missing my friends

I think I understand kids who go to school and do nothing;

I sure do miss the social aspect of school.

I miss seeing my friends!

Don't miss the grading,

the "policing,"

extra duties,

[maybe I DO miss the extra duties!]

getting up early!

Yes, I think I DO understand kids who go to school and do nothing;

I sure do miss the social aspect of school. I miss seeing my friends!

Don't miss the grading, policing, getting up early!

BACK TO SCHOOL -- NOT

The day I have been regretting is Monday. Summer "vacation" is over; summer school has ended; fall sports have done the mandatory practice time and begun their seasons; friends, colleagues, alumni have all prepped their classrooms and started lesson plans; the shopping is complete; the supplies have been purchased.

And so it's "Back to School" time ~ for those still teaching. Monday begins the 2010-2011 HHS school year. Teachers will meet for breakfast in the Great Hall.

Excitement is in the air as everyone catches up on the much-too-short summer. New teachers try to "fit" in; veteran teachers wander in; all wait for the festivities in the theatre. And then it's a faculty meeting before preparation in rooms.

But this year is different for S.A.Mumaugh; I will not be at breakfast;

I will not be at teachers' festivities; I will not be at the theatre;

I will not be at the faculty meeting; I will not be going to Room 1303.

I WILL still be a BRICKIE because "ONCE A BRICKIE, ALWAYS A BRICKIE!"

And now I AM RETIRED!

ONCE UPON A TIME

"ONCE UPON A TIME"

"Nearly every story begins with those words...'once upon a time'...but did you ever think of what, or who they mean?? well..they mean me...I'm Miss On Time...you may know my brother, March Time, or my sister, May Time...I KNOW you know my father...Father Time...he started the whole time business..."

A former student reminded me of these beginning lines from a children's show.

I think I used to define myself by the job that I did, the people that I knew, or the plays that I directed.

Have recently realized that I AM ME!

“I am Me. In all the world, there is no one else exactly like me. Everything that comes out of me is authentically mine, because I alone chose it -- I own everything about me: my body, my feelings, my mouth, my voice, all my actions, whether they be to others or myself. I own my fantasies, my dreams, my hopes, my fears. I own my triumphs and successes, all my failures and mistakes. Because I own all of me, I can become intimately acquainted with me. By so doing, I can love me and be friendly with all my parts. I know there are aspects about myself that puzzle me, and other aspects that I do not know -- but as long as I am friendly and loving to myself, I can courageously and hopefully look for solutions to the puzzles and ways to find out more about me. However I look and sound, whatever I say and do, and whatever I think and feel at a given moment in time is authentically me. If later some parts of how I looked, sounded, thought, and felt turn out to be unfitting, I can discard that which is unfitting, keep the rest, and invent something new for that which I discarded. I can see, hear, feel, think, say, and do. I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be productive, and to make sense and order out of the world of people and things outside of me. I own me, and therefore, I can engineer me. I am me, and I am Okay.”~~Virginia Satir (American Phychologist and Educator, 1916-1988)

I AM AT PEACE!

People are often unreasonable,
illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind,
people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful,
you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building,
someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis
it is between you and God;
it was never between you and them anyway,

~~Mother Teresa

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.