I still have my hair, and I still have my sideburns. What could the big change be? It must be the job. Last Friday it was announced that I will be Vice Principal beginning July! After eight years in the classroom, my job will change significantly. It's a big deal and I have been delving into the change philosophically, mourning the loss, and welcoming the new. I'm looking forward to it. I'm ready. And, while this is huge news, significant to a high degree in how it will affect my life's course and experience, tonight there is another big reason to celebrate.
(Professor Smith Addressing the Graduates and Families)
Two years, thousands of dollars and thousands of words typed, hundreds of pages read and hundreds of hours in contemplation..... have brought me to tonight when I graduated with my Master's Degree. Ahhhhhhhhhhh-hhhhhhhhhhhh-hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh-hhhhh........ And that's just the beginning of a relaxing release two year's in the making. The best things about graduating? One, I now have more time with my family again. Two, I have significantly grown as a person through this program. I didn't just jump through hoops; I developed as a human and as an educator. Thirdly, I HAVE GRADUATED!!!!! What a great feeling. It's late as I type this and I'm very tired so I won't carry on much more as I look forward to blissful sleep that involves no back-of-the-mind thoughts about homework or papers to write. I'll just say that I am very proud of myself and colleagues tonight and I love my son and my family. What a year! 2009 was so impressive and now 2010 just keeps 'the interesting' coming. Yes, I did use 'the interesting' as a noun. Master's of Education are allowed such liberty.
While I'm writing I'll throw in a few more updates. Recently, Enzo received his second set of vaccine shots and liquid drops. We spoke to him about it just as before. Then, he got the dropper and the shots and it was even less of a deal than last time. He fussed and cried briefly while the first shot was coming out of his thigh and until the second shot came out but that was only a seconds long period of time; that nurse was quick. Then, I held him to my shoulder and he was done. No big deal. The drops he swallowed before the shots and he didn't fuss this time at all other than by making a funny face that said, "This is neither how I take my meals nor the flavor I am accustomed to, but I 'll give it a try if you think I should." And that was that.
To bring these topics together. Many people came up to tell me how cute Enzo is at the graduation ceremony. I know people must say that kind of thing all the time to parents about their children but I have to whole heartedly agree with these fine people and say they are right, Enzo is SUPER adorable. And so, I can not help but believe that while many words are said in this world out of kindness and custom, when speaking about the adorableness of Enzo the words are surely 100% genuine. He is simply that adorable!
Oh, one more thing. Tami and her sister go to the A's game every year for Mother's Day with their mom. After me giving Tami breakfast in bed (I picked up breakfast from a taqueria that we like and rushed back) and then Enzo giving his mom the cool hand prints that he made for her, Tami was already enjoying her special day. But, then, the big deal happened. Tami took Enzo to the A's game to celebrate Mother's Day with her sister and mother. Yes, that game! Tami, Enzo, Traci and Phyllis were there for the 19th Perfect Game in Major League Baseball history! I had to look up what this meant online. Essentially, it means a game where a team wins by allowing no hits and no walks and this has only happened 19 times since 1880. Tami was SO excited to be there watching the A's win this 19th ever Perfect Game. I asked how this compared to taking Enzo to his first game and her answer was that his first game was important because it was part of Enzo's history. This game, however, was important because Enzo was there for Major League Baseball history. Tami said it was "the perfect Mother's day" getting breakfast in bed, her son's hand prints, and seeing a Perfect Game all on her first Mother's Day as a mother.
It's been eventful around here, to be sure.
Now, off to blissful sleep.........