August 20, 2010
-
The Daily News
1 It's Frideeeeeeeeee!!!!2 Yee-HEEEEEEEE!
3 Who woulda thunk?
4 This week was arguably the best week of the year!
5 Ever think a teacher who has had summer cut back ten days would be celebrating the opening week of school, and even declaring it the best week of the year?
6 Me neither.
7 But when I look back, it was. It simply was.
8 It began with spending last Saturday with my daughter Caitlin rushing in and saying, "Dad! I got a wedding dress!" Within seconds, she stepped out of her room looking like an absolute princess.
9 I melted, I openly admit. Nobody will EVER take that moment away from me. Later on, I lit up the entire yard that was a science project two months ago, and now looks like the Forest of Arden, at least to me. LOTTA hard work. Caitlin came out and saw the candles going, the lighting, the flowers, and the fountain, and she gave me a huge hug, and then cried. It was all for her engagement party, and I must admit, it looked really beautiful. So did Caitie, or as we abbreviate, K.T.10 The very next day, I got up to my Dad's to watch the Niner game, and I stayed for the Giants' game. We enjoyed a tremendous Father/Son day. He looks and feels better than he has in years.
11 The next day, school started. I saw so many people who had lost their jobs back working again. We still lost some GREAT staff, but those who survived bonded. It was the first time at the Chill that I felt the staff coming closer together.
12 Tuesday brought in our first day of school, and wow.
13 My classes all rocked. Wednesday was a perfect lesson, as was Thursday. The students got in there, discussed things, were philosophical, and SO many raised hands and answered questions that I was positively blown away by their sincerity, and their intelligence. Some years you just feel it.
14 In the midst of all of this, my daughter Nicoley got a teaching job, which turned her entire life upside down. She had been passed over by another candidate for a job she had hoped to get all summmer, but landed an interview, and then was hired, just like that.
15 The job was hers, and I shared that with everyone in yesterday's DN. That night, Helene and I celebrated with a little wine, some Sinatra and some Simon and Garfunkel, and then we sang, and even danced outside to the night sky. Just lovely!16 And yesterday my students once again came in and delivered, or maybe I did and they just fed off my lead. I like to think so. Anyway, they were great.
17 A really good friend texted me asking if I would want to hang out after school yesterday, and I said I would. We wound up having a great ride in the TOOOOOONDRA, and basic charmin' chit chat about everything and nothing.
18 At the end of sixth period yesterday, I was told that today I had to administer a test to my students. At first I was a bit disappointed, because we revved up the year so quickly and with such nice interaction that some bubble-in test was going to interrupt the "bonding".
19 Well...yeah, it clearly will. They'll forget almost all the work we did this week, but on the other hand, I'll have time to take care of a lot of business today during the tests: making seating charts, charting the calendar, and planning for next week. Having six or seven straight hours free today is going to release me to really get in there this weekend and get the garden/yard done. I should hope I could now pull away and help Nicoley set up her classroom.
20 I told me students about her being hired, and each period gave a rousing round of applause. I almost lost it, but as I said yesterday, you can't hurt steel.
21 Every now and again we hit depression, and frustration, and other roadblocks. Sometimes it almost seems that life is SO full of that stuff that it becomes the norm.
22 We forget that every once in a while, something so right simply happens.
23 I guess that's true, but it's always difficult to fathom.
24 Do dreams come true?
25 Mebeee, Mebeee not. But I'll tellya one thing: this was one darned good week.
26 Will it continue?
27 I sure as heck hope so. I'm down.
28 And now it's Frideeeeeeeeee.
29 When I got home last night, I found a note from Helene telling me that our water heater was out, and that this morning's shower was gonna be cold.
30 Dude.
31 You can't hurt steel.
32 I'm living life right now, and I'm loving life right now.
33 And the Giants WON!
34 Just good times going into a good weekend.
35 You down?
36 Celebrate. It's a great time of the year for it. Just celebrate that you woke up, that youput on your shoes and socks, and that you are alive.
37 Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I sure KNOW I will.
38 Have a good one.
39 Peace.
~H~
www.xanga.com/bharrington
Recent Comments