Pretty soon, my summer life will disappear and I will be reintroducing myself to Expo markers and pencil sharpeners. If I have discovered nothing else, I have discovered that summer’s something I am all about.
Here’s the rundown:
Croft Sister Birthday Celebration
exploring new honky tonks
America's Birthday in THE BIG MI
exploring Chicago
tourist shopping on Broadway
helping the G-rents (front porch view. not kidding.)
Nashville music scene
Oh, summer life. Why must you leave?
Sunny porch view
This morning, we are leaving Maine. I am incredibly sad about this, and truly wish I could stay here for much longer (but probably not forever–some twisted part of me misses the 100º heat). The listening, discussing, talking, learning, observing, processing, inspiring, motivating, and reflecting that have occurred in this beautiful place amaze me. Then there’s the part where I got to fall asleep to the waves rolling into the shore every night. You can’t get that in Tennessee!
There has been no information overload from this retreat, which I genuinely appreciate. In fact, if anything, there has been a thinking overload. And that’s the kind of overload I need! I am leaving here with so many ideas to explore over the next few weeks.
There is nothing I love more than the opportunity to hear about things that work in other classrooms. Since I am so new at this “teaching thing”, any ideas I can soak up will be attempted! Enter my classroom AT YOUR OWN RISK!
The retreat continues this morning, with the option of extending for another day. Desperation to stay fills my mind as I pack my things to leave. US Airways wanted to charge me $420 to change my flight, though (trust me–I checked). So I suppose I’m heading back to Tennessee on my previously scheduled flight!
Hopefully soon I will have some updates on topics that have gotten some serious contemplation on this retreat.
See you in TN!
P.S. Thanks for your comments about Steven. I’m hoping to get the next installment in soon.
Front Porch View (Spruce Point Inn, Boothbay Harbor, ME)
Saturday night around midnight, my group finally made it to our rooms at Spruce Point Inn in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. I’m attending a conference with about 75 other teachers to hear authors and discuss the “current state of education.” So far, it has been a really powerful experience. The discussions have sparked so many thoughts I can’t begin to organize or fully think through.
The setting provides for amazing opportunities to sit back, take in the ocean, and continue working out my thoughts. The reading, discussion, and setting are providing for some great growth. It’s an exciting experience for me and I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!
Name that song. Got it? Good.
Yesterday was the official start to my summer. Hallelujah!!! I swear I heard angels singing when I woke up and the sun was shining through my un-blinded window. I spent the whole day rediscovering all of the amazing things I love about summertime. Here they are, in no particular order:
In short, I love summer because it allows me time to do all the things I normally don’t have time for (like smelling fresh cut grass).
Name that song. Got it? Good.
Yesterday was the official start to my summer. Hallelujah!!! I swear I heard angels singing when I woke up and the sun was shining through my un-blinded window. I spent the whole day rediscovering all of the amazing things I love about summertime. Here they are, in no particular order:
In short, I love summer because it allows me time to do all the things I normally don’t have time for (like smelling fresh cut grass).
Next time you’re thinking that water is not that powerful, take a look at this video. In. Sane.
Everybody has their own little way of helping out. For T. Swift, that means donating $500k through the telethon. For my minister, it means making phone calls and providing mental health services to flood victims. For police officers, it means asking each person turning into the River Plantation subdivision (which was devastated beyond belief) if they need directions to somebody’s house to help out. For me, it means being “in the trenches”.
I want to rip up the floor, pack the china, and lay the clothes out to dry. I just do.
Everybody has their own gift. Mine is not organizing clothing drives, baking copious batches of delicious sweets, or giving money. I want to be there, getting my hands dirty and helping to pick people up.
That’s why today was so difficult for me personally. In fact, it was probably the most difficult day for me since we realized how bad the flooding was really going to be. I had to report to work, but my students weren’t there. I want so desperately to see each one of them, give them a hug, and be assured that they are, in fact, okay. And I know that some of them aren’t.
If I’m not able to hug and speak with them, then at least let me be out helping people I know who have lost so much.
I am infinitely grateful to have not lost any personal belongings in the flood. But let’s not pretend that this means we’re all okay.
Nashville will recover, and I want to be out there helping to make it happen.
Television message from the GovernmentSchools are closed, water is being conserved, and emergency messages are all over the television. Earlier in the year, we had “THE Situation 2010″. But the “Other Situation 2010″ that has just occurred has been significantly more devastating than anything you could imagine. This is truly something I never thought I would witness. Many people have lost power, possessions, and even life.
If you are interested in seeing pictures of the Nashville area, take a look at the Tennessean Photo Gallery (photo #48 is the Kroger across the street from our house). Luckily, our house and property made it through unscathed. Now, I’m anxiously awaiting news on friends, coworkers, church members, and students.
Refrigerated section at PublixI’ve reached new heights of worthlessness. I’m watching GAC and doing nothing productive. Just call it “Spring Break Hangover” (it has nothing to do with alcohol consumption. promise). Lesson plans and paper grading are looming…and it’s midnight. It’s just the price you pay for a few days in paradise.
More on that later!
Got to see them today. They are the happiest homebound elderly couple I know. Sure, they live about 10 miles from civilization, but when their *favorite* granddaughter shows up to take Mamaw to Wal-Mart, they perk right up.
I know you want to go visit, so here are the directions:
Cracks me up every time.
They chose to move out there about 15 years ago to live on the land my Papaw grew up on. They didn’t know at the time that he would become unable to drive within 5 years of their moving there. Now, they rely out my Papaw’s second cousin, my uncle, and my family to get to Wal-Mart and doctors’ appointments. I don’t get to go very often, but when I do, I’m always glad I did. Even when it takes my Mamaw a billion gazillion years to get through Wal-Mart.
Even though Papaw usually doesn’t watch TV during the day, he let me watch the end of the Miss. State-Kentucky game (WOW!), all the while informing me that he typically watches five hours of television at night. As we speak, he’s watching HeeHaw, Crook and Chase, and probably an episode of Baseball Tonight (it’s genetic). This nighttime TV watching is strangely important to him. He’s earned the right to have strange habits, so I’m okay with it. He’s been around the block a time or two.
Big shout out to the g-parents!
