Mary, did you know?

Not THAT Mary...
my best friend from high school in Texas, Mary D.

Mary, did you know that I thought about you last week?  I went to the movies and flashed back to 1977 when you were 16 and had your driver's license and I was only 15 and riding shotgun...

We went to the movies then.  We decided to go to that sci-fi flick that everyone was talking about.  We weren't especially into sci-fi, but it sounded interesting.  There weren't any big-name Hollywood types in it, but it sounded interesting.

When it was over, we just looked at each other- dumbstruck.  WHAT WAS THAT?

Me- that was amazing.
You- yeah.
Me- there was no swearing!
You- there was no sex!
Together- THE GOOD GUYS WON!!!!!!!!!!!!

And then we went to K-Mart and bought Star Wars T-shirts and called each other C-3PO and R2-D2 for a few months.  And somehow, I managed to see it 4 more times in the theater that year.

Ah, youth.

Last week brought it all back.  Only, I wasn't 15 but I went with a 15 year-old.  And our reactions were very similar to the ones from 1977.  And we can't wait for episode 8.  :->


Mary in Texas, I should probably look you up on facebook, but I don't have a fb account.  I hope you and your family are doing well and that you have equally good memories of our high school times!

May the Force Be With You.

Time sure flies when you are having fun!

So...  yeah.  I really have been having fun!

Last spring, after 5 years of teaching 6th grade math, I made a request to transfer to a different school to fill the gap where a friend was retiring.  This move would give me the opportunity to teach 8th graders- mostly Algebra, but some regular 8th grade math.

The move was good, but changing levels meant that I had to immerse myself in the Common Core (again... it hasn't improved) for the new levels and work on all new lesson plans from scratch.  So I have been a busy beaver, but enjoying my new school and students immensely.

8th graders seem like they are more than 2 years ahead of 6th graders in terms of maturity and understanding and it has been nice to not have to babysit them through the trials of middle school.  Another nice thing is that not one kid has come to me and said, "I don't have a pencil."  After 5 years of that (daily), I am glad to not have to hear it.

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Been thinking lately about life and current events and this poem, written during the American Civil War, seems to offer my exact thoughts:

                  Christmas Bells

    I HEARD the bells on Christmas Day
    Their old, familiar carols play,
        And wild and sweet
        The words repeat
    Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

    And thought how, as the day had come,
    The belfries of all Christendom
        Had rolled along
        The unbroken song
    Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

    Till ringing, singing on its way,
    The world revolved from night to day,
        A voice, a chime,
        A chant sublime
    Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

    Then from each black, accursed mouth
    The cannon thundered in the South,
        And with the sound
        The carols drowned
    Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

    It was as if an earthquake rent
    The hearth-stones of a continent,
        And made forlorn
        The households born
    Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

    And in despair I bowed my head;
    "There is no peace on earth," I said;
        "For hate is strong,
        And mocks the song
    Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

    Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
    "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
        The Wrong shall fail,
        The Right prevail,
    With peace on earth, good-will to men."

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail.  

Amen and Merry Christmas to you and yours!