Angels Among Us

I can't believe another school year has come and gone already!! This year at our faculty year end party we lost two amazing ladies to retirement. When I went to college for my education degree.. most of my professors would say the same thing to us future teachers over and over again. "Treat your secretaries and custodians like gold, because they run the schools you will be teaching in." There is so much truth to this, and in the four different schools I have taught in, there have been some amazing men and women that have dedicated their time and service to make my job easier. These two ladies are great examples of this. Susan and Pat are both angels that have always been there for me... whether I needed something for cheer, seniors, or interact, to talk, food, a hug... etc. How blessed I am to have such an amazing job, and work with awesome people. I will miss them soo much, but am grateful for the memories of them both that I will carry with me, as I continue to teach at Dixie High School where there are angels among us. :)

I Am a Grandma

Somewhere along the lines of my mom's passing, Tessa stopped calling me Tampa, and now calls me grandma. At first, I wasn't all to happy about it. Let's face it, it definitely aged me, and I felt it somehow wasn't fitting. But, as time passed I realized that to her somehow that is what I am, and that is all that matters. It is quite amazing when you think about it. No one told her to call me that. A two year old, with the wisdom beyond her years made me a grandma because deep down she knew that is what I needed to be, not only for her, but for me. Now, when I hear that name, it warms my heart, and I come running... willing to do whatever she would have me do. Let's face it, with this face I would bark like a dog on all fours if she wanted me to. :) But, for now I will let her call me grandma... because she loves me enough and trusts me enough to make it so. I am a lucky grandma !!

My Escape From Middle Age

Well, April has come and gone already. Seriously, the older I get the more I forget what day it is... and then the school year is over. :) One of my students today said, "Miller what are you 30?" I grabbed and hugged him hard and said, "And you get an A this quarter !! " Haha, no but, I am turning 40 this year. FORTY !!! Can you believe it??!!! I definitely don't feel it or think I look it. K, not true.. I feel like I am a little emotionally off more at the girl time. Yah, I know too much info... But, I definitely get whackier at that time... or it might just be cause I had the year from hell... :) But, in the middle of my life I find myself pondering what I have done and what I want to do... and I also find myself making more decisions for me. I think a lot of time we forget that we need to take care of ourselves before we can take care of others. I know that most of growing up, I would make decisions to please my parents, or boys, or friends. But, now I honestly feel that I make decisions that our good for me. Now, there would have been a time in the past when I would have felt that was selfish.. but now I realize that it is just healthy and satisfying. So amongst all this thinking and self evaluating... I have a spot where I do my "Middle Age Thinking". It is my backyard. I work my butt off to make it a beautiful place to escape. I have the tan to show for it too. :) But honestly, it soothes me and straightens out my rattled brain when I need it most. My friend Andee was down for Easter and took some great pics of it. She has one of those artsy eyes that can picture the angle... so she took some great pics. But, before you look, I want you to promise to make an escape for yourself. Whether it be exercise, spa, nails, walking, reading... or whatever. We all just need to say NO sometimes and go to our escape. We need to recuperate, rejuvenate, and self contemplate. Then we can go back out there and get dirty again... live and enjoy life. We shouldn't live and survive life.... so take the time to escape !!