Tammy 'n Me

Another al fresco lunch today.

I feel like a little girl

playing Tea Party.

Tammy and I have had this date set aside for a while now.

I find that if I don't actually schedule something during the summer,

I will float, and float, and float away,

all the precious hours of the day.

Then at the end of the summer I will inevitably lament,

I wanted to have lunch with so and so,

I wanted to go there with her,

I wanted to do this with so and so.

And so it will go.

But things are different this summer.

I have a few things scheduled now.

The floating is under control,

or so I think.

I want to get back to lunch with Tammy.

She is a writer friend of mine.

You remember her from the picture with Patti Digh?

and the huge brain fart I had?

and about who introduced Patti and her blog to whom? 

Anyway, Tammy and I had lunch today.

It has been quite a while since I saw her in person because she is such a busy little beaver.

Oops!

Yeah, well, pun intended!!!!

Tammy is a single momma to a lively young man,

she works full time, sleeps little

AND

is going back to school to get her teacher's certification.

Maybe.

I fear I might be responsible for warning her off teaching.

I hope not.

I think she will make a fine teacher.

We need more like her in the trenches.

It's just that, well, the climate for classroom teachers right now isn't the best.

The budget sucks,

and everyone has an opinion on how to do the job better.

After all, everyone has been in school.

That makes them experts.

Right?

Teachers are tired of being the whipping boy for why Johnny 

can't read,

or do math,

or think scientifically,

or remember which Roosevelt was responsible for getting the country out of the first financial mess

we got ourselves into.

Right now it seems like a tidal wave of woe

is washing over us.

I guess we should have navigated the conversation to lighter topics like,

"Gee isn't that bird beautiful?"

or

"What kind of plant is that one?"

It really wasn't an option.

No, we HAD to talk about the state of education right now.

I don't believe in putting my head in the sand,

and pretending shit ain't happening.

Because it is.

It really, really IS.

BUT,

that isn't all that is happening.

There are good things happening too.

I just can't remember too many of them right now

because I have early summer vacation breakitis.

Somewhere around August,

I will awaken from my self imposed state of amnesia,

and begin feverishly planning for my next school year.

That's when Tammy and I will do lunch again.

I am sure the excitement of the coming school year will liven up the atmosphere.

I can see myself acting just like those birds at the feeder in my backyard.

Hey, move over man, that one is mine.

As the little birdies fling seed to the ground willy nilly,

keeping the tastiest seed for themselves.

Instead of me arguing over some seed with the other birdies,

I will be having a conversation in my head with phantom students.

Yeah, you have to do this,  

Why? 

Because you need to grow your brain!

Yes, reading is good for you.

Yes, writing is good for you.

Yes, blogging is good for you too!

I'm desperate to find a way to get my students writing more.

I think blogging is the answer.

That is why I am writing everyday.

To show them how to do it.

Just do it.

Today, I sent my friend Tammy packing with

a lot to think about,

BBQ sausage and peppers in her tummy,

and a few good teacher books clutched close to her heart.

Oh, and a great big hug,

a hang in there,

and a "We'll talk real soon."

Lunch was way too short.

We didn't really get to catch up on much,

but next time

we will schedule more hours in the day

to say all the things that need to be said.

I am glad you spent your precious lunch hour with me.

See you in August.

Promise.

Girls Reunion

Fifteen years ago, I got my first teaching job here in Reno. Previously, I had taught for a single year in Washington state, and at the end of that year I was ready to move back to what I call home, Reno. When I got here it was in the middle of a school year, so I had to get a job doing what I had always hated, dealing blackjack in a local casino. Most of the time I was bored out of my mind. The only fun part was people watching.

During the summer of 1997, I started looking for work in an alternative school setting. After a series of inquiries, I was told I should apply for a position at a placed called Opportunity School. The guy said it sounded like just the type of school I was looking for, and they were looking for an English teacher. 

Enter the girls.

Susan, first on the left, was the principal. Bett, far right, was the science teacher, and Dori, center bottom, was the counselor. Debbie (whose ravishing red head is absent due to a migraine) was the social studies teacher. The interview was so much fun I forgot I was actually looking for a job. I felt like I had known these women a lifetime. Each of us have very strong personalities, but somehow we all mesh together admirably well.

We had so much fun working together throughout the years that even when we slowly splintered off from the original school, we periodically kept in touch. Three of us ended up working at the same comprehensive high school for a number of years. Each in our own differing capacities, yet when we would see each other in the halls, we had instant smiles, and sometimes hugs (we could tell by the look on the others face that she needed it). 

It was a strange dichotomy going from a tiny school to the biggest school in the district with over 2,200 students. Frequently, I felt like I had whiplash, having been shot out of my small school cannon. I am sure Bett and Debbie could testify to the fact that I had bugs in my teeth many a day as I ran screaming through the halls of that behemoth school.

There is a lot we can accomplish with the help of fabulous friends.

Dori continued to serve the very challenging population at Opportunity School for her entire 15 years with the school district.

Four or five years ago, I decided to go back to work at Opportunity School. I have so enjoyed reuniting with Dori, seeing her face every morning, laughing at nonsensical things together. We even team taught an elective class this past year. If it wasn't for Dori, I am not sure I would have made it through the incredibly challenging school year I just finished. Not only is she a great friend and co-worker, but a kick ass counselor too!!!

It was Dori who suggested we all get together before scattering to the four winds this summer. Little did we know that she would be announcing her retirement. I, of course, knew this was going to be her last year about a month ago, but the others did not have a clue. I tried to bully Dori into staying, admittedly for my own selfish reasons (let's call 'em survival tactics), but she was immune. I have spent the past month talking to her about what she will do in retirement. Let's get this thing straight right here and now, for Dori there will be no such thing as retirement. What we are looking at here is simply a change in stations. Dori is the original Energizer Bunny. Before she could think of accepting the early separation incentive, she had already planned out the entire first year. I have every confidence that whatever Dori sets her mind to, will be done muy pronto!

I will miss her terribly.

The girls and I enjoyed several hours together this afternoon. First, touring our local museum. It had a traveling Egyptian exhibit, and a special Ansel Adams gallery to view as well. I am not sure we read all the explanatory plaques as we chatted and moved about the exhibits. We wondered who would take our pictures as we posed "Walking like an Egyptians" when out of nowhere appears two former students. Now, Dori and I had just seen them less than two days prior, but they acted like they hadn't seen us in several years. The two boys were kind enough to snap a shot of us.

I'm not sure what they thought, but we were grateful they were there to document the crazy ladies. 

After the museum, we headed off to a great outdoor luncheon spot where we ate, drank and reminisced  several hours away.

We did miss Big Red, Debbie. We had planned to celebrate a recent award she was given as a high performing principal, but she called me at 8:30 this morning saying she had a horrible migraine. She said the week had been a good one, but she was headed off to the chiropractor to get rid of the headache. Next time, Debbie.

And there will be many next times.

As with all friends, the bonds built over time can never be severed. I tend to be a loner, not building close friendships. I suspect it is because I grew up living a gypsy lifestyle. One thing I can count on is the next time we all get together, there will be some great conversations, lots of laughter, and big hugs to hold us until we meet again.