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The whistle of the train sounds from the distance over the sleepy city as I lie awake, listening. It’s a bit funny, really. Lately I’ve been tired, and getting up in the morning has been a challenge.
But not today.
Maybe is it because it’s the first day of September, a day usually marking the transition from summer to
autumn. Perhaps it’s because of carefree sun-filled days readying to turn themselves to
amber leaf canopies and crisp mornings.
Perhaps.
School started a week ago. Judging from the photos and a few posts I’ve written, you’ve probably already figured that out. I have a new
Joey this year. He’s awesome. He has already started giving me plenty of fodder, now I just need to get into the mode of writing it all down as it happens; far too many moments slip away because I’m in the midst of teaching and don’t have anything handy to write on.
I wanted to write a post about my Joey from last year. I wanted to write about how he showed up in my classroom at Back to School Night last week. I wanted to write up the interaction between us. You would have laughed. I wanted to tell you all how much I missed having this boy in my classroom. I’d have told you how he finds me in the school at recess, lunch, or after school and makes it a point to give me a hug, or simply let me know that he is still awesome—but sixth-grade awesome.
He’s also humble.
Did I ever mention that I was on crossing duty last year?
I hated crossing duty.
I lied to myself, put on a smile, and pretended that it everything was great.
But secretly? I hated it. I’d stand there with a handheld stop sign and tick off traffic when I allowed students to cross through the intersection. I always felt like an idiot.
Really.
This year we were allowed to sign up for what job we’d like to have for the year. I signed up for the bike rack area at the back of school.
It’s quiet.
I don’t see too many parents. There’s no vehicular traffic. I get to talk to the kids a lot more than I did last year. There’s not as much pressure associated with the area. It kind of reminds me of the
desert. The rows of corn in the field beyond the chain link fence are readying to turn. Before I know it, there will be a harvest and the stalks will be hewn down.
I wish they’d planted pumpkins again this year. Pumpkins always seem to make me feel happy, they remind me of
Halloween.
I went to the grocery store yesterday for razorblades and yogurt – almost sounds like the name of a band, doesn’t it? I found myself drawn to the aisle filled to capacity with Halloween candy, decorations, and
costumes.
I love Halloween.
The clock now rolls over to 5:43 and I have finally caught up on my blog reading. My alarm clock will sound in just a little bit, offering up a lame attempt to wake me – I take that back, it’ll play
a Dustin Christensen song which I’ve found really helps to get me going during the mornings. The regular alarm sound just wasn’t working out for me.
There is goes again – the train whistle sounding; I can also hear the telltale sounds of traffic starting up. From out the window, the sky is a deep blue and the world is just coming to life.
I will now join it.
