Endings & Beginnings

Tomorrow is the last day of this school year. I have anticipated, prayed for, and counted down the days that have led up to tomorrow, but now that it is here...I have to admit that I am a little reluctant. I look back to that day in August when I welcomed each of my new students and tried to ease theirs, as well as my own, fears about what was yet to come.

Looking over the past nine months, it is true...I worked harder this school year than I ever did in the past. For some reason, or another, convincing these 105 students that history was the most important thing in their life was more difficult than in the past!!! I had a feeling that I was going to have a rough time, and I have to admit that there were days that I had to dig deep for some good attitude, but as time went on...I grew to love these kids just as much, if not more, than all of my students in the past.

Tomorrow is going to be bitter sweet for me, as I'm sure it will be for many teachers across the miles. Yes, we love our summers. We will get to spend some much deserved time away from school and will be able to regroup and refresh, as well as attend some encouraging staff developments that will hopefully put a spark back into us. We will get to spend some valuable time with our spouses, children, grandchildren, parents and friends, and remember why we were chosen for this life (yes, I believe that we were chosen to become teachers...not the other way around!). Even though we love our summers, there will still be a hint of sadness in our hearts when we have to say goodbye to the students that have become everyday fixtures in our lives. Hopefully we have touched some, if not all, of their lives and made a positive impact that they will remember always...but most importantly, I hope that they will know that they have touched my life, and I will remember them for always as well as they make their way into the world.

Tomorrow is also the day that my dad retires from the work force. He has worked at Fort Concho Historical Landmark for 17 years, and before that he was a self-employed dairy-farmer. He celebrated his 66th birthday earlier this month, and that is the age that he had decided long ago would be his retirment age. So...tomorrow is the day.

I can't help but think about the plans that he and my mom, Sharon, had made about this day. My mom would be 62, if she had survived the cancer that ravaged her body, and she and my dad were both going to retire tomorrow. They were going to purchase a motor home and travel around the United States, visiting all the places that they had only dreamed of when they were younger and tied down to the dairyfarm. Such plans were never meant to reach fruition.

Life for my dad is going to be different, and dare I say...better. He is going to be able to travel to visit my brother & sister-in-law as often as he, or they, like, and he will be able to travel with me to enjoy my daughter's many activities during her last two years in high school. It is going to be an adjustment though, as he begins to spend his days without the day-in-day-out activities of the worplace, and has to rely on himself for daily interaction. He says that he is looking forward to whatever life has to offer, and he seems younger and more relaxed as each day has approached. He says that tomorrow is more of a beginning for him, rather than an ending. You gotta love the optimism.

So, as I wrap tonight's commentary up...I pause to reflect on the endings that tomorrow will bring, and the beginnings that will be born. The possibilities are limitless, and memories are waiting to be made. Until then...

Field Trips & Friends

This week was a very busy one, but it seems that the busier I am, the happier I am. I'm not quite sure what to do with myself when I have free time, so I end up creating projects to take care of that free time!



Last Friday evening, Freddy and I attended the 6th Annual San Angelo Police Banquet. It was a really nice evening that honored the officers of the SAPD and the hard work that they have done throughout the previous year. The banquet was held at the San Angelo Convention Center and was a nice cool escape from the unbelievable heat that we had last Friday. We enjoyed the food that was catered by the always amazing Kenny Blanek, and visited with Freddy's parents (Fred, Sr. is a retired SAPD Lt.). I really enjoyed seeing all of the officers wives...seems we never get to spend much time with each other! Later...we all went out for some more visiting. Was a truly awesome evening!

Saturday found us taking a lazy drive to Mason, browsing in some shops there where I found the perfect Mother's Day gift for my mom's grave sight. We made our way through the beautiful countryside to Fredericksburg where we bought all the fixings for a fabulous cookout! Then it was on to the farm house!

Dad and KK were already at the house (they had gone ahead on Friday night), and had trimmed some of the live oaks that surround the farm house. Once we arrived, we immediately began the chore of cleaning up the yard and the washer pitching pit!

Friends began arriving, dad grilled the most wonderful T-Bone steaks I'd ever had, washer pitching was in full swing, and drinks were plentiful. KK and her friend Lisa entertained themselves by going down to the river, driving the go-cart, and playing pool in the game room! Freddy was in heaven because he got to play catch with Gary's son! I can tell that Freddy is going to be an awesome grandpa one day! But not too soon....

The Waring Fireman's Dance was later that evening in the quiet little village (no, really) of Waring. I was pleasantly surprised to see my mom's brothers & sisters and many of my cousins in attendance. I don't get to spend a lot of time with them anymore, but it is amazing to realize how much they are in my thoughts. I love to see all of the old families from the area and reminisce with them about people and days gone by!

Freddy paid entirely too much money for a locally crafted lamp table that he bought in the auction. He said he didn't mind because it benefited the fire boys and it was my present for Mother's Day! I love it, and it is on the entrance porch at the farm house.

Headed back to Angelo on Sunday where a hand made card was waiting for me from my daughter. Sounds cheap...but was priceless to me! Enjoyed supper with my mother-in-law.

Monday brought anxiety over a field trip that I had been planning for my History club and some select 7th graders. Due to the outbreak of swine flu, all field trips had been put on hold for a couple of weeks, but were reinstated just in the nick of time! We didn't have the final "go-ahead" until 2:00 on Tuesday afternoon, which meant that my friend and colleague, Mrs. Gully, and I had to scramble to make sure all the details were taken care of. We left for San Antonio at 5:05 a.m. with 49 middle school students.

The day included a visit to the Institute of Texan Cultures in San Antonio, lunch at the Rivercenter Mall, and then a tour of the Alamo. Memories of my own elementary/junior high days at these same sites flooded back through out the day, and tugged at my heart. I really enjoyed sharing these places and experiences with our students, and the teachers that went with us helped to make this trip very special for the kids, as well as myself.

It was nice to return back to Angelo at 9:30 p.m. and have the parents of ALL 49 kids pick up their children on time and quickly. After 6 years of doing field trips together, Mrs. Gully and I have never had parents that were as thoughtful as these. We were glad to be home.

The rest of the week went by in a blur, and here it is Saturday! I enjoyed the morning working in my garden (which is coming a long nicely...I think), taking breaks to sip my cup of coffee, and run some errands. Now...it's off to the farm house, once again. This visit is a work visit...the last time that I will be able to go down for a while. Therefore, I am going to change bedsheets, dust furniture, clean the refrigerator, etc.

Until we meet again...I hope you enjoy your own field trips and that lots of friends are involved! Go out and make some history today...

Parents

Tonight was our daughter's High School Sports Banquet. She played on the Junior Varsity Volleyball team this year, which means that the coaches asked all the JV athletes to stand up and be recognized...no, they did not even announce her name. We sat through three hours of listening to the praises of the varsity athletes in at least 6 other sports...but we do that because we support our daughter's decision to be involved in a positive activity in her school community. The real thing that bothered me was the lack of parental presence. It amazed me that there were so many athletes there tonight that had NO ONE there to support them! Oh my goodness...what are these parents telling there children when they don't show up for their activities??????? Yes...it bothered me a little that I didn't get to see my baby girl walk across the stage, and that I didn't get to hear the coaches gush over her ability; but, on the other hand...if the coaches had done that for the freshman level, and the JV, then the Varsity...we would still be there! And...my girl will have her time to be gushed over - and you can bet your boo-hiney - my husband, my dad, and I will be sitting there in the audience, cheering her on...and anyone else that needs to be cheered on!!!!! Come on parents - get involved.

New to this!

I am in awe of my friends that have their own blogs, therefore...I am going to attempt to do this! You will have to be forgiving as I stumble my way through the learning process...I am not very good at admitting that I need help doing/learning something (so I am going to do this on my own for as long as possible). I truly look forward to this new leap forward, and hope that you enjoy what you see!