Wish me luck

t's back to work for me tomorrow. Spring break was lovely, but way too short (as usual.) I have to hold on to the pleasant memories until Memorial Day, since that's my next day off. I'm aware that I may get little sympathy from those not in teaching because I do get the summer off; however, it's amazing what one can get used to.

So, it's almost two months until my next day off, and there are some potential important dates coming up. I should have my hearing with the school board in mid April about contesting whether or not I should be let go. Then, I should find out in mid-May if I really am losing my job.

What the challenge will be is staying positive and not taking out my frustration on my students. I need to remember that they are innocent (as much as 15 year olds can be), and that I do like them. That's often difficult to remember every April, regardless of being pink slipped.

As long as I can stay positive and focused on things I can control, I think I will make it through. The tricky part will be avoiding the negative co-workers lurking in the copy room. I just need to keep my head down, be focused on doing a good job, and counting to ten (maybe 15) when students start egging me on.

Wish me luck.

A Sobering Dose of Perspective

Today is March 15th and most people in the Elk Grove area are aware that teachers are receiving pink slips today.

I knew this as I went to the mail box before heading to Trader Joe's. I saw the little slip indicating that I have a piece of certified mail at the post office. (Yes, we all have to drive to the post office for this particular bit of bad news. Can you say "insult, meet injury?")

I took my daughter with me to the store because she has a great knack for helping me keep my mind in the moment. We had a great time naming all the fruits she knows. (She generally just ignores vegetables.) And she was getting a lot of attention by calling everyone in the store "baby." Adorable.

In the back of my mind, however, I was still feeling sorry for myself. In fact, a Lisa Loeb song came on and I teared up.

At checkout, though, I received a wake-up call. All of a sudden I hear, "Are you Hillary?"

I looked up and saw D, a lifelong friend of my aunt's, and I crumbled. This is a woman I have known for 20 years, a woman with a career, a husband, and two small boys. And she was wearing a head scarf and looked so tired and thin.

I knew that D was diagnosed with breast cancer over a year ago and I knew from my aunt that it wasn't going well. However, it's very different when you see it in person.

She just finished chemo two weeks ago and is about to start radiation. She hadn't been outside in months, so she decided to go to the store.

This woman is not even 40.

I am not happy about my current situation, but I see a new side of things. I have always struggled with seeing the big picture, especially when it comes to money issues.

Okay universe, message received.