These Are The Days

Wrapping up the school year is always such a crazy time, and now that I'm teaching high school, it seems even crazier. When I taught middle school, I knew the kids were leaving our building, but I think because I knew they were still going to be in school, it didn't seem that huge of a transition. With three years of high school under my belt, the number of students I know personally has grown, and the ones who were freshmen my first year here, will be seniors in the fall. Somehow, this has made me more sentimental than I used to be. Many of the kids are off the chain, although the ones in my class seem to be behaving, even the transition students, which leads me to believe that they are wondering about their summer without the structure of school, although obviously not in those terms. Since low income is prevalent, some of these kids will not have as much food over the summer, without the benefit of free/reduced breakfast and lunch, and growing teens need lots of food. I hear many of them talking about a summer job, so that's encouraging, but I still worry about the loss of ground some of them will have without school (me!) making them read or write.

Having to take down all the room decorations and posters a week before school is out is a policy that I strongly disagree with, yet have to follow. We, as an institution, get angry when our students act as if school is already out, but why shouldn't they think this if we are stripping the walls bare this early?

Knowing that I get stressed during this time, I decided to treat myself to breakfast out twice this week. Once by myself, at my favorite coffee shop, and once with my friend, Lori, at a cafe we both enjoy. Both days were good days, so I call it a win.

I went to knit night tonight, but it wasn't as relaxing as it should have been; there was a yarn rep talking with the owner and manager, and for some reason, he irritated me. As the evening went on, I realized I was just having too much sensory overload, with so many voices talking at the same time in a small space. So, I've been sitting up late, reading and knitting, and I'm still not relaxed enough to go to bed yet. Plus, my poison ivy rash is still bothering me, so there's that.

I'm knitting washcloths for a few upcoming birthdays, using a pattern book I picked up at the thrift store a year or two ago. They're pretty old-fashioned looking, lots of open lace, which makes me think of little old lady knits, but I wanted to try some new designs. I'm choosing yarn color solely based on the balls of yarn Fern, Melissa's cat, drags out of my basket. Kind of fun that way.

No pictures this time, but maybe this weekend, after the much needed, week long rain stops. My formerly thirsty plants will probably look a lot better by Saturday!

***Saturday morning, edit: one plant and the amazing green-ness, after a full week of the rain. Sunny skies today!

 

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