Summer's Close

Thanks to some really cool teacher friends, neighbors, and family memeors, I managed to survive the summer semester, where I was taking 6 courses, 5 of which were master's level. Without the support of several people who gave me access to their classes, met with me at Starbucks, and allowed me into their homes, I wouldn't have had anything to write about. In the process, I refined my view of early childhood education, a hot field that is increasingly being seen as an antecedent to special education, the field where I am specializing.

After the school year was over, I took a short beach vacation to Donna's beach house. Mabel, my beautiful pooch, was a great travel companion, but she was happy to get home to her familiar scents. Karen, Joe, and Donna stayed for the full two weeks, and Joe seemed to grow 2-3 inches while I was gone. I needed to rush home to work on the yard. The wild grape had taken over a corner of the yard, so that eyesore needed to be removed. My old friend Ricky and I tore down the old shed, and we weeded, trimmed, and gradually brought some order to the yard. Over the next few days, we'll put the finishing touches on our landscaping project.

Next week, I will begin student teaching about an hour away, and will be taking three classes. Life is about to get very painful, but as the Dean of the Education reminded me, I need to keep repeating to myself, "I'll have my Master's in a year, I'll have my Master's in a year." On the reading list is Harry Wong's The First Days of School.