AGE?

Do you have any idea how often,

when seeing many people my own age,

that I think,

"I don't look THAT old, do I?"

THIS proves that I am not the only one with a

"fantasy mirror"

at home!

****************************************

STORY ON.... AGE???
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN GUILTY OF LOOKING
AT OTHERS YOUR OWN AGE
AND THINKING,
SURELY I CAN'T LOOK THAT OLD.
WELL....
YOU'LL LOVE THIS ONE.
***************************

MY NAME IS _______
AND I WAS SITTING IN THE WAITING ROOM
FOR MY FIRST APPOINTMENT WITH A NEW DENTIST
I NOTICED HIS D.D.S. DIPLOMA,

WHICH BORE HIS FULL NAME.
SUDDENLY,

I REMEMBERED A

TALL, HANDSOME, DARK-HAIRED BOY

WITH THE SAME NAME

HAD BEEN IN MY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS

SOME 30-ODD YEARS AGO.
COULD HE BE THE SAME GUY

THAT I HAD A SECRET CRUSH ON,

WAY BACK THEN?
UPON SEEING HIM, HOWEVER,

I QUICKLY DISCARDED ANY SUCH THOUGHT.
THIS BALDING, GRAY-HAIRED MAN

WITH THE DEEPLY LINED FACE

WAS WAY TOO OLD

TO HAVE BEEN MY CLASSMATE.
AFTER HE EXAMINED MY TEETH,

I ASKED
HIM IF HE HAD ATTENDED

_________ HIGH SCHOOL .
''YES. YES, I DID. I'M A _______,''

HE GLEAMED WITH PRIDE.
''WHEN DID YOU GRADUATE?'' I ASKED.
HE ANSWERED,

''IN 1975. WHY DO YOU ASK? ''
''YOU WERE IN MY CLASS!"

I EXCLAIMED.
HE LOOKED AT ME CLOSELY.
THEN,

THAT UGLY,
OLD,
BALD,
WRINKLED,
FAT-ASS,
GRAY-HAIRED,
DECREPIT
S**-O*-*-B****

ASKED,
''WHAT DID YOU TEACH ???''

**********************************
The very saddest part of this is,

I was actually teaching in 1975!

I find it interesting that

when I'm on Facebook

and see students from that time,

I don't always recognize them

until I look at their

"blast-from-the-past" pictures

and then I know who they are!

THEY have changed,

but I haven't (in my mind!)

Of course, I'm really the age now

that they thought I was then!

PROJECTS

Sharon and I have finally committed to staying right where we are! We like the idea that we each have our "space" yet are close enough to take care of each other. The things we hated about the house are slowly being resolved.
The chair lifts for the stairs were the first projects - suddenly, we didn't feel "isolated" or "imprisoned" - thanks to Mom (she really wanted us to stay together and the lifts enabled that.)
Next issue was the back porch - the railing was so wobbly that we didn't trust it; neither one of us was comfortable with the stair railing. Edwin redecked the porch, built railings around the porch and down the stairs. He has the first coat of stain on everything so it will match the front steps. The new back door will let me watch Abbey while seated.
Although Sharon never complains about having the smaller of the spaces, we both didn't like that she couldn't see who was here or anything out front. Edwin resolved that issue by installing two cameras with talk-back system! Sharon can see all the way up the steps to my door, her window, all the way down the driveway, and down the street! PLUS -- she can HEAR things outside and talk to anyone out there! The system even has an alarm that's sensitive to sound and motion (the dogs moving or barking next door set it off!)
We have even managed to "spoil" ourselves a little. Sharon always wanted a dishwasher downstairs -- today, Lucas cut out the cabinet and installed it for her.
For me, laundry was a pain! Although Sharon never mined "sharing" the laundry room or me "camping out" downstairs while doing laundry, I HATED having to move clothes down and up the stairs. My unnecessary "redundancy" was the installation of MY OWN washer/dryer upstairs! Who would have thought that an appliance would make me so happy!
Once the 2nd coat of stain goes on the back porch, the solar lights placed, the furniture set back up, we'll be spending some "quality time" outside!
(I think I'll work on getting a new mattress now!)

CELEBRATE!

"Yankee-Doo Day"

has always been my

FAVORITE holiday!

Everyone can be like a kid at a parade

(or just BE at a parade!),

dress silly

(MUST be in red, white, and/or blue!),

play,

and not obligated to buy gifts!

(ok, never "obligated"

- but not part of the tradition.)

Most importantly,

the 4th of July gives us a chance to say

"THANK YOU"

to those who are important

in maintaining the freedom

we have in America.

It also gives us a chance to

thank God

for all the blessings we've received!

GOD BLESS AMERICA

and

YOU!

wonderful week!

Such a good week!

First week of summer school done

(large, but good class),

Allison and Matthew

gave Cyndi her 2nd grandbaby,

(I like to think of

Alexandra Victoria

as my grandGODchild!),

Jack's 8th birthday,

Grace's birthday coming up,

Edwin staining porch,
and don't think I did any major damage

when I fell!

All is good!

".....spread money, like manure, encouraging young things to grow."---Dolly Levi in the musical "Hello, Dolly!"

As the school year comes to a close, thinking about some wonderful things in Hobart. In addition to moving into the new school building, it has been exciting watching some changes in the city I call "home."

The Frey brothers expanded from just Dairy Queen

to bringing new entertainment with the purchase of the Art Theatre.

Mike and Melinda Reinhart's M & M Productions became a venue for live theatre and original films at their Center Stage Studio Theatre.

The loss of Hobart Furniture was the catalyst for Tom Coster to help revitalize downtown with his Brickworks Brewery.

Eric Morgan's Critical Effects continues to grow

as one of the few gaming venues in our area.

All of these young ventures have HOBART HIGH SCHOOL alumni heading them. These young men and women have returned "home" to continue the "hometown pride" instilled in them.

THESE are the bricks that build our community.

In "Hello, Dolly!" Dolly Levi says that she likes to spread money like manure: encouraging young things to grow.

It's our responsibility to fertilize their endeavours!

PAST EXPERIENCE

SHIRLEY ANN MUMAUGH
(Inland Steel-Ryerson Teacher of the Year--1993)
(Who's Who Among America's Teachers--1996)
(Hobart Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Educator – 2009)

PAST EXPERIENCE (1972 to 2001):

DIRECTOR

"The Crucible" - 1973, 1983, 1993
Hobart High School Talent Show - 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981,1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993
"My Sister Eileen" - 1974 (Auditorium Opened)
"The Clown Who Ran Away" - 1974, 1990
"The Man Who Came to Dinner" - 1975, 1987 (HCT)
"See How They Run" - 1976
"The Lottery" - 1976, 1983, 1992
"The Mouse That Roared" - 1977, 1994
"The Prince(ss) Who Wouldn't Grow" - 1977, 1991
"Our Town" - 1977, 1992
Jaycee's Junior Miss Pageant - 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982
Magic Show - 1978
"Game" - 1979
"Bar and Ger" - 1979
"The Prodigal Daughter" - 1979
"M*A*S*H" - 1979
"Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys" - 1980
Summer Adult Talent Show - 1981, 1982
"Inherit the Wind" - 1981
"The Hobbitt" - 1982
"The Invisible Dragon" - 1982
"Just Tell Me Why" - 1982
Pantomime/Improvisational Group - 1982
"Up the Down Staircase" - 1982, 1991
"Alice in Wonderland" - 1983
"Once Upon a Time" - 1984
"Once Upon a Shoe" - 1984
"Who's That Lady in the President's Bed?" - 1984 (cafeteria)
"The Toy Shop" - 1984 (cafeteria)
"Cinderella" - 1985
"I'm a Celebrity!" - 1985
"Flowers for Algernon" - 1985
"Christmas Windows" - 1985
"The Golden Goose" - 1986
Literary Arts Festival - 1986, 1988
"Feiffer's People" - 1986
"With Respect to Theatre" - 1987 (original script - Marsha Plemons)
"Gloomy B'Glum" - 1987 (original script - Marsha Plemons)
"Just for Kicks" - 1987
"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs of the Black Forest" - 1988
Ridge View Talent Show - 1988
G.T. Scenes and All the World's a Stage - 1988
"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" - 1988
"The Night of January 16th" - 1988
"The Prince and the Pauper" - 1989
"Mike's Case" - 1989
"Cerberus" - 1989
"May the Farce be with You" - 1989
"Stage Door" - 1990
"The Christmas Carol" - 1990
"Something in the Air Feels Like Tomorrow" - 1991 (Musical)
"The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" - 1992
"The Trial of Goldilocks" - 1993
"The Emperor's New Clothes" - 1993
"Stuart Little" - 1994
"The Glass Menagerie" – 1996

ACTING - PLAY & ROLE

(Hobart Community Theatre[HCT])
"The Man Who Came to Dinner" - Mrs. McCutcheon - 1987
"The Horror Show" - Linda - 1988 (Original Script - David Theil)
"See How They Run" - Miss Skillon - 1988
"Bye, Bye, Birdie" - Mrs. Merkle & Mayor's Wife - 1990
"The Curious Savage" - Florence - 1991
"Picnic" - Mrs. Helen Potts - 1993
"Harvey" - Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet – 2001

CHORUS

(Ross Music Theatre / M & M Productions)
"The Wizard of Oz" - 1996
"The Music Man" – 1997

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

"Hay Fever" - 1974 (Wabash College)
"Hello, Dolly!" - 1976
"Annie, Get Your Gun" - 1981
"Grease" - 1984
Hobart High School Talent Show – 1996

TECHNICAL CREW

"You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" - 1974 (Wabash College)
1992 (Hobart High School)
"Fiddler on the Roof" - 1974 (Ross Summer Music Theatre)
Hobart High School Talent Show - 1979
Jaycee's Junior Miss Pageant - 1984
Ridge View Talent Show – 1986

PRODUCER

"Wings" -- 1986

MAKE-UP

"Up the Down Staircase" - 1972
"Carousel" - 1973
"You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" - 1976
"Godspell" - 1977
"Wizard of Oz" - 1977
"Winnie the Pooh" - 1978
"Mame" - 1978
"Anything Goes" – 1980

AUDIENCE

1972 to present!

(I gave up teaching theatre; I did not give up loving it!)

BREAK A LEG!

VALIDATION

When TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY ended, I reflected on the 37 years I've taught at Hobart High School:
Have kids changed in those years? Not really - still interested in same subjects; still worried about same issues. Have parents changed? A little - their kids are still their best legacy. Has society changed? Technologically more than anything. (When I started teaching, I didn't even own a calculator! My parents gave me one that did the 4 major functions as a Christmas gift! Now, I think I can't possibly do grades without the computer!)
In all 37 years, I really have felt "appreciated" - subject matter probably had the most impact on that. I LIKE living in Hobart - grocery store clerks know where I'm parked!
So, why do I feel "validated"? In high school, I was president of our Future Teachers of America club.

(look and laugh below:)

http://hobart.schoolwires.com/1413202693052303/blank/browse.asp?A=383&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&C=57618

Worked like a dog planning activities, field trips, so on. (Actually went to a school board meeting when Richard Lugar was on the Indianapolis School Board!)
On Senior Awards Day, I did not even know there was a Future Teacher Award until SOMEONE ELSE received it! I was devastated. (I heard that she did NOT even become a teacher!) Since that day, I have wanted to prove myself. In 1993, I received an award that was given by my peers (or a committee who I always thought gave the award to me because my sister and nephew moved in with me!)
This year, I am honored, excited, humbled by accepting the Hobart Chamber of Commerce / Hobart Education Foundation Outstanding Educator Award for Hobart High School. (They select a high school, a middle school, and an elementary school teacher.)
I do feel "validation."