There are approximately 5 weeks left before my first year of teaching is over. You should know that I just had to re-read that sentence due to my utter disbelief. I have quickly learned that as a teacher, there are a sequence of events that rule your calendar...Christmas Break, Spring Break, and the holy grail that we refer to as SUMMER BREAK. I have been so caught up recently with the idea of summer break that I had forgotten to take time to breathe, until Monday, that is.
Monday afternoon I had planned a perfect pocket of time to do my long run for the week, after leaving school and before heading back later that night for the band concert. I had been feeling extremely tired, but didn't think much of it. However, about halfway though my run, I realized that something wasn't right. I tried to finish strong, went home and got ready for the concert. I knew that not going to the show wasn't an option; the kids had been asking me for weeks if I was coming. I felt progressively worse throughout the night and the moment the last note was echoed, I ran out of the concert and floored it home. Unfortunately, my body was moving faster than my car, resulting in me getting sick all over my new car in the middle of 270. At the time, I was mortified and was convinced that the world was ending...now the comedy of the whole thing provides a bit of solace for the 2 days of illness the proceeded this very moment.
I had prided myself on the fact that I had not taken any sick days, and my first year of teaching, of all years. I was quickly humbled as I had to take not one, but two days off. Having note warned my kids, I had no doubt that there would be an uproar today when I came back. Seeing as keeping my eyes opened lately is a chore in and of itself, I tried to brace myself for my return. Today, I was greeted with many stories of the substitute. As always and as expected, the kids were brutally honest. The sub, a middle-aged man with 2 kids, was married to an Asian woman, who just so happened to be blind. For some reason, this concept seemed to boggle the minds of my high schoolers. I had to field many questions about visual impairment, despite having a teacher at WCHS that is blind. Nonetheless, one student asked, "Ms. Phillips...blind people can see in the dark, right?!"
Now usually, I'm pretty good about filtering my reactions. This time, I couldn't help but allow my incescent laughter to boil over. Myself, as well as the rest of the class, sadly dismissed this myth, whose origin I know not. Some other notable quotables from today:
~ "Ms. Phillips...you're back. You look sick!"
~"Ms. Phillips...why didn't you tell me you were sick?! I would have brought you medicine!"
~"Did you set the Guinness book of world record for the number of times you threw up? How many times do you think?"
Needless to say, there is never a dull moment in my life. I always knew that my job was non-stop and that most of the teachers are quick to admit that they would never ever want my job. However, it wasn't until today that I realized how much energy it actually requires. Today, on a day where it took all of me to simply get out of bed, I finally appreciated the gift of energy that God somehow blesses me with daily.
Praising God for the 3 day Easter weekend!
Ms. Phillips
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