The last time I attempted to post on here, it didn't save...and I clicked off too soon, so all was lost. There is more to write now, so I will try again!
Last Sunday, I went to Muncie to attend the kids' church's Christmas pageant. They go to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Muncie, had re-written How the Grinch Stole Christmas to make the Whos of Whoville to be the UUs of UUville. The whole thing was pretty cute. As with most churches, they find ways to include even the youngest children of the church, and my grandchildren were no exception. They came in, at the appropriate time (with adults) with elf hats on their heads, looking quite adorable--but having no clue what was going on. Ryan had a drum in his hands and kept beating on it at various times. (I'm positive that wasn't in the script!) The children all made their appropriate appearances, then were called back for their "curtain call," at which time the narrator called for a special guest to come in. From where I sat, I could see Santa Claus stashed in a coat closet where the kids couldn't see him. Ryan was standing right in front, and when Santa came in, his jaw dropped and his eyes got big in an amazed expression that he held for a few seconds. It was so darned cute that the people all around us were chuckling at him. It was funny! Megan, of course, cried. The appropriate Mommy response!
Monday was a full day. Taught, then had school radio club right after school (with the good news that the Morse Code requirement for licensure has been dropped), then had to return that evening for a School Board meeting in order to show support for our bargaining team. We accepted next to nothing over the last two years...
Tuesday and Wednesday of this week were a blur. We stamp out brush fires. One student is suspended for stealing a cell phone from another student, changing the voice mail and calling her boyfriend...and thought no one would notice. Another was suspended for smoking in the restroom. It took exactly two minutes to catch her. Once the smoke was smelled, a student stuck his head through a door and snitched...and the rest was history. Another student was suspended for copping an attitude with a sub. We have worked really hard to keep this kid in school, but he sabotages himself! And lastly, another has been suspended for sucker-punching another kid at the buses at dismissal. The kid that got punched has been diagnosed with a form of autism, so it doesn't go well...
So...at the end of Wednesday, when we were trying to provide fun activities for the kids, it got interesting. Seventh and 8th graders were to sign up for one of five movies, or a basketball tournament. I volunteered to help by showing a video in my room. The 7th graders in attendance were good as gold, but my very own 8th graders were rotten. It kind of tainted the occasion for me! I hauled a couple of my young ladies out to the corridor and "helped" them. It was better after that, but I'm thinking that we need to change things next year.
I was so tired last night that I went to bed and died. Early this morning, I got up and prepared to head to Indy for an appointment with an attorney over old divorce matters. Had to park in a parking garage...and soon found out that I had to stop and remove the antennas. The were being scraped on the ceiling! Okay...got that done. Had the appointment. Saw that the parking garage would take cash or check only...but the lawyer thought I might be hassled about a check...and I didn't have enough cash on me! Okay...there was an ATM in the front of the building...but I soon figured out that my debit card was still in the car. Damn! I went up to the car in the garage, got the card, went back to the building, found the ATM machine, got money, went back to the antenna-less car, and found my way out. Paid the attendant in cash. Six $$ for an hour.
It has rained all day. Went to Indy in the rain, then had to prepare to go to Muncie in the rain...in a borrowed van. Long story. I took a day bed that I acquired accidentally, for my granddaughter, for free from a friend's daughter, and he volunteered his van to take it there. From all that generosity, I made a 4-year-old pretty happy today! And so did her other grandmother, who went up to make Christmas cookies with her grandchildren, having stayed up until 1:00 last night to make the dough. The two grandmothers, combined, drove 6 hours just to provide for the children. I brought home multiple baskets of laundry because the kids' washing machine in on the fritz and the part has just now been ordered. Everyone is going separate ways just after Christmas. Clothing is needed!
Robin, age 4, is going with her other grandmother on a plane trip to Atlanta to visit her aunt and uncle, and cousins Joey and Jackson (ages 4 and 9 months). Ryan, age 3, is going with me to Illinois to visit his great-aunt Shari and great-uncle Roger...and their great-grandchildren (slightly younger). Their parents are going to Florida. When it is all over, I will be going to the Psych Ward! There is not one single day in this "vacation" that everyone tells me I have that will be unspoken for.
But I digress. Tomorrow and Saturday, I will be here working. Later on Saturday, I will return to Muncie where I will stay until Christmas Day, when we will all return to Plainfield for dinner, then back to Muncie. The next time I leave after that will be to take my granddaughter to her other grandparents' and start being mommy to my grandson for a week.
This won't happen next year, but for now...that's the story.
I wish I could be there for all of my single friends who will be alone on the holiday. There but for the grace of God go I. I also wish my house were big enough to stand my ground and have everyone here. That also won't happen. Still, I want everyone reading this blog to understand that, in spite of my complaints, I am well aware that I am blessed with the best friends in the world.
My childhood sweetheart--happily married yet mutual friends after all these years--called to tell me that his very new stepfather has passed away. God bless his poor mother! She lost her husband of 50+ years about 4 years ago, found another love and remarried in her 80's, and just 8 months later is a widow again. I ache for them all, but more for me because the service for him will be tomorrow and I can't be there. I have loved that woman and her family since I was in 8th grade. And that was a LONG time ago!
And now, it is time for me to go to bed. Tomorrow, I will be doing marathon laundry, wrapping presents, and doing some last minute shopping. I feel that I owe presents of gratitude to so many who have helped me through the year. For now, they will just have to accept my meager thanks.
God Bless my friends! And Merry Christmas!
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