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Not as long as I thought
The past two months have not only seen my physical health improve, but also the relationship with my sisters. The improvement in my relationship with them came about through a mutual anger at our mother. I spent this time not talking to her, and talking about her to my sisters. And while we are related… →
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Hair today, gone tomorrow…and it feels so good!
My husband used to tell me that once I lost weight I would feel a lot more self-confident and my whole outlook on life would change. He wasn’t saying it to be judgmental about my weight. He made the comment because I do have a problem with low self-esteem. When I was running and dieting… →
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Family Again
I survived the visit from my parents. I told them at the beginning of the visit that I wasn’t going to engage in any Dr. Phil conversations with them. My dad ignored that rule on the second day and snuck one in at dinner while my mom was in the bathroom. While I hid my… →
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Memories to Forget
In a previous post, I mentioned that my mom and dad were getting back together. That is still the case. They have each gone through with the divorce of my step-parents and my dad has even gotten his job relocated to the city my mom lives in. One of my sisters is still happy for… →
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My family is crazy, and other facts about my life this month…
I don’t mean crazy in the fun, free-spirited way, I mean that they have lost their minds. Or have they? The short hand version of this foray into the psyche of the minds of my family is that my father, who walked out on my mother and I 16 years ago and who… →
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I Should Have Smiled
“Everybody should have a standing ovation at least once in their lives.” So says the main character in a novel I just finished reading with my 5th graders. The young man who states this opinion has a severe facial deformity and is inadvertantly the center of attention wherever he goes. As he experiences adolescent life… →
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Here’s to Us
Over the years of being a teacher, I have been asked many times where I’m from. Living in a military town lends itself to that question, as many of my students are not from this area. The population of my school changes with every shift of military personnel. While my father is a Vietnam veteran,… →
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Open Window
This weekend, my small sliver of a piece of the world is due to have some seasonably cold temperatures. The leaves have only just started to change colors, but it is very obvious that autumn is here. One walk down the aisle in any store will present you with signs boasting of Halloween treats and… →
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The Destroyer
Sometimes I think that I annoy my school-age niece and nephews with talk of school. I try not to pester them about it. The teacher in me will not, however, let me stay silent on the subject. I especially couldn’t stay silent this past Friday when my family and I took a trip to a… →
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A Teacher’s Summer (Part 2)
Within every summer vacation, there will always be time to travel. Usually, when it comes to time together with my husband, this will mean a day trip to the beach every couple of weeks. As of this point in my break, we have not been to the beach once. Shark attacks and an oppressive heat… →