Counting Down, Counting Blessings

I feel like a child waiting for Christmas. (Two more sleeps!) Some of my best friends on the planet begin arriving TOMORROW- and the anticipatory chaos has already begun.
The parading of elaborate floats continually holds up the regular flow of traffic- and multiple celebrations are EVERY SINGLE DAY. Tonight we're going to the Muses parade... which apparently has really quality throws, like fancily-hand-painted-high-heels.

Meanwhile, school continues to be alternatively depressing and inspiring. Twenty of my seventy-some students have grown more than a year in their language usage so far (some of them went from a first or second grade level to a 2 or 3.5), and I'm seeing some improvements in their writing as well. But their stark realities to keep sneaking into the classroom. A, whose father was arrested for the 3rd time a week ago on drug charges, and is looking at 20 years. My pouty student spends more time doing oragami than paying attention in class, but he continues reminding me how much he appreciates me keeping his secret from the other students. Another student, a girl, was lamenting to me about her brothers this morning. "They got both of 'em. My one brother is only the fifteen. And the other one who's seventeen- he's been in there two years already. Do you know what that feels like? To have both of your brothers in jail?" I said very honestly that I did not.

Overall they've begun acting generally nicer to me (knocks on wood)- and their disruptions and less severe in general (I mean... last week I did have to have one student escorted out by the police on campus... but still that was pretty chill). One of my students today came over to my desk at the beginning of class to share her excitement and recommend I go to the sale at Macy's this weekend. "C'mon Ms. Craven, just get yourself like a couple new pairs of pants." I don't know if that was a critique of my normal attire or really just a nice idea- but I'll take it either way.

One more day!!!!!!!