Friday, August 13, 2010

Life Goes On

One of my favorite quotes was penned by Robert Frost. " In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on." How simple, yet how profound.

I think that quote is appropriate for today. It is my last official day of summer vacation. And as my sweet grandpa used to say, Lord willing and the creek don't rise, the year will hold many great things for us.

Next Monday I will show up at Central School for a glorious week of pre-planning. I will see all my school teacher friends. There will be stories to tell. We will bemoan all the new statutes that the state tells us we have to put into place. There will be much buzz and excitement over our little country school getting an "A" school grade. But the greatest thing about next week will be the one thing that we all look forward to each year with much anticipation: going out to eat for lunch. For the next nine months we will sit on those little round seats in a noisy lunchroom eating school lunches. So, needless to say, we will savor every moment of our lunch hour with each other. We will return to busy ourselves in the classrooms. New bulletin boards will be in place. The rooms will be in ship shape condition. Life goes on.

The next week the students will appear. I have the joy of getting to teach many of the same students that I taught last year. Some will come bouncing in my room ready to go. "I am so excited to have you again, Ms. Adams." Others will come in reluctantly. "Are you kidding? I am stuck in your math class again?" There will be chatter galore. Stories will be told of who broke up with whom. Others will tell how much trouble they got into. They will complain greatly about having to come back to school. And I will prepare myself to hear the following question at least seventy-two times during the school year: "Why do I have to learn stupid algebra? When will I ever use it in real life?" Yes, life goes on.

My older daughter will be a senior this year. This year will be filled with a myriad of special activities. Next week she will take senior portraits and decorate her crown. (Seniors get to wear crowns on game days.) Homecoming and prom will be greatly anticipated. But it is not just about fun. There will be many scholarship and college applications. She will drag out of bed a few Saturdays in order to take the ACT one more time. There will be research papers to write and many late nights. It will all culminate with graduation next June. Once again, life goes on.

My younger daughter will be a sophomore. This year's schedule for her is going to be tough. I am sure she will have a few late nights as well. She and her friends will be up to much mischief. They are already planning to go as a big group to Homecoming. They will no doubt take at least 51,389 pictures. The year will be well documented! There may even be a few videos. Life goes on.

I will laugh. My crazy girls will make sure of that, and my students will help out as well. There are many great times to be had with great friends. No doubt, there will be countless nights of waiting up until my girls get home. I will watch both of them with wonder as they experience all the joys of the carefree teenage years. There will be up-dos and evening gowns, books and tests. Most assuredly, life will go on, and it will be good!


"One day at a time--this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering" ~ Anonymous

1 comment:

  1. One day at a time...........good advice!!

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