Monthly Archives: August 2007

That’s Entertainment

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“That’s Entertainment!”

I was so happy to eat, sleep, drink and be normal (well my normal) again.  I was sitting at home listening to my ipod on the Bose speaker and was jammin’ to the songs I heard.  The wonderful thing about your ipod is that it contains all of your favorite songs. I hadn’t listened to it in some time, so each new song that came on brought a new surge of excitement.  My Luther songs came on and I found myself singing so loud that the neighbors probably wondered what was going on.  I was trying to see, with my tonsils being gone, if my voice magically transformed to sound like Beyonce. Umm, no!

But it didn’t end just there.  The more tunes I heard, the more giddy I became.  I went into a room with a full-sized mirror. I grabbed my closest flashlight (you know you have to have a microphone)…………… AND WORKED IT!!!!  I was Whitney Houston, Babyface, Eric Benet, PM Dawn, Shai and Kelly Price.

After I calmed down and realized that I really wasn’t the next American Idol, I started to ponder whether or not other people do these types of things.  As an only child, I found many ways to entertainment myself. But is this normal adult-like behavior?  It’s all good.  I am proud of my ‘Flashlight Concert’ and smiled and laughed the entire time. Life is about having fun and finding pleasure in the simple things.

M.Y. August 2007

I Was a Runaway

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“I Was a Runaway”

When I was younger (and maybe even still today) I was a ‘goody-two-shoes’.  I tried to do right in everyone’s eyes and sought to be the best.  My parents often pushed me to get involved with things that I thought were ridiculous and a waste of my time.

In elementary school there was something I disagreed with.  I yelled at the top of my voice that life wasn’t fair and that I was leaving.  I stomped upstairs (“bam, bam, bam”), got a small suitcase and packed my things.  I WAS RUNNING AWAY! “I’LL SHOW THEM!!” I thought to myself.  I opened the garage door and slammed it behind me as I left the house.

Within three steps I realized how stupid I would look walking down my street with a suitcase.  What if my neighbors saw me?  I do have an image to uphold.  Where was I really going to go? So what did I do?  I walked ten steps onto my front porch and squatted by the door.  Two minutes later, I see my father storm out of the garage door and watch as he walks down the street looking for me.  I hear him call my name several times and I just sit there watching.

Needless to say, I have no idea what happened once he walked back to our house and saw me sitting there.  That memory has been permanently erased from my brain.  Over timed, I learned that  my parents actually had good intentions for my well being and upbringing.  I am blessed for many of the experiences they ‘made’ me do and have become a better person because of them.

M.Y.  August 2007

My Favorite Teaching Moment

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“My Favorite Teaching Moment”

On May 1, 2001 I received a message in my school mailbox that said “Cortney’s mom died.”  I hadn’t even known that her mother had been sick (she had cancer).  I tried to be there as much as possible for her during that time. She was only six years old.  On May 22, 2001 we had our award’s ceremony for first graders.  Many families of my students were there.  They sang and performed the song “That’s What Friends Are For”.  After the ceremony everyone went around to show their families their awards.  Cortney, rightfully, became sad because her mother was not there.  She stayed close by my side. I don’t know why it happened, but this video shows what I was moved to do.

(Click on the photo to watch the video of my favorite teaching moment!)

*“That’s What Friends Are For” has become one of my most memorable songs. I was honored to be able to be there for Cortney.  The ironic thing, though, is that I was absent the next day (May 23, 2001).  That is the day I was in the hospital and had to tell my mother that she had been diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer.  I was devastated. Although I didn’t want to return to school the next day, it was the last day of school and I felt I owed it to my students. I returned to school on May 24 and the happiness and smile that usually existed was far from present.  The ONE THING that got me through that day was my students making a circle around me and singing “That’s What Friends Are For”.

Teaching is so much more than lessons in a book.  It’s about making a difference. It’s a hard job, but it’s also a very rewarding job.  Until you lives in the shoes of a teacher you will never know the joys of learning, the fear of failure and the potential to mold our future.  Please take the time to thank each and every teacher you know!

 

M.Y. August 2007

Fear

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“Fear”

Life is sometimes about getting over your fears.  I grew up in a predominately white church and sang in the Junior Choir. At the age of 12, I remember sitting in the choir during a service.  During that service the congregation was told that Cory, a girl just a year older than I, had been killed that morning.  Her passion was showing horses.  She had been at a horse show that morning and her horse threw her off and landed on her, crushing her skull.  From that moment forward, I had a fear of riding horses.

I was fine watching the KY Derby or the Steeplechase races that were held behind my house.  But, when I got within petting distance, I always had thoughts of Cory.  About three years ago, my boyfriend (at the time) and I took a trip to Baltimore.  One of the things we did was go horseback riding.  I was very nervous at first and wanted to stay as close to the guide as possible.  Whenever my horse would speed up, I would tighten up. Mr. Horsie, please don’t hurt me.  But, after about twenty minutes Ienjoyed it and really became at peace with the outing.

I went to Cumberland Falls this June and was once again presented the opportunity to go horseback riding.  And once again my first thought was of Cory. However, I now realize that what happened to her was a freak accident and I can’t let it affect the rest of my life.  I jumped on the horse with a quickness and enjoyed nature and its surroundings.   It was a soothing hour.  I learned that while I can be aware of other people’s situations, I must also understand that we all have different paths and experiences that will affect us in different ways.

M.Y.  August 2007

Ice Cream is Overrated

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‘Ice Cream is Overrated”

Last Wednesday (8/1) I had my tonsils removed.  The days leading up to the surgery I was nervous.  It was my first time being put to sleep and the support system I always had was no longer there.  I prayed the night before and woke up the day of surgery calm and ready. When I awoke from surgery my throat was sore.  The nurse gave me some water to drink.  OWW!  She gave me some liquid medicine.  Even a stronger OWW! ’Please don’t let me have this type of pain for two weeks!’

By the time I arrived at home, the medicine (hydrocodone) had kicked in.  I thought I’d be tired the rest of the day, but I stayed wide awake until 4am.  Water became my best friend and although my throat was sore, it wasn’t the ’death pain’ I’d heard from others.   Thursday I moved on to milkshakes and applesauce.  It was still very uncomfortable to swallow, but not terribly painful.  ‘Hey maybe I’m the wonder girl and my pain doesn’t exist!’……….. So, I stop taking my pain medicine.  BAD IDEA!!! By Friday afternoon my throat (and now ears) was throbbing.  I had to take my medicine every four hours just so the soft foods would go down.  This made me very loopy.  A friend found it exciting that I could swallow but not suck (get your head out of the gutter)

Monday was my worst day.  I couldn’t sleep all night.  I went to get a smoothie and couldn’t even drink it.  The pain shot straight to my ears.  It hurt to even swallow. ’I can’t stand this!  I changed my mind. I want my tonsils back!’ I had to spend a couple of hours yelling internally, crying outwardly and just being dissatisfied with the entire experience…and then I was fine.

I still haven’t been back to work this week and am taking my time with eating solid foods. I look at the two open wounds where my tonsil used to be and look forward to the scabs forming and falling off.  I’m sick of ice cream/smoothies/icees etc. They don’t soothe your throat, they just remind of the pain that exists in your mouth. I haven’t planned my first real meal, yet, because it would be just a tease. But, this too shall pass!

M.Y.  August 2007