snowblower and dialed 911 (with his right hand, presumably).

Again, Frischknecht should have full finger function when everything’s set and done. I asked him if he was still in pain, to which he responded: “Nope; I’m on drugs.”

Similarly to Ms. Baer and Julius Caesar himself, this history teacher is also left-handed. This begs the question: what does March want from these lefties?

None of our teachers was victim of a political assassination by their colleagues, but that doesn’t downplay the gravity of these injuries.

Winter, especially in the Northeast, can be a dangerous time. And we often fail to recognize that in our twenty-first century lives.

Rhinebeck Reality wishes both Ms. Baer & Mr. Frischknecht a speedy and painless recovery, and for all others to “Beware the Ides of March.”