December has been a month in which the words have been stifled.
Don't get me wrong, there have been some pen worthy happenings. The empty nest has been revisited as the fall semester has ended. The circular ring from the bottom of a beverage glass has returned to the polished furniture top, and the number of glasses and mugs used has doubled, and as such, so has the frequency of the running of the dishwasher, but he gets his own beverages. The dryer that dries and de-wrinkles our clothes needs to be emptied promptly, for if not, our newest laundry doer forms a heap of our clothes on the nearby table to make room for his own, and after awhile, our pile is returned to the dryer so the second de-wrinkling can begin, but he does his own laundry. The decibel level in the house has increased beyond belief, but he is a vocalist, and the noise is lovely!
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| Rings on the table |
The senior moments have continued. I wrote out Christmas cards and didn't feel like licking the envelopes to seal them, so I found some Christmas stickers, which proved an acceptable alternative. Next thing I knew, there were three cards from folks we didn't include on our list. I instantly added them to our list of receivers, and decided that since there were only three of them, I'd lick the envelopes and throw them in the mail. Imagine my confusion when they wouldn't seal. Then I noticed, upon further inspection, that each envelope from each card had a peel and seal tab, so no licking and no stickers were necessary. Scores of cards later, it just figured. On another day, I finished my workday, and grabbed a bag with a couple of Christmas gifts from a coworker from my desk, and went home. The next morning, I returned to work, got out of my car, grabbed my stuff, and entered the building. When it became lunch time, I opened what I thought was my lunch bag, and there was the bag with those couple of gifts, and no lunch, and so it goes...
Christmas was a huge success with many blessings. Years ago, when each of my sisters and I were half of a young couple, and we each had two families to visit for the holidays, it was probable that all four of us would not be at Mom and Dad's for either Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner in any given year. We were all together for Thanksgiving this year, so this Christmas was most likely going to be one of those in which a fraction of our four children would be present for the very same reason. In the end, all four were there, and the celebration was magnificent. Christmas Eve was poignant with some words of thanks, prayers, and homage to those we are missing and remembering, followed by our traditional meatless, effortless meal by candlelight. It's not a preference to attend Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve as it's three hours past my doze-in-the-chair time. This year, though, my youngest lent his voice to a smooth, rousing rendition of Oh Holy Night, and in spite of a faulty microphone, brought down the house. It's chilling when a congregation bursts into applause when your child does something spectacular, and tonight I was full of goosebumps. Everyone in the family was pleased with the gifts received, and heart warmed by the reactions of the recipients of the gifts given. Our Christmas feast was reliably delicious, and our new grand baby and her entire family were a perfect addition to our circle of family at the table.
So why then did it take until the end of December to pry some words from me. This year, the carols were more noise than music. The cookie baking was more of a chore than a fun activity. The shopping was a nuisance. The job was just a job, and budget cuts had me worried about my future there, and I constantly felt that I didn't have the stamina and perseverence necessary to have a future with a job in education. The children at school were suffering from the usual December hyperactivity. Their lack of focus was taking its toll on all who tried to get some momentum going in the classrooms. The media claims that retail sales this season lagged due to people tightening their belts...maybe, but I've tightened before and I don't think that was the reason for lack of spirit for the season. They also claim that the Connecticut horror could have dampened people's Christmas spirit. This is more of what's been in the back of my mind these last few weeks. How could any of us be in an elementary school without tears and fears this third week of December. It would be a first and a crime to go into Christmas vacation with such heavy hearts and dampened spirits.
With all the sadness came the preparations for a pep rally at school. The brainchild of our Reading Specialist, the event would be an acknowledgement of the success of the students at doing their at-home reading and reading log maintenance. One of the teachers in the building had an idea that it would be a surprise assembly. It all seemed like too much sensory input for me to handle when it was in its brainstorming stage. The teachers would be called to a meeting with our Principal, Ms. W., and the support staff would mind the children in their classrooms. Then, our leader would summon the entire school to the multi-purpose room for a reprimand. Upon announcing her disappointment at the news from the meetings, the Reading Specialist would announce that it was a false report, that the students had done their job with their reading logs, and they were being rewarded. A pep squad of teachers would emerge and dance and cheer for the students. It sounded like too much for me to take, especially with the tension in the school's atmosphere, and in my brain. Then it was announced that Ryan Vogelsong, a World Series champion pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, and an alumnus of our school district, would come and talk to the students. With Mr. Vogelsong visiting students in several buildings, and some of the older students knowing he was coming, it all seemed unlikely to go on as hoped, for there are no secrets...anywhere!
When the day of the pep rally arrived, I just wanted it to be over. Surely these children must know that something was happening, yet they seemed to be intent in their activities of the day. When the time came for the Principal's announcement of disappointment to happen, my fellow support staff members and I were in our respective classrooms. Somehow, the students were affected by the words coming from that speaker. They lined up like soldiers awaiting inspection, acknowledging that the Principal "really sounded mad." When the noise level of my line got beyond its acceptable level, the words, "She sounded really mad!" brought an order to the group that might have been more difficult for a substitute class leader to maintain on a normal day. Upon arrival in the venue for the rally, the abnormally subdued crowd awaited the unwanted reprimand.
A technologically inclined faculty member oversaw the audio and video of the project, and asked me to man the video camera, a perfect focal point for this nervous naysayer.
What followed was the beginning of the easing of all the shortcomings of an emotionally grueling December. When Ms. W. announced that the students had done their job, the teachers emerged from the back of the room cheering and singing for the students. When they realized what was transpiring, there was a loud cheer of relief and laughter from the group of little readers. There was a contest to see which grade, third on the left side of the room or fourth on the right, could shout their part of 'THE MORE YOU READ, THE BETTER YOU READ, THE BETTER YOU READ, THE MORE YOU READ' the loudest. Videos of book recommendations from teachers and students followed, along with more cheering. The piece de resistance of the assembly was about to happen. Ms. W. shared with the crowd that in addition to reading, she also liked baseball, and that one of her favorite teams was the San Francisco Giants, and that her favorite player on that team was Ryan Vogelsong....and she introduced him to screams of excitement and awe. His message of studying hard and not giving up on your dreams or your school was delivered with confidence and conviction to his captive, impressionable audience. A question and answer session followed with each question being thoughtfully and honestly answered....and soon he left to speak to another building full of students. Reading awards for the best and most improved readers followed, and more cheers and singing after that. Then it was time to leave and reflect on what had just happened.
We were given a gift. The school staff I am involved with is dedicated, without question. But today, through the lens of a video camera, I was a witness to the coming together of a unit for the benefit of every student in the school at once, and it was pure magic! Stress was relieved. The building was filled with adults who had honored the little ones who are the very reason we do what we do, and the little ones themselves, who rely on us to keep them safe while teaching them how to learn.
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| Ryan Vogelsong wow-ing a roomful of students and staff December 20, 2012 |
The heartbreak of watching the news won't wane. The images are ones never to be forgotten. The stains of insecurity caused by the tragedy in Connecticut are indelible. The stories of the heroism in that town are inspiring. In its own way, our pep rally was an homage to the folks of Sandy Hook. We cried together, we came together, we laughed together, we left together...our bond with each other and with the students having been strengthened. It was a much needed start to our Christmas break, and will hopefully be a happy and meaningful memory our kids can take with them as they grow and one that we, their educators, will never forget.
It's the end of another December and another year. As with all years, the good and the bad have come and gone, and I am another year older and wiser. A new photo collage graces the head of my blog, and it's time to immortalize last year's right here. As the new year begins, I am expressing gratitude for the nearly 10,000 hits on this little piece of my life. Just like life, some of it's long and some of it's short, some of it's good and some of it's bad, but it's all mine and it's all worth it.....Thanks for being you and thanks for being a part of my life!
It's the end of another December and another year. As with all years, the good and the bad have come and gone, and I am another year older and wiser. A new photo collage graces the head of my blog, and it's time to immortalize last year's right here. As the new year begins, I am expressing gratitude for the nearly 10,000 hits on this little piece of my life. Just like life, some of it's long and some of it's short, some of it's good and some of it's bad, but it's all mine and it's all worth it.....Thanks for being you and thanks for being a part of my life!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
