Extra Sensory Blogging

As I read her words it is as if I have written them myself. As if the hand that has typed them is mine. As if the heart they flow from is beating in my chest. I wipe the tears from my face and shake my head to clear the confusion.

As I fed my addiction this morning I was rocked to my very core. It happens to me sometimes... more than I like. "Who are these people?" I have asked myself on more than one occasion. How is it they know how I feel? How are they writing my thoughts, just as I would write them, if only I had the courage to do so? It takes courage to bare one's soul for the world to read. After all, it is out there forever.

I am grateful to all of you whom I read. For when I am unable to bare my soul: when I don't have the courage to do it myself, there is always one of you who does it for me. Thanks.

On the Road Again

I awoke this morning to a chill in the air. I found my arms wrapping themselves around my body to not just provide warmth, but to ward off the chill that came from deep within me. A chill that comes from knowing what lies ahead. And this year I think I am dreading it.

For every year, it is mornings like this, cool dry fall-like mornings, that begin to remind me of how little time I have to prepare myself for the onslaught of the impressionable young minds, bodies and souls I will once again be steward of. Two short weeks and it begins.

I don't know if I am ready this year. I don't know if my heart is restored enough. You see every year there are those students who take a piece of my heart with them. Last year there were more than usual. So many needy kids. Only one of me.

I have worried about one in particular this summer. I spent hours with this kid, not only teaching, but supporting him through one crisis after another. Trying to motivate him in spite of all the hell he was living. It was difficult at its best and shear hell at its worst.

His father recently made the news. I know the boy is devastated. I tried to find this young man at his mother's. It appears she has been evicted once again...if an apt. full of belongings on the curb is a clue. I don't know where he is. My only hope is he will come back to see me.

His story is not unique. It happens all too often in my building and I work in a pretty upper middle class district. As much as people would like to think, education is no longer about reading, writing and arithmetic. It is about supporting these kids where they are so they can learn. And on any given day, who knows where that might be.

I need the summer to heal from the pain these kids live. I need to heal so my heart can be whole to piece out to more needy students. Because as an educator, I can tell you I live their pain with them. If I did not have this break, I would never have the chance to become whole again. There would be nothing left to give.

And while last year was tough, I will be there for this year's crew. I never want to be that educator who cares more about the content than cares about the kid. I always want them to know they come first. I always want them to know there is a piece of my heart for them. I always want to be the one in her car, they chase down the street screaming, " We love you Mrs. .............................."

PhotoHunt - Dark

I found a cool new blogsite...check out my sidebar. Tnchick created PhotoHunt. A new theme every week.

This week's theme is 'Dark'. I like to think outside the box and don't think this photo needs an explanation.

I took this in D.C. on a trip with 40 some eighth graders. That in itself could have been considered DARK!

The Little Red Boat that Could

"Hey baby, you want me to open her up?" he says, his eyes all glazed over with pride.

"I guess but do you think she can take it?"

"What do you mean? She's purring like a kitten."

I think I hurt his feelings. For finally, after many disappointments, his little red boat is in the water and RUNNING ( it has been in the water several times...the running part has been a problem). So he opens her up and man do we fly.

"Honey...why is the front end up so high?"

"It's cause we're going so fast...it will level out."

"Honey..why is the engine almost under the water?"

"Holy shit! Where is all that water coming from?"

"Honey...where are the life jackets?"

You know...if the plug falls out of the boat, the back end fills up with water quick!

A Pauschism...

"Never lose that childlike wonder."

Those words echo in my mind as I am looking through the old vacation pictures.

The wonder of tide pools

At it again...

I told you I was addicted. I have a wide variety of interests and I ended up in some funny places tonight. Look what else I found http://docsontheweb.blogspot.com/ I was laughing out loud as I was reading some of the stories. I too, am compelled to support their cause. You might want to consider doing the same. Enjoy!

I admit it....

I am a blog hopper. I think it is an addiction. I will click on one of my favorites to read the day's new exciting post...then I click on one of their listed favorites. And oh my, something very interesting will pop up! When I am done with that, I point and click again. Who knew there were so many interesting people out there!

But I have found I have a problem with all this blog hopping...I often forget to mark my favorites as I go and then I can't find them again. I have been searching for a particular blog for about a week now. I had no idea how I got to her, but I knew I wanted to find her again. Today I did! It was purely accidental...she left a comment on one of my favs.

So welcome Epi to my list of "Blogs you should read". I am glad I found you again.