School Days

We've been back at school working since September 2, and as of this afternoon, we have completed our first seven day cycle of classes. We have a half day tomorrow, and then off for a few more days, and then school really gets going. Except that I have to take Friday off to go to my own kid's school event. Whatever.

I'm completely grateful for even this little bit of school, considering what happened last year. At this time last year I was in 24/7 agony with shingles, which hung on until early in 2013. In ways, the year before was even more difficulty, when I was dealing with some very difficult and traumatic family issues that made each day a struggle. So when they ask me what are my goals for this school year, it's a singular. It's normalcy.

Of course, normalcy can be hard to come by in a place like this, because it is incorrigibly chaotic. Today, for example, the school was giving out iPads to the students. In order to receive their iPads, students had to sign a form accepting responsibility, etc, etc., which we handed out to alphabetically grouped mobs of students. There were so many people simultaneously asking for the forms that I literally forgot the names of students that I'd known for several years. Very embarrassing.

Then, in spite of having been told yesterday that the iPad Deployment, or iPD as we called it, would take the entire period, so I gave homework due the following day. It was announced after most of the students had their devices, that they should go to class. As in my class. Which I had not planned.

By the time I got to the classroom most of the students were charging their iPads and/or updating their operating systems. We started working, and after about 15 minutes, that nobody should be updating operating systems at that time because it would overwhelm the network. Well duh. Maybe should have thought about that, I dunno, yesterday? We had an ensuing conversation in class about how despite the veneer of organization, that there really wasn't any. I responded that this was one of the things I liked so much about working at this place. The kids all found that funny, but it's true. I don't like structure and I don't mind chaos. It plays to my strengths.

It struck me as I left school today how happy I was being there. I've always enjoyed my job, but this year it's really been nothing but fun. And hard work, of course, but it leaves me feeling good at the end of the day. Except then on the way home I yelled at a 12 year-old boy I didn't know. He came flying out of a side street though a stop sign without even looking and I just barely was able to swerve out of the way. I pulled the car over to block him, got out and did my best to scare him. Don't really think I succeeded, but I did my best.

Tomorrow I'm off for a long weekend in Miami. Check back for updates.