Big River

I have always thought that To Kill a Mockingbird was THE great American novel. Last night, I began to doubt that thought. Last night, I saw the musical Big River, based on Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn. This was one amazing show. I know I pretty much say that about any musical I see. I can't help it. Musicals touch me. I've said it before... some artists work in oils or clay. I work in Broadway.

Anyway, this show was spectacular. This show marked Adam Cates' directorial debut. Adam is a choreographer, and the dancing was sensational... folksy, energetic, and fun. But there are songs in this show that have such beautiful harmonies, and Adam let them be. He let the actors just sing them, all their energy going into the heart of the vocals. My heart grew three sizes every time that happened. The acting was wonderful too. I saw sides of this summer's interns that I'd never even glimpsed in Annie.

It was a fantastic night of entertainment. I laughed, I cried, and I thought about the story Mark Twain told in his work. Huck's story is really the story of America and its continuing journey of growing up, convincing itself its way was the right way, having to reexamine values, being made to feel uncomfortable, and then finally forcing itself to stand up for what is right.

I've read many books on slavery. I've seen movies and TV shows. But, in this day and age, it's rare to see a live human being put in that position. Jim was played by Evan Tyrone Martin who has done several shows here in Fairfield. He's a Facebook friend of mine, and I don't know him well, but I know him. And seeing him as a slave, being mistreated, well... it hurt. I was ashamed and sorry, and it hurt. I sat in row C, and I saw the sweat rolling off his neck while his hands were chained together. It was hard to watch. This is a gift of live theatre. It put me in an uncomfortable place and made me explore my feelings and beliefs.

In this digital age, we must continue to put ourselves in situations that make us feel and make us walk in the shoes of another. We live in a world of instant entertainment... high speed internet, Netflix, DVR. They're wonderful. But, we must not completely anesthetize ourselves behind that monitor or screen. We must go to the theatre.

Go see Big River at the Sondheim Center!

Tomorrow's the Big Day

Tonight I'm enjoying the last meager hours of summer. It's quiet and cool in my house, and I'm a little pensive, but not in a bad way. I'm reflecting and dreaming and planning in that endless cycle that happens at the start of every school year. I've started my lists, and my room is starting to look like a classroom again.

I vented through some frustrations with Suzanne at lunch today, and I think I'm ready to push them down the stream. I don't want them in my heart for tomorrow. Away with you, negativity and helplessness. I will start fresh and do what I can where I can.

I held Karla's month-old baby Alexandra today. She slept in my sweaty arms, and I gave her back WAY too soon because that kind of heat can't be good for such a little one. She fit in the crook of my arm like a perfect oval pumpkin. I'm so happy for them... she's so wanted and loved. I can't wait to hold her again. There's nothing like a new baby to make you feel good about the universe.

I'm looking forward to getting my laptop, and I'm already thinking of how it's going to change my practice for this year.

I'm looking forward to seeing my friends & colleagues... "teeps," as Suzanne calls them. My theatre friends will be leaving Fairfield in a week, and that makes me sad. But, it's time for my teeps and my kids. I'm looking forward to being with all of them.

I have taken some big bites this summer, in regards to the upcoming school year. I hope they're not more than I can chew. But, I also think it's better to bite big than to not bite at all. Not biting is not my style. ;)

I'm rereading The Hunger Games, and next, I'll reread Catching Fire. I have to be ready for the wonderful day that Mockingjay magically appears on my Kindle. I already have a student with dibs on one of the hard copies I ordered. She begged me in a restaurant this summer where we both happened to be having lunch... "Can I please be the first one to check out Mockingjay?" I can't resist a passion for books. Of course, I said YES.

I do have one thing to brag about. I'm pretty sure that in my entire teaching career, I have never started the year how I will be able to start this one. I do not have a single stash pile anywhere. No hidden piles to sort, no boxes of "stuff" I want to save, no messes in drawers or file cabinets. My desk is even cleaned out. All the crap is filed, sorted, organized, or tossed. My room is not ready for kids yet, but when it is, it will REALLY be ready... ready like I've wanted it to be every year. That's a good feeling (and a new feeling)!

So, tomorrow is the big day. Let the school year begin!

Random Thoughts of the Day

* It's Africa hot at school, and my room isn't even upstairs. I feel for everyone up there, and as I'm sweating, I must remember never to complain. I remember the 9 years that my classroom was upstairs. Ugh. I was miserable today, and I was alone in the room. Pile 22 adolescent bodies on top of that sundae of awesomeness, and see what kind of glorious funk you get then. I'll let you know next Wednesday.

* I'm on Day 6 of the Headache from Hades. I went back to the doctor today, and they decided to run a CT scan. I'm happy to report that I do not have a brain tumor. I most likely, however, will require another sinus surgery (had the first one in college) to clear up this little issue for good. Lovely.

* I really did not mean this to be a griping post. I'll turn it around now.

* Tomorrow I get to have lunch with Suzanne. Yea!

* I've been tutoring a boy named Mark in the mornings. He & I are having a ball reading Choose Your Own Adventure books together. They're extra cool on the Kindle too because you just click the choice, and it whisks you right there. I am not embarrassed to admit that I downloaded Mystery of the Maya quite a long time ago because it was my very very favorite one when I was in 3rd or 4th grade. Mark & I started Journey Under the Sea today, and it's pretty fun too. It sucks me right back to elementary school. I loved these books so much!

* I have the funniest picture to put into our Back To School slideshow. Our principal always asks for pictures from what the teachers did over the summer. We watch the slideshow during our first meeting as a building staff. I haven't seen all the Annie pictures yet, but I asked the photographer if he'd send me one good one as Miss Hannigan to put into the slideshow. Wow, did he send a winner. I look completely psychotic. If this won't keep the vermin away, I don't know what will! I think I should keep a copy of this picture on my classroom door to welcome my new students! LOL


* Finally, yesterday I totally cut my hair off. 8 inches gone. It's now a curly wild pile on my head, and I'm really liking it. I don't know what possessed me exactly, but I'm happy with it. I needed a change, I guess.


A little sidebar here... could it possibly be any more awkward taking your own photo? Do you smile? Do you look serious? Do you try to act natural? I just went with the "OK, you asked for a picture, Facebook Friends... now you've got it" approach. Awkward.

Reunion Remembrances

It had unexpected moments, both good and bad. It had old friends; it had new revelations. It had laughter and smiles. It was my 20th high school reunion.

I'm still processing it all, so I don't know how much I actually have to say yet. But, I had fun. Especially on Friday. Saturday was more low-key. Saturday was our banquet thing, and it was more like I had expected the reunion to feel. It was nice, but... Friday was where it was at for me. A hundred and some people crammed into the top floor of Glory Days. The whole night was smiling for pictures, hugging old friends, trying to figure out who people were without being totally obvious about reading their nametags, and laughing... laughing a LOT. It was loud, I was sticking to the floor, people were screaming to be heard, cameras were flashing everywhere. It was great!

Here are some discoveries:

1. Some of the people that you didn't think even knew your name in high school want to talk to you.

2. 20 years erases some of the high school crap. I shared hugs and laughs with kids from elementary school. There's something about a shared history that seems to transcend time.

3. There are still some people that don't like me, or that's how it feels. I don't know if that's crazy or not. I wish I would have talked to some of them, because I wanted to, but I was inhibited. But also, after 20 years, I don't care quite as much as I did... like I said, 20 years erases SOME of the high school crap.

4. Everybody has been down a crap river of their own. There are no golden princes or princesses who manage to avoid the crap after 20 years. The new golden princes and princesses are those that have been drug through the crap and have risen above it to find themselves and to find happiness. Their stories touched and amazed me.

5. Your 20th high school reunion makes you say "crap" a lot... among other things...

6. One of the biggest joys is when you know you won't see a person. They aren't coming to the reunion. You're resigned to that fact. Then, you turn around, and they've changed their mind. That is a wonderful moment.

7. I do not have the celebratory stamina I had 20 years ago. A few still did, but I was not one of those few. I'm definitely feeling the effects of a weekend of merriment today. I need sleep!

8. Most people look exactly the same. Sure, we have some wrinkles. We have less hair or more pudge, but when people smile, you see that teenager that you knew. I couldn't believe how much everyone really looked like themselves.

9. Your biggest high school mistake could also be someone else's. And the moment that mistake is mutually revealed can be the funniest and most truthful part of an entire weekend.

10. Even if you're a little nervous, don't miss your 20th high school reunion. I'm so glad I didn't miss mine.

No one has facial expressions like Kim!

Trace with Tony... I was so glad to see him!!!

Matt & me... maybe my favorite & most unexpected conversation of the night.

Dan... cracking me up since the 8th grade!

Aren't they gorgeous?

Abraham Lincoln High School Class of 1990
20th reunion, August 6-7, 2010

Class Reunion Thoughts

I'm totally copying something my best friend Tracy did on Facebook yesterday about her thoughts and experiences in high school. Our upcoming reunion of the Abraham Lincoln High School Class of 1990 is bringing up a lot of STUFF in all of us. Using Tracy's format, I came up with a list of my own...

Do you remember when you smiled at me in the hall? We never spoke to each other, but it always made me think of you as a nice person.

Do you remember when we said we needed to help the choir director so we could take a nap in the music library during our study hall? That rest in the dark on the cool floor energized me every day.

Do you remember when you wrote me a note almost every day of my sophomore year? I looked forward to that time every day.

Do you remember when you would drive me home before I had my license? I felt grown up.

Do you remember when you read a note to your entire class that I'd asked you to deliver? I felt so betrayed, and I never trusted you again.

Do you remember when we were in the musical together? It felt like a family.

Do you remember when we would eat peanut butter bars every day for lunch? It was our thing.

Do you remember swing choir contest? I'm glad I went through those events with you.

Do you remember hanging out in my family room all the time? I loved that my friends wanted to be at my house. My mom loved it too.

Do you remember when you flirted with me in class? You made me feel beautiful.

Do you remember when we grew apart? I still don't understand what happened, and I'm still a little hurt by it after all those years.

Do you remember when you spread that lie about me? I knew it was you.

Do you remember when you had that solo in concert choir? I was jealous, but no one could have done it like you did. It was perfect.

Do you remember when I had the worst crush on the guy who was crazy about you? Of course you don't, because I never told you.

Do you remember when we went to state in basketball? I don't like basketball at all, but it was so fun to be swept up in the school spirit. It felt like everyone belonged.

Do you remember when I made fun of how you walk? I'm sorry. It was stupid and mean, and you were always so sweet and nice to me. I wish I could take that back.

Do you remember when you were so condescending about my bad grade on a test? Well, I know your ACT score, and you didn't really have a right to be condescending... ;) OK, that was catty. I know. I guess I haven't totally outgrown my high school self.

Do you remember when you stuck pencils up your nose while I was giving a speech to your class? I didn't skip a beat. I realized that I'm strong and that I can do anything I set my mind to.

Do you remember when I cussed you out at a pep assembly for mocking my friends? I was surprised and proud of myself. I wonder if you're still a jerk.

Do you remember how I stopped being your friend? I'm sorry I ignored you. I was new, and I just wanted to fit in. I wish I had handled that differently because I know I hurt you. I wish that stuff hadn't mattered to me then.

Do you remember when everyone sprayed silly string at graduation (except me because Mr. Brown took mine away)? It was breathtaking. And I'm not one bit sorry that we ruined the floor mats.

Do you remember how I made a choice for myself? You were angry, but I had to do it. I'm sorry it hurt you, but I so rarely did things like that. I needed it. If I had made the choice for you, my heart wouldn't have been in it. It would have been worse.

Do you remember going to football games? I loved Friday nights. I also loved when we broke the bleachers because we ALL had to stand on them instead of on the floor.

Do you remember our nasty P.E. uniforms? Enough said.

Do you remember when you brought me a rose? I didn't like you "like that," but it was so sweet, and it meant a lot to me.

Do you remember when I stayed the night and thought I felt a lipstick under the pillow, and it was your finger?!?!?! We laughed and I wasn't embarrassed anymore. I knew you'd always accept everything about me, even the weird and annoying things.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today would have been my mom's 60th birthday. It's hard to imagine her being 60 when she's forever frozen in time at 45 for me. Happy birthday, Mom. I miss you!

Today I Love...

* That until Starbucks comes to Fairfield, there is a substitute...

* Dinner at George's with the fabulous Stephen Crisp

* My puppy

* The sound of the locusts in the trees at dusk... totally Iowa. This sound literally made me burst into tears when I was living in Texas and I heard it in the background of the movie Bridges of Madison County


* Afternoon chats with Suzanne & the kids