I have been an English teacher for 38 (gulp!) years. For over 20 of those I have taught "English methods" courses in initial teacher education programs. As the retirement light glows increasingly brighter at the end of my career pathway, I reflect on three aspects of teaching English that have been--and remain--the cornerstones of my professional work. Although they appear to remain significant for beginning teachers, they are not foregrounded in curriculum documents. I offer this personal reflection in the hope that the things that are important to so many in the profession--the things that drew us into English teaching, and keep us there--remain at the forefront of our thinking as we move into the implementation phase of the Australian Curriculum.