For the second September in a row I’m not bustling around getting my own classroom ready for students and rehashing summer escapades with co-workers. Instead, I’m getting to enjoy this last bit of sunshine and head out the door with our picnic lunch to meet up with some friends for the day. I need to remember this feeling, a relaxing September, because when I do head back to the classroom (when is that happening, again?) I’ll forget these days.
I stopped by my former classroom a couple weeks ago and discovered that it had all but moved on without me. New furniture arrangement, new projector, new teacher, new, new new. It felt a bit bittersweet, but life moves on and things change, so it wasn’t that difficult to see. Plus, I still feel very connected to the rest of the building and the people, so not having my room be mine anymore didn’t sting too bad.
Over Labor Day weekend we went to a family BBQ hosted by Barry’s grandparents. It was a day full of badminton, watermelon, family, new babies, engagements, and sunshine. I had asked Barry’s uncle if we could raid their apple tree, but by the time we rolled out of Greg and Linda’s driveway it was dark and Maggie was ready to fall asleep. Yesterday morning we woke up to a huge bag of apples on our porch that Barry’s dad had dropped of on his way to work and I couldn’t be more happy. I’ve got my work cut out for me: chopping, slicing, grating, boiling, mashing, mixing…..and whatever else I can find to do with these things before they go bad.
I’m not shaking hands at Meet the Teacher or making sure that all my students get on the right bus, but I know plenty of teachers that are doing those things and much, much more. I also know students that are starting their first day of school, making new friends, learning the ins and outs of a school day with a new teacher. It all takes such work and dedication. There is such freshness and newness in these first weeks that is both exhausting and exhilarating.
As I grate, peel, steam, mash and whatever else I’m doing with these apples, I know that I’ll be thinking of my fellow teacher friends and and students. I only hope that every teacher has a class full of students that makes coming to work a highlight, and that every student has a teacher that is happy to see their face every day. Bustle along, friends, and I hope this school year is as blessed as can be.
I’m off to see about some apples.
