Road Trip

Well one of the teachers from game night has asked us to go on a two week road trip through the Rocky Mountains. Seems she has a two week time share in Vail Co., so it would only cost us shares in the rental, food and plane ticket. I so wanted to say sure. Unfortunatly Rachel likes to be warm in the winter and she likes to eat. Also my mortgage company likes the idea of getting paid every month. So I will remain here feeling very jealous of all those who can manage to go.

MCAS season is upon us. This is the state test that the students are expected to pass before graduation. I had a 6th grader for a one to one practice session. This kid is a Project Support kid, I follow him regularly to see if he has been keeping up with homework, classwork and anything else the teachers feel we need to make sure is taken care of.  This was Reading Comp. today. Read, answer some questions and some short answers. The practice sessions are for us as staff more than anything...making sure everyone is covered, receiving the accommodations they are entitled to. Tomorrow is 8th grade and on Friday it will be 7th grades turn.

We leave on Saturday morning, early, for D.C, This is a Rachel led trip. We will be going to the National Zoo, a night tour of the monuments and we are going to visit Mr Rogers sweater. She would like to go to Arlington Cemetery, and any other museum along the Mall. We'll need to see what time allows. I am so very lucky, she still likes to hang out with her mother and her friends.

Another small bit of information....Jack's kitty Chloe has had kittens. He called me all excieted Saturday morning, "Gammie we have babies". I would love to take a kitten, but I really couldn't do that to Buster. He has been an only cat for 11 years now I doubt he'd be very hospitable to a new addition.

I had a totally different post in mind. I was going to complain about sitting in a seminar for three days only to find out my plans for the money I will be paid for these three days of my vacation are now gone, it will instead go to getting Rachel's car fixed.

Well the web(?) page wouldn't load, I could type a heading but no body. So in my typical fashion I begun to freak about loosing all my other posts. All those emotions I have stored in every line and word were lost to me. I couldn't access them, change them, read them....I had no control over them....

You can not imagine the panic I was feeling. I was clicking help buttons all the time saying I can't loose my posts. What am I going to do???? I felt I was loosing that one connection I have to Gee. Unrealistic I know, because here I am writing a post, with all my other posts sitting there waiting.

What was I thinking, why the panic? I guess it's the same reason I have old boots and coats, his wallet on the hutch, that I wear his wedding ring.....it's all I have. I find it telling that with all that is around me, those words are precious to me. Words on a computer that no one really reads. They aren't written for anyone really. Just a place to store emotions I can not deal with yet, if I ever will.

As more time passes and I begin to feel I have made progress dealing with these feelings of grief, I find I really haven't. Something as small as a computer issue can send me over the edge. I have said it before...I am beginning to believe I will always grieve for Gee. Somedays it will be hidden, and some it will be on the surface, but it will always be there.

MOOSE

While I was bringing Rachel back to school after getting her Military ID renewed today we were driving down Route 202, a woody back road we prefer instead of the main highway, next thing I hear is MOOSE!! Coming down a wooded hill was one of the biggest animals I have ever seen. I had stopped by this time and she, I think it was a she, walked right in front of my car across the road and continued down the hill. My goodness what a sight.


A Sad Note

My friend Edna has passed away. She has gone to join George who left us late in November. Edna's memory has been fading for years but it seems the rate has escalated since George's death. I guess the best thing I can say about Grandma LeBlanc is she was a spitfire, a real feisty old broad. I will miss her, Rest in peace Grandma LeBlanc.

Beautiful, bubbly, funny, friend..........the list of words to describe a wonderful young women is endless. The one word no one would ever have used would be suicidal. We have experienced a tragic loss, one of our students has taken her own life.

We spent the day shuttling the 8th graders to grief councilors. The students were devastated. Holding on to each other for comfort. Asking staff why, why would anyone do such a thing to themselves, why did she? Well we are asking the same question of ourselves. Did we miss something, who talked with her on Monday, were there signs?

The truth is we have lost a beautiful, kind, funny, promising young woman and our hearts are heavy with sadness, for her, for her loving family, and for ourselves.

I brought pictures of Gee to work today, to sit on my desk, next to the kids. I haven't done this before. I wasn't sure how I would feel, having him looking back at me all day. Some days I get so emotional looking at the pictures around the house. The picture of Gee and Jack at Rachel's graduation melts my heart every time I look at it. He wouldn't let him go. Held on to Jack like he was his lifeline.

I brought two of the pictures from Clayton's wedding. Gee looks tired, he had just gotten out of the hospital, but he looked like himself. Not the thin, frail man he would become. It was about 18 months before his death. One he was standing with Clayton, soon after the ceremony, the other he was dancing with Rachel. He wouldn't leave without a dance with her, saying "I wont be here for her wedding, I have to dance with her at this one." I of coarse answered with a you don't know that....maybe he did.

Report Cards

The boys got their report cards on Friday. F did better than last term, but still failing two classes. No gym for him again third term, academic support with me. He is thrilled.

 A got all 80's!! He is going to receive the Most Improved Award for the term for Science!! His grade rose more than 20 points! What a difference a new medication can make. We keep our fingers crossed that he doesn't start having reactions to it. It has been about 6 weeks now and he is still doing great. We still need to work on his personal space issues, and the all about A things but I'm so happy for him. He said it was the first time he's ever been happy about bringing a report card home. WAY TO GO A!!!!!

So far I have been lucky, "knock on wood", and not gotten the new round of winter virus raging through the school. One of the science teachers came to school on Thursday, said his stomach just "wasn't great". By 9 he had thrilled his B block class with vomiting into his trash. I saw him yesterday, Saturday, at the school play, still looking pale. Everyone is covering everywhere. The sixth grade had 4 out of 8 teachers out on Friday.

As for the play....the costumes were great!!! Well I was the costume lady once again. Joanne, the director, did get alot of stuff from the theater guild. The kids did The Wizard of Oz and they were wonderful. I made some fantastic trees and doodlebug wings! I will help Joanne with the High School again this year. Shouldn't be much of a problem, Legally Blond, the kids will wear alot of their own clothes.

Half a year over, crunch time for the 8th grade. After February vacation they will pick their class for next year.  March brings MCAS testing, 8th grade tests in Math, ELA,read comp and writing, Science, Tech ED and I believe this will be the first year Social Studies is included. They will have to pass these tests to graduate.

New term begins....

Back to Westfield

Rachel's last weekend home. She heads back to school on Sunday. We rode out to the school yesterday to get her books, avoiding the crowds on Monday. Renting all but two of her books, it cost her close to $300! I can't believe it, what would it have cost her to buy them....I don't want to know.

I met her boss, Sid, at the help desk. We were heading to the bathroom and he was at the window. Rachel was a bit embarrassed,  he was so full of praise and kind words,. The woman he had been talking to commented on what a recommendation he had just given her. Rachel couldn't say a word. She has never learned to take a compliment. As we walked into the book store she says, "He's like that to everyone". I have to say I have my doubts.

Have to get all her laundry done, I can't get over how many dirty clothes she generates! I am doing laundry every day. If it isn't towels its jeans...I'm sure she doesn't do this much laundry at school!

We are going to be more mindful on how much stuff we pack to take back with us. The parking lot of her building is closed due to construction. So we have to lug everything from a lot that is about 300 yards away. It will be closed until the new building is finished, Rachel thinks it will be 2014, if all goes well. She likes this building and wants to be in it again next year....I just think of move in day...might just be move in month if we have to lug everything across the quad.

Clayton Katie and Jack stopped bye to see Rachel before she heads back. Jack wasn't sure about Steve. Didn't take long, he gave everyone hugs when he left. They were heading to Leominster. Meeting Derek and Bradeigh for dinner at Chucky Cheese. Jack told me he had "chucky money" to play games.

Fred already knows something is going on. All the stuff piled in the dinning room. He keeps walking around smelling everything. He's a funny dog, sleeping in her room. Like if he does that she wont go anywhere. The cat, well like most cats, can't be bothered.