in the beginning....

I am at work!

somehow I got past their filters and got on AOL!

Ha!

Look at me!

I'm a hacker!!!!!

I forgot my first journal anniversay.

Here is my first entry....Dinner Conversation  posted by sunnyside46 (1 comments)

Thanks, all of you who have been on this wild ride with me.

Now, this is what is happening today...

Tom is doing much better.
His physical therapist says his shoulder is much improved. He can play his guitar again and the nights are more homey with his songs.

I am not in the habit of shamelessly tooting my own horn,but I am so proud I have to tell this story.

Those of you who have known me for a while may remember I had the job from hell last year, so this is especially sweet.

I was sitting in faculty meeting only half listening to the principal going on and on about this person who was "always cheerful, always going the extra mile, taking students even when they are not scheduled, working in a loving manner with the most difficult kids...."

Blah, blah, I thought, let's just go home.

Then she called out my name and everyone was clapping!

I won "The Golden Apple "award!

It is an award that all the teachers vote on. I was so shocked because I have only been at this school for 5 months. I didn't even think most people knew who I was!

I realy do love my job.My kids are so in need of understanding, which is a nice way of saying BAD! But I love them.I love dealing with people in an elemental way without pretensions and subterfuge, when it is just me and this kid who has had a raw deal in life and we are both trying to get through the day with our dignity intact.It is like magic, when I lean over  this child who is so out of their depth and lost and look into their eyes.  They know I am willing to go where   they are. Together we may make it out. It's like a bridge between my heart and theirs. I can't explain it, can't test it, can't chart it or graph it. But I can do it.

And I wouldn't want to spend my days doing anything else....

But I will have to if I get caught sitting here writing when I'm supposed to be doing lesson plans!