I owe my kids a little web redemption today. Despite the challenges of this roller coaster week, we ended on a high note. I let go, they settled down a bit, we all won. My dad even brought them all Belgium chocolate bars, which they eagerly devoured movie-theater style as we watched students practice their culminating presentations.
Listening to their projects was enough to make your heart melt into a chocolatey syrupy mess. Sometimes I really wish I could tell all their stories. Sure I can tell you that the girl who collected donations for W.E.A.V.E. ended with a tear-jerking declaration that helping battered women changed her life, or that another little girl recorded a song in an actual studio about all of the things that make her happy, including food and fluffy stuffed animals and One Direction, (yes, she was the girl with the purple guitar).
But, what I can’t tell you is the story so personal, so moving, I feel reinvigorated to teach these children. His story might follow one day. I’m trying to convince his family to let me find an agent for the book he wrote about anger management and ADHD. It’s that good and he’s only 11. Shoot, I’d buy five copies for my class alone.
The good news, as much as teaching can have some extremely low points, there is always a highest high just around the corner. Now if only I could tell my future self not to let those low days get you down…
Don’t hate on my art skills, I did this in 2 minutes flat before school. It bothered them we didn’t have anything up at 2050 on our class timeline, so now we’ll have us, just old (and apparently bearded in my case).
I have to admit, I teared up a bit when I imagined myself as 66 with published books living at the ocean with my husband and two new dogs. A lifetime and a moment away.
Now I challenge you to do the same– give yourself no think time and just quickly jot down where you’ll be at some random point seemingly far in the future. What you come up with may surprise you! (And, no, dead is not an acceptable response…)
PS. Care to share? The comment box is waiting just a scroll away.
oliviaobryon 
I’ll pick the same age … at 66, I’ll have been retired for more than ten years. My kids will be 36 and 33. They’ll have kids of their own. I’ll visit them now and then. But more importantly, I’ll be in a one room shack on the coast somewhere. Any time I want, I’ll be able to look to the west and see waves pound and every night I’ll be able to watch the sun set. I’ll have six books published (just to have one more than you — isn’t that what sibling rivalry is all about, long lost twin o’ mine separated by birth and 20 years). Even more Thank you for this trip down fantasy lane.
I thought perhaps five books wasn’t enough 😉 Love it! Particularly, the crashing waves!
Aaah. Well, one of the things I’m looking forward to about my upcoming trip to Mendocino is that the cabin I’ll be staying at is only 1/4 mile from the dunes and ocean. I’m so looking forward to an entire week of that. I’m speechless thinking about it.
I bet! I’m trying to find the perfect 30th birthday weekend cottage by the beach as we type…
Yes, well … as long as it’s now a huge group, I think the one I’ve got is perfect. I’ve probably already said this, but ever since my solo vacation to the mountains last year, I’ve aspired to a solo vacation this summer to the ocean. All I wanted was a cabin big enough for me and close enough to the ocean that I could hear it and walk to it. It’s the first one I saw when I googled “Fort Bragg vacation rentals.” The only problem I have with it is that it’s almost too perfect. Hope you find your perfection as well.
I’m sure it will be even better than you expect. My problem is that I want to take our dogs, so it limits the choices a bit, but I’ve found some good contenders. 🙂
Love this post! (even though it makes me a little teary) And I love your future plans, I plan to see all of them come true :). In fact, I’ll be right next door living on the beach…still running…still with an adorable poodle or three…still with Don…still spending my time drawing… ❤
Reading your future plans made me teary! Can’t wait to be next-door neighbors and thrilled Don is a keeper 😀