TIME TO HANG UP THE CHALK

As I take my last journeys down the halls of Hobart High School, I can remember the first day I walked into the old building. I was so excited to begin my "career" as a member of Hobart High School's English Department!

How was I to know that once I blinked, 38 wonderful (and full of wonder) years would pass so quickly? And now, it's time to "hang up" my chalk,

say my farewells to some of my favorite "babies,"

and begin a new chapter in my life. (We have no chalk boards in the new building; only white boards!)

While I "hang on" to my memories,

I'm reminded that many adventures await -- if only I let go!

As I grow older, and enjoy my other pursuits,

I tip my hat to the next group to enjoy the pleasures that MY CAREER gave me,

and offer this advice: DON'T BLINK or you may miss some of the most important moments of your life. Savor each moment.

Wishing you the joy, love, and peace that are yours for the taking.

GOOD BYE! I LOVE YOU!

for the MOMs

This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, "It's okay honey, Mommy's here." Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can't be comforted.

This is for all the step-mothers who raised another woman's child or children, and gave their time, attention, and love

(sometimes totally unappreciated!)

For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14-year-olds dye their hair green.

For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting.

For the mothers of the survivors,

and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror,

hugging their child,

who just came home from school, safely.

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful,

and now pray they come home safely from a war.

What makes a good Mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time? Or is it in her heart? Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time? The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby? The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when you just want to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in your home? Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation.

And mature mothers learning to let go.

For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.

Single mothers and married mothers.

Mothers with money, mothers without.

This is for you all.

For all of us.

Hang in there.

In the end we can only do the best we can.

Tell them every day that we love them.

And pray.

STRESS RELIEF

A lecturer when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, ''How heavy is this glass of water?'' Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g. The lecturer replied, ''The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'' He continued, ''And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on. As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden. So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can.'' So, my friend put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.


Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

* Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.

* Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

* Always wear stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be "recalled" by their maker.

* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others.

* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because you won't have a leg to stand on.

* Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

* Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.

* The second mouse gets the cheese.

* When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

* Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.

* You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

* We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colours, but they all have to live in the same box.

Have an awesome day and know that someone has thought about you today.

2010 CENSUS

2010 Census to Begin

Good info to know!

With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including:

name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.

The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:

If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door,

they will have a badge,

a handheld device,

a Census Bureau canvas bag,

and a confidentiality notice.

Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don't know into your home. Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give:

your Social Security number,

credit card or banking information to anyone,

even if they claim they need it

for the U.S. Census.

REMEMBER, NO MATTER WHAT THEY ASK,

YOU REALLY ONLY NEED TO TELL THEM

HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE AT YOUR ADDRESS.

While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range,

YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER ANYTHING AT ALL

ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION.

The Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations. Any one asking for that information is NOT with the Census Bureau.

AND REMEMBER,

THE CENSUS BUREAU HAS DECIDED NOT TO WORK WITH

ACORN ON GATHERING THIS INFORMATION.

No Acorn worker should approach you saying he/she is with the Census Bureau. Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau. Also, if they ask you if you have a gun in the house,

do not answer.

It's none of their business

and could possibly lead to danger.

For more advice on avoiding identity theft and fraud, visit

http://www..bbb.org/

PLEASE SHARE THIS INFO WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

March 26th

On March 26, 1987, my dad and I were waiting in the Indianapolis airport for my Spring Break flight to Tampa to see my sister and nephew; when he collapsed from what I thought was a heart attack, a wonderful couple started CPR. Two days later, after 48 pints of blood, he died from an aortic aneurysm. I never had a chance to thank the couple or to repay all 48 pints of blood. Every time we have a blood drive at school, I ask my kids to help me repay the blood. Wish I could have thanked the couple, too. I've always felt like the couple never knew the outcome OR how grateful our entire family was for their efforts. I still tell the classes learning CPR what a difference it can make.

Sharon pointed out that our mom used to say that we didn't marry because we could never find someone as wonderful as our dad - and she was right. All three of us were daddy's girls. I think Bryan knows that feeling with his girls. It's a special bond.

MY TWO FAVORITE SONGS

"For Good"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzrGFQysfYU&feature=related

"Nothing"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUTafCLoDcE&feature=related

Lyrics for "For Good":

ELPHABA: I'm limited just look at me

I'm limited and just look at you

you can do all I couldn't do, Glinda,

so now its up to you for both of us

now it's up to you

GLINDA: I've heard it said

that people come into our lives

for a reason

Bringing something we must learn

and we are lead to those

who help us most to grow

if we let them and we help them in return

Well I don't know if I believe that's true

But I know I'm who I am today

because I knew you.

Like a comet pulled from orbit

as it passes a sun

Like a stream that meets a boulder

halfway through the wood.

Who can say if I've been changed for the better

but, because I knew you

I have been changed for good.

ELPHABA: It well may be

that we will never meet again

in this lifetime

so let me say before we part

so much of me is made

from what I learned from you

You'll be with me

like a hand print on my heart

Now whatever way our stories end

I know you have rewritten mine

by being my friend

Like a ship blown from it's mooring

by a wind off the sea

like a seed dropped by a sky bird

in a distant wood

Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

But because I knew you

GLINDA: because I knew you

BOTH: I have been changed for good

ELPHABA: And just to clear the air

I ask forgiveness

for the things I've done

you blame me for

GLINDA: But then I guess we know

there's blame to share

BOTH: And none of it seems to matter any more

GLINDA & ELPHBA: Like a comet pulled from orbit

(like a ship blown from its mooring)

As it passes a sun

(By a wind off the sea)

Like a stream that meets a boulder

(Like a seed dropped by a bird)

Halfway through the wood

(in a wood)

BOTH: Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

I do believe I have been changed

for the better

GLINDA: And because I knew you

ELPHABA: because I knew you

BOTH: because I knew you,

I have been changed

...for

... good.

Lyrics for "Nothing":

[DIANA] I'm so excited because

I'm gonna go to the High School of Performing Arts!

I mean, I was dying to be a serious actress.

Anyway, it's the first day acting class

--and we're in the auditorium--

and the teacher, Mr. Karp... Oh, Mr. Karp...

Anyway, he puts us up on the stage with our legs around each other,

one in back of the other and he says:

"Okay... we're going to do improvisations.

Now, you're on a bobsled.

It's snowing out.

And it's cold...Okay...GO!"

Ev'ry day for a week we would try to

Feel the motion,

feel the motion

Down the hill.

Ev'ry day for a week we would try to

Hear the wind rush,

hear the wind rush,

Feel the chill.

And I dug right down to the bottom of my soul

To see what I had inside.

Yes, I dug right down to the bottom of my soul

And I tried, I tried.

[Spoken]And everybody's goin'

"Whooooosh, whooooosh

...I feel the snow

... I feel the cold

... I feel the air."

And Mr. Karp turns to me and he says,

"Okay, Morales. What did you feel?"

[sings]And I said...

"Nothing, I'm feeling nothing,"

And he says "Nothing Could get a girl transferred."

They all felt something,

But I felt nothing

Except the feeling That this bulls**t was absurd!

[Spoken]But I said to myself,

"Hey, it's only the first week.

Maybe it's genetic.

They don't have bobsleds in San Juan!"

[sings]Second week,

more advanced,

and we had to

Be a table,

be a sports car

...Ice-cream cone.

Mister Karp, he would say,

"Very good, except Morales.

Try, Morales, All alone."

And I dug right down to the bottom of my soul

To see how an ice cream felt.

Yes, I dug right down to the bottom of my soul

And I tried to melt.

The kids yelled,

"Nothing!"

They called me "Nothing"

And Karp allowed it,

Which really makes me burn.

The were so helpful.

They called me "Hopeless,"

Until I really didn't know

Where else to turn.

[Spoken]And Karp kept saying,

"Morales, I think you should transfer to Girl's High,

You'll never be an actress,

Never!"

Jesus Christ!

Went to church, praying,

"Santa Maria,

Send me guidance, send me guidance,"

On my knees.

Went to church, praying,

"Santa Maria,

Help me feel it, help me feel it.

Pretty please!"

And a voice from down

at the bottom of my soul

Came up to the top of my head.

And the voice from down

at the bottom of my soul,

Here is what it said:

"This man is nothing!This course is nothing!

If you want something,

Go find another class.

And when you find one

You'll be an actress."

And I assure you that's what

Fin'lly came to pass.

Six months later I heard

that Karp had died.

And I dug right down

to the bottom of my soul...

And cried.

'Cause I felt...

nothing.

RUMORS

A couple of teachers are telling who they think will be taking the early retirement incentive - I will be turning in the letter on Friday - not really ready, but probably necessary. I've had a good run for the 38 years I've been proud to teach at Hobart High School. Administration is making a decent offer that I can't afford to pass up. Has to be 12 of us or it's a no-go. I cry every time some one asks me, so I have to get under control. It's been 18 years since they've made any retirement offer; the $$$ crunch is going to be awful; we've been pretty much "guilt-ed" into turning in the letters (so no one gets R.I.F. letters); no one is indispensable, but I hate leaving my "babies."

I knew I wanted to teach since fifth grade - WHAT I wanted to teach changed often! I loved biology - especially genetics - and REALLY wanted to teach it. In 1967, technology was not what it is today; handicaps dictated WHAT you COULD do. (My eyesight was legally blind and my eyes don't "line up" - when I looked in a microscope, what I could barely see wasn't ever one picture - biology teacher was out of the question.) I began my college career in special education; changed to elementary education; switched to secondary English; changed to speech; ended up with speech, theatre, and English.

After getting my bachelor's and master's degrees, I started job hunting and interviewing. The summer of 1972, I interviewed all over the state of Indiana - Lawrenceburg one day and Hobart the next. I WAS GOING TO TEACH SOMEWHERE!

The first year I started at Hobart, I sat at meetings complaining how hot and stupid I was for wearing a blue, long-sleeved, polyester dress! (I now complain how cold it is in my air-conditioned room!) The second Saturday, at the laundromat, I met a lovely lady who noticed I was new. In speaking with her, we discovered that her son and I both starting teaching at Hobart - Steve Balash was at the junior high school, and I was at the high school. That Sunday, Cynthia Lach asked her mom if she could bring a new teacher to lunch; I never left Cyndi's mom's table! I remember thinking I'll only be here a few years and then move on. Thirty-eight years later, I'm sad to be finally "graduating."

That first year, I struggled to add grades by hand; a friend (math teacher) actually came and helped me! My parents gave me a re-conditioned calculator for Christmas that first year - it could add, subtract, multiply, and divide. It cost a fortune even though re-conditioned. Today, I could buy a solar powered one for a buck! Now, I act like the world will end if the computer goes down! Heavens forbid if I make an error in STI!

I have actually resided in only four different rooms in the past 38 years. I started in the old building in Room 104 (which eventually became the cardio lab); moved to Room 124 when the auditorium was built (there for 25 years); was moved to Room 101 between Leto and Swanke; and landed in Room 1303 in the new building. Every room was my "home" - probably spent more time at school than at home at times! I wanted my kids to be comfortable and also feel at "home."

I have taught Speech 1 and Advanced Speech all 38 years! Although the class is not required, probably 95% of the student body takes the beginning class (there aren't many one-semester classes, so it frequently becomes an alternative.) I was privileged to be theatre director for over 20 years. I have actually taught every English class at one time or another - in regular school, homebound instruction, summer school, or Challenge School.

(I have even taught English classes that no longer exist! These include Mass Media, Business English, ISTEP+ remediation, and FLIP.)
As I complete grade 56 (K-12 + 5 years ISU + 38 years HHS = 56) it seems fitting that I started Kindergarten during the 1955-1956 school year.

It has been an honor to have lived in Hobart and gone to school at HHS for 38 years. I have never "gone to work" - I "go to school" - and am glad that I'm leaving before it becomes WORK - at least that's how I will choose to look at it.

BE THERE!

MAKE THEIR DAY!

CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE!

PLAY!

ONCE A BRICKIE, ALWAYS A BRICKIE!