From the "truth is stranger than fiction" department: my wife was hired to the position that I just vacated. This is a God thing. There's no other logical explanation, other than we are being looked after. So many other applications and processes were inexplicably blocked... but now I understand the bigger picture. She will give the teaching position such a fresh approach, the students for sure will quickly buy into her program, and we will see lots of new expressions of music at the school. I'm so thrilled to see this happen. It's more than anyone could ask or imagine.
To my many friends on staff at my former- and her new- school, thank you for your sincere friendship and support. I'll be seeing you soon!