Turns out, I am susceptible to illness. This is not a surprise. This is not news. It is, however, incredibly pathetic that the fact reared its ugly head so early in the school year (read: not even 2 weeks). Yes, my friends, I got swine flu. No worries, I survived, though quarantine was NOT my favorite time. I am easing myself off of two naps a day (though I’m about to go take a nap right now), and it’s definitely still somewhat in my system, but the doctor’s note I had to get in order to gain re-entry to my school says that I am no longer contagious. And I like to think of myself as a missionary, bringing awareness of swine flu to those in the greater LV area who perhaps had not heard of it beforehand. Luckily, the pamphlets we were subsequently required to send home provided some good reading materials.
I am mountains behind in feeling prepared after a week of not being coherent enough to care, and it’s difficult to get back into the groove. However, I’m doing my best and the fact that my kids are happier and more willing to try new things (or anything, really) makes the job easier. I am creating more involved, partner-reliant lessons since I know these kids won’t beat each other up as much. I am reading them higher level texts. I am testing them more, and I hope it pays off. It’s so hard to tell this early in the year when all i want are results and all i have is high expectations.
The Delta is being harvested, slowly. The corn is gone, burnt down, and the beans are leafless and being whisked away in the dead of night. Soon the cotton will be more beautiful than ever and I’ll find myself once again stopped on the side of the road, pressing my face into squares of white, delaying the inevitable grading and lesson planning and whatnot to simply enjoy the beauty of the earth. You can do that down here, you know.
