Countdowns and Upcounts

Yesterday was the last day of the school year. It was less mushy and sentimental than last year. It was more cleaning and deliberate (as opposed to hungover) organizing- and the last day with kids (Thursday) was a lot of encouraging Byrone to stop doing cartwheels on the desks, while he tried to get the class to join him in the chant, "SU-MMER! SU-MMER!" We'll see what comes next year.

I did apply to a domestic violence job with a non-profit down here- although my travel plans for the summer make it difficult to look for a job now. I do enjoy teaching, don't get me wrong, and if I teach again next year I am sure that it will be 1000 times better than this year, which was 1000 times easier than last. But I don't want to just settle into it because it's convenient, and my classroom is pretty much set up... And I've been missing the direct-service social work I used to do at Womencare. I like working on those very practical issues relating to safety, emotional health and well-being, and self-sufficiency. Education works on those too- but the preventative arena is a hard one to be in... convincing kids that doing this assignment is going to help them have a healthier, happier life in the future. When really most of them already need intervention right now- but the restrictions and expectations of my job don't allow me to work on that nearly as much as we need to be able to. Instead I have to focus so much on specific benchmarks and GLEs... I'm just not as invested in that stuff. Give me a behavior-focused art group. Give me one-on-one meetings with kids and moms who need the support. Anyway, I'll keep poking around and I'm keeping my mind and options open.

SUMMER HAS BEGUN!!!! I'm moving out of my house. Although my things have been out now for almost a month, now is the time to push the reluctant roomates out and onto their next step and attack a whole mess of cleaning. So far so good, and my part of the bargain is progressing pretty much on schedule. Spend a few hours weeding the backyard today- in the sunshine, to the mismatched sounds of thunder. Collected dried palm fruits to use in my NOLA map, due in 2 weeks.

Then HOME! And I am so excited to be bringing Stefin with me to WA and CA for at least a little bit. This summer is going to be a whirlwind, it's already evident, but I am thrilled about every part of it.

Also- my sister is twenty. TWENTY! That's crazy. I remember going to see her at the hospital right after she was born! That makes me feel old. Happy Birthday Erin!