A Grin, Some Grit and A Bit of Grace: 2017

Monday, October 9, 2017

The Big 4-0!

It's not my birthday...although if any of you think I'm only 40, thank you, I'm flattered. No, I'm talking about visiting my 40th state: Nebraska. Nebraska was tricky to visit. I mean, logistically, it's easy--about a two hour direct flight on Southwest. It's just that no one I know actually wanted to visit Nebraska. No one. So when Paul announced that he had a business meeting in Omaha, I figured this might be my best and only chance.

I flew in to meet Paul after his meetings on a rainy Friday night and downtown Omaha is a short 10 minute ride from the airport. Our first stop was dinner at The Grey Plume, which is a "Farm to Fork" restaurant featuring seasonal cuisine using produce and livestock from local farmers. In hindsight, we ordered way too much food but it was all so colorful and beautifully presented that we couldn't help it.

The rainy weather continued into Saturday morning so we bundled up into the misty dark in search of a local coffee shop and the Farmer's market. We didn't rent a car because everything was walkable and our Hilton Garden Inn offered a complimentary shuttle if we didn't feel like walking. We walked along cobblestone streets in the Old Market district where we ducked into the 13th St. Coffee company. The walls were lined with shelves sagging with books and old-timers sat around the tables paying bills and sharing stories. Warmed by our coffee, we wandered over to the Farmer's Market to browse the local produce and products. I met a young welder who, when he wasn't busy in kindergarten, helped his dad recycle old horseshoes into pumpkins. I definitely would have bought one except they weighed a ton and I didn't think it would fit in my carry-on for the return flight.

We left the farmer's market with plans to stroll around Heartland of America Park but the drizzle turned into a steady rain so after a quick look at the fountain, we aborted the plan and opted for the indoor option of the Durham Museum instead.

The Durham Museum is housed in Omaha's former Union Station and one exhibit focuses on the impact of railroads in the area. We also enjoyed exhibits on the history of the region, 100 years of Omaha Steaks, and a temporary exhibit called "Zoom into Nano" about the growing science of nanotechnology.

Scout the Buffalo

Now I'm craving steak for dinner...

Nano-photography

By the time we left the museum, the sun was shining! It was time to meet a bridge named Bob. The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge connects two states, so of course we had to take a picture with one foot in each state. (This is called "Bobbing" according to Bob.)

After completing our 0.9K, we celebrated with a little souvenir shopping. My two favorite shops: 1)Hollywood Candy, a warehouse of every type of candy you can imagine, including an impressive collection of PEZ dispensers and wax lips. I even found Zero bars, the candy my grandfather used to buy for me.

2)True Blue Goods and Gifts, which featured the work of local artisans. We were intrigued by the cigarette machine refurbished to sell art instead of smokes. Who could resist pulling the knob to release "Random Funsville?" I won't tell you what I got. But it was random. And fun.

By now we had worked up an appetite for dinner, which HAD to be steak, of course. The portions listed on the menu were huge, and thankfully our server at Spencer's suggested splitting the meal. So, between the two of us, we devoured a mouthwatering 20 oz. bone-in ribeye, truffle mac-n-cheese, and maple-bacon roasted Brussel sprouts.

Our last stop of the day was The Blue Barn Theatre to see Every Brilliant Thing. For those of you who know me, it was a play about writing a list. Of course I had to go! Reading the theatre's synopsis, the play was about more than that: You’re seven years old. Mom’s in the hospital. Dad says she’s done something stupid. To cheer her up, you start to make a list of everything that’s brilliant about the world. Everything that’s worth living for. You leave it on her pillow. You know she’s read it because she’s corrected your spelling. Soon, the list will take on a life of its own. We weren't sure what to expect, but it was a sweet, funny and sad play about depression. The audience was invited to participate, so Paul and I both received lines from the play to call out.

Did I just arrive in Nebraska yesterday? 24 hours and 20,000 steps later, we had experienced our own list of brilliant things that Omaha has to offer that make it a city worth visiting. And Nebraska becomes #40 on my list of states.

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Superheroes don't cry

I didn't cry when I found out I'd be outside in one of the trailers (or the Quad as we call our set of four) this year because I know from experience about all the benefits. Being out in the Quad is a bit of a paradox because it both brings people together and keeps people away at the same time. Living in the quad is like having roommates again--you can keep the doors open and talk across the classrooms without much effort. Because of this, it's pretty impossible not to become close with your quadmates--And it's good to have close friends (your Quad Squad) because no one else will venture outside the main building to come visit you ever. Which, honestly, is also kind of nice because no one is going to bother you with a tour of the school or a pop in-visit when you are in the middle of a lesson.

As long as I'm imagining the superhero headquarters of the Quad Squad, here are some other amazing features: I'm able to staple anything and everything directly to the walls. I imagine myself with a holster slung around my hip and one stapler drawn in each hand. Mrs. Kelly, fastest draw in the Quad! Also, I have control over my own thermostat! In the main building, we are subjected to the temperature of the day that can vary from freezing to sweltering and I used to keep an extra layer slung over the back of my chair for options. Mrs. Kelly, who wears a sweater only when she wants to! Yes, proximity to the bathroom and inclement weather means planning ahead, but I was already scrolling online for new pair of Hunter boots. Mrs. Kelly and her stylish wellies!

I didn't cry when I learned that the map changed and I would be sharing my classroom with another resource teacher. I get it--after being a classroom teacher for 13 years, I'm switching to a new role and I'm prepared to be flexible. I didn't cry--but I do admit to being surprised and slightly irritated when I learned of the new map via the summer update email. Lucky for me, my new roomie is also a superhero bundle of energy and fun and we worked hard all day Monday to unpack. ESOL and AART, able to transform a massive pile of furniture, boxes and crates into a shared learning community in a single afternoon!

I didn't cry when I learned on Wednesday evening that the map changed again and my roomie and I were moving out of our spacious digs into a smaller, windowless workroom in our Pod. I mean, at least Pod still rhymes with Squad, right? And being back in the main building, think of all the money I'll save not shopping for new rain boots! So Thursday afternoon we spent packing our boxes, rolling up our rug, and debating about furniture as we prepared to downsize. If I did shed a tear, it would have been for our incredible custodial staff with superpower strength and extra thick back braces who moved an endless supply of furniture throughout the week. And Friday we spent the morning unpacking again, making our space happy again. AART and ESOL, able to unpack twice in one week and still be prepared to welcome students on Monday!

I didn't cry on Friday afternoon when the dust settled and the boxes were broken down and I could finally turned my attention to my week ahead. I printed out my list of ESOL students. I picked up my calendar and made the rounds to teachers, scheduling times to meet with individual students, join team planning meetings, visit classrooms. I have a total of 91 students to meet--seven different grade levels, 22 different classroom teachers--and I'm smiling! I can't wait to meet all these beautiful faces next week and begin to build relationships with them. I can't wait to learn more about them and learn how I can most effectively meet their needs. I'm thrilled to work with so many amazing teachers and hope I can be helpful to them. At our opening kickoff, our new superintendent shared a favorite quote, "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing," and my main thing is our students. Mrs. Kelly, able to say "main thing" four times in a single sentence!

So, when I returned to my new happy place with my new roommate and my new schedule, I was unprepared for an email from my principal. "Currently we do not have a teacher for the fourth grade classroom...we will need you teaching in the fourth grade classroom until we find a teacher or a substitute..."

I get it. And don't get me wrong, I don't mind. After all, the main thing is our students. One of the things I love about the staff at our school is our sense of collective responsibility--they aren't your students or my students but we all have a stake. I'm happy to help. But after overcoming so many challenges to be prepared for next week, I suddenly felt completely unprepared for next week. On Friday afternoon at 2:30. I didn't feel like a superhero, able to transform from an ESOL teacher into a 4th grade teacher in a single bound. And I cried. Then I blew my nose in a tissue, and went down to visit the 4th grade classroom teachers who had already prepped everything for me. I sat with the instructional coach and she helped me map out a plan for team teaching. Everyone was helpful and thoughtful and kind and patient while my totally unspontaneous mind processed the change. "I'm sorry I cried," I told my superhero roomie. "That's OK, I cried earlier when we were packing up for the second time," she told me. "I'm sorry I cried," I told the teacher across the hall. "Hey, don't worry. I cry all the time," she responded.

And that's when I realize superheroes do cry. Because we're super humans and we care about ourselves and others, and just because we're super doesn't mean we're not sometimes disappointed or angry or grieving. Sometimes we use our capes to dry our eyes and sometimes we use our capes to fly and sometimes we put our capes in the laundry and have a glass of wine.

So cheers to all the teachers starting school this year! I know you will take on more than humanly possible and still get it all done. Most important, you will make a difference in the lives of our students. Cape or no cape, cry or no cry, that's the main thing.

My superhero roomie

Sunday, August 13, 2017

Make Good Choices

Dear Jack,

The days leading up to your departure for college were full of “lasts.” The last family dinner night, the last snuggle with Tatum, last round of golf with dad, last big hug for mom—all these activities took on a special significance when they became the last time you would do them before you left for R-MC.

Now come the “firsts,” such as stepping into your dorm room for the first time, first meal on campus, first friends, first day of football camp. There are firsts for us too—the first time pulling back into the driveway without you was a hard one for sure. Then there was the first text and first picture from you reassuring us that you are going to be OK.

Before we left, I told you, as I often do, “Make good choices. I love you.” This isn’t the first or last time you will hear that. But on the car ride home, I thought about what those words mean to me, and what I hope they mean to you. So, here is the expanded version--

1. Choose to be kind to everyone.

2. Choose to be a leader. Use your gifts, talents and strengths to make a positive impact.

3. Choose to set high standards for yourself. Never miss a class. Never miss a practice.

4. Choose to study. Be curious about the world.

5. Choose to connect with God.

6. Choose to own up to and take responsibility for your mistakes.

7. Choose your friends wisely. You are who you hang around. Choose friends who also make good choices.

8. Choose to stay healthy and active. Make time to exercise. Say no to drugs.

9. Choose to reframe problems as challenges and lessons.

10. Choose to be thankful.

The choices you make during your first 30 days of college will set the tone for the next four years. Being thoughtful about starting with good habits makes it easier to maintain good habits.

We miss you already, but we are excited about the new opportunities that college will offer you. We look forward to seeing you grow and learn and continue to mature into a young adult. We are so proud of you!

Love,

Mom

First day in dorm room

First day of filming

First text to make Mom very happy

Thursday, August 3, 2017

A Walking Adventure to a Pirate Ship

"Part 1: Start near Nationals Park..." We haven't even officially started our walking adventure and we have our first problem. We can't find the start. Well, we walked to Nationals Park from the Metro with no problem. But now we are standing in front of a very large baseball stadium wondering where the "wide waterfront boardwalk" is.

We wander off in one direction, only to see a busy highway and shady-looking liquor store. Nope. Directionally challenged adventurers need more specific guidance than what we've been given. Luckily the article guides us to pick up ice cream from Ice Cream Jubilee, so I enter in the address on my GPS and we are back on track, winding our way through Yards Park to our pre-riverwalk treat.

I've been coming to Nationals games for years but had never taken the time to explore Yards Park, which includes dancing fountains, a dog park, lots of restaurants, and this canal basin waterwall area--a very popular destination for happy, splashing toddlers on our hot August day.

The ice cream did not disappoint. After sampling several flavors, Katherine chose mint and I selected a honey lavender. Properly energized and properly oriented, we were off to find Kingman Island via the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail.

Back in May when we were overwhelmed with everything school related, I pulled an article out of The Washington Post's weekend section with a guide to "D.C.'s best urban rambles." When I travel, I love to experience as many local flavors and activities as I can fit into my vacation, yet I don't often enough take advantage of the "tourist location" that I call home. The idea of exploring our city on foot appealed to me, and some of the routes were places I've never been. Katherine and I chose this 4.5 mile jaunt written up by Fritz Hahn and Harrison Smith to explore first.

Following the directions from the newspaper, we made our way into the Navy Yard and found the Vietnam-era Swift Boat, then continued on to the 11th Street Local Bridge. Katherine and I did stop briefly at the observation area, but we didn't find the views as stunningly panoramic as the author had mentioned. There are definitely cool photo opportunities but there is also quite a bit of construction and trash to be seen.

After crossing to the eastern side of the river, we began walking on a wide paved path toward the island. We walked, and walked some more but no island. It was hot and my backpack was making me sticky and sweaty. Where was the island?

I began to have a sinking suspicion...was the 4.5 mile trek ONE WAY?

"Part 2: Once you're on the eastern side of the river, keep hiking upstream. The path next to the water is wide and grassy, passing a playground with giant pirate ships..."

We found the pirate ship. While Katherine climbed around, I tried looking up the remaining distance to Kingman Island and it appeared we had another mile to go. When the article described the trip as 4.5 miles, it hadn't even occurred to me that it was a one way trip. We decided lunch was a more appealing option than a 9 mile hike, so we turned around and headed back to find the restaurant suggestion, 100 Montaditos.

If you don't know (because we didn't), a montadito is a small baguette sandwich and 100 Montaditos offers "Dollarmania Wednesdays" where many of their menu offerings can be enjoyed for just a buck. Between the two of us, we ordered 5 montaditos and a beverage and our lunch was $7 and some change. As we ate, we talked about the pros and cons of trying to follow the directions in the article.

Pros: a newly explored area of DC, great restaurant recommendations, fun mother/daughter morning together. Cons: vague directions were sometimes tricky to follow, distance was misleading (Fritz, how did you get back from the island? Uber?), and we felt like the adventure was a bit oversold. ("Stunning panoramic"--really?)

All told, I was happy to get out of my comfort zone, spend some quality time with my teenage daughter, and try something off the beaten path. And I know the trip was a success because on the metro ride home, Katherine pulled the folded article out of the backpack. She pressed to smooth the creases, scanned it over and asked, "Where do you think we should go next?"

Link to article published online May 11:
These routes are made for walking