Feeling at Home

I'm finally feeling "at home" in room 1303 at the new Hobart High School.

The drive to the new building is a tiny bit longer, but I get excited as I start up the last hill on 10th Street and see the "beacon" of the HHS sign! It's been a very loooonnnngg time since I have had such anticipation!

Even with some technology glitches, it's a wonderful place to be. Considering that I didn't even own a calculator when I first started teaching, pulling out laptops for every student in my advanced speech class today was such a treat! Come visit sometime and let me show off the "new digs" - I'll leave the porch light on for you!

Makes Me MADD

Some of you may have seen this before - I've had kids use the "letter" in speeches for years and it "gets me" EVERY SINGLE TIME. I've had more "empty desks" to return to at school than I want to remember - ONE is too many, but it's desolute to face the parents / class when something happens. I always tell my kids that I'm too old to go through the pain - to not be stupid - and to not let their friends be stupid - but you can't buffer them from the OTHER stupid people. TAKE SOME ACTION, Please!

Went to a Party Mom

I went to a party, and remembered what you said. You told me not to drink, Mom, so I had a Sprite instead. I felt proud of myself, the way you said I would, that I didn't drink and drive, though some friends said I should. I made a healthy choice, and your advice to me was right. The party finally ended, and the kids drove out of sight. I got into my car, sure to get home in one piece. I never knew what was coming, Mom, something I expected least. Now I'm lying on the pavement, and I hear the policeman say, "The kid that caused this wreck was drunk." Mom, his voice seems far away. My own blood's all around me, as I try hard not to cry. I can hear the paramedic say, "This girl is going to die." I'm sure the guy had no idea, while he was flying high, because he chose to drink and drive, now I would have to die. So why do people do it, Mom, knowing that it ruins lives? And now the pain is cutting me, like a hundred stabbing knives. Tell sister not to be afraid, Mom; tell daddy to be brave. And when I go to heaven, put "Mommy's Girl" on my grave. Someone should have taught him, that it's wrong to drink and drive. Maybe if his parents had, I'd still be alive. My breath is getting shorter, Mom, I'm getting really scared. These are my final moments, and I'm so unprepared. I wish that you could hold me, Mom, as I lie here and die. I wish that I could say, "I love you, Mom! So I love you and good-bye."

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) IS HOPING TO GET THIS MESSAGE TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. Contact them at:
MADD
P.O. Box 541688
Dallas , TX 75354-1688
1-800-GET -MADD (1-800-438-6233)

Never forget, DON'T EVER DRINK AND DRIVE, not even once, thinking that it won't matter. IT DEFINITELY WILL MATTER!!!

On the Cusp of a New Era

Giving Abbey her first bath at home this evening (couldn't have done it without "Auntie Sharon" on back up) is just the first of history making in the next few hours!
The first time I heard Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech was the day it was given. It was given the summer before my freshman year of high school. Although I was completely clueless about most things, that speech made an impression. I truly hoped to see the day in his vision.
In college, I saw some very scary moments (I was in college from 1967 through 1972 - went straight through and got my Masters' Degree), and, again, I was pretty clueless. In my graduate year, my roommate and I were the ONLY mixed-racial roommates who had REQUESTED each other as roommates at Indiana State University (we were the poster-children for diversity - and got away with A LOT!) At the time, I didn't realize how amazing this was.
Four years ago, when I had my first freshman English class, I taught the Martin Luther King, Jr. speech, Maya Angelou, and Rosa Parks. Again, I was reminded how the "dream" had guided so much of my teaching.
This year, I had the pleasure of teaching a high-ability gifted and talented class. One of the first projects they wanted to work with was politics as many would be voting for the first time. As clueless as I was at that age, THEY didn't want to vote blindly.
On Tuesday, I get to share the history-making inauguration with the class. They won't know how important the moment will be for me; I hope it will be for them.

Happy Epiphany! (or Wise Guys Rule!)

I've always been a fan of Epiphany (the day the Magi - Wise Men - brought gifts to the baby Jesus) and when I first moved to Hobart, my best friend's (Cynthia Lach) mom gave me a set of Wise Guy candlesticks. I cherished those candlesticks until they finally crumbled. I never put up a tree - just the creche, camels, and Wise Men. (When I was a "new" teacher, I would travel to family over the holidays and never wanted to take down a tree when I returned; we were usually back in school when Epiphany rolled around, so it wasn't depressing to leave the camels and Wise Guys up.) And then Cyndi "clinched" the day for me - she had Leanne on January 6th - making HER the best Epiphany gift! I've always been blessed with enjoying other people's children and Leanne has a special place in my heart. So I send the GIFT of LOVE to all today! Happy Epiphany - share the present!

Joyful New Year!

May the new year bring joy, happiness, success, blessings, and love every moment of every day!