Do you love it?

I'm at a point in my life where people ask a lot of questions. When one is nearing college commencement, the question he hears entirely too much is "What are your plans after graduation?" You then go through your memorized speech about your post college plans. I'm now about to finish my first year of teaching and there's a new question on the minds of small talkers with whom I engage in... small talkery.

The conversation always goes like this:
"Hey Dan! How are you? I haven't seen you in months!"
"I'm great! How are you? What are you doing now?"
"Just trying to finish school up!" OR "I'm a nurse at Children's Hospital." OR "Looking for a job" OR "Planning my wedding. What are you doing?"
"I teach middle school choir and music."
here it comes.....
"Do you love it?"

It never fails. They ALWAYS ask me that. Do you love it? It's not "How is that going" or "how great i'm happy for you", but Do you love it? At first, I didn't notice. Now, I've almost come to expect it.

So, I started thinking about it. Why are all these people asking me the exact same question when presented with my newfound occupation? I put myself in their shoes. I think it's because these people know me. They know how I tick. They know that yes, I do love it, and perhaps they're just double checking. I sat behind my piano today as my fourth period sang their hearts out. As I closed my eyes, I couldn't contain the huge, childlike smile on my face. Do you love it? Good, because I've always known you would.