>A student once gave me a card on the last day of school that said, “There are three great things about being a teacher: June, July, and August.” And this was a good kid, a young man who has kept in touch and is now in law school! In a school like mine, however, we deal with a lot of emotionally charged issues because of the wide variety of families and the transient nature of the neighborhood. Yesterday was a staff development day that involved planning for next year, and I came out of it exhausted rather than refreshed. I will feel better when I see my class today, but I’ll still be happy when I send home their report cards and move them along to the next grade level.

When we take our family vacation (an actual vacation! With a road trip! The first in four years!), I’m looking forward to some simple pleasures. Being finished with schoolwork will feel great, especially after the rush to finish the year-end paperwork. Not having to wash dishes or sheets will be nice, of course, but there are other little tidbits that make me happy.

Reading a newspaper in every city we visit
Attempting the crossword puzzles in each newspaper
Reading a few books for pleasure without having to “make time” for them
Taking pictures in various states along the way to use in my social studies lessons
Picking up a few new coffee mugs for my collection
Listening to Husband and Amigo bond in the front seat while I read or nap in the back
Exchanging emails with new friends, running into others

Posting the travails of our travels — eventually. I might not have pictures until we get home.