Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you are not willing to move your feet.

Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you are not willing to move your feet.
~Anonymous

For a veteran teacher of SPEECH and THEATRE, I'm really basically shy! I have trouble "reaching out" in new settings and with new people. Part of the reason is the fear of rejection; part of the reason is fear of the unknown; part of the reason is fear of failure; part of the reason is lack of control! I TOTALLY want to try new things, make plans, get excited, and then panic! Generally, if I just "follow through," I have very good experiences and think how stupid I had been to be fearful.

Personally, I believe these fears are what made me the compassionate teacher I tried to be. Not only did I understand the fears, I lived them. I was fortunate to have had college professors who encouraged me to become the high school teacher I didn't have.

Now, in retirement, I'm trying to face, and control, new fears! Again, I am fortunate to have met some very encouraging new friends and continue with help from some old friends! I'm working on moving those feet! And the Lord is guiding them -- helping to get those butterflies to fly in formation! THANK YOU, Sharon, Cyndi, Lin, Lisa, Jeanne.........and all of those who have helped make me the person I am!

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!