Coleus
the last lily
Mums
Diana Nyad is my new heroine! Yesterday, she completed the 110 mile swim from Cuba to Florida. It took me the whole summer to swim 60 miles and she completed this extraordinary journey in 53 hours! She is very modest and as she came ashore, she delivered three messages to the audience. First, never, ever give up! Second, you are never too old to pursue her dreams. And, although it may look like a solitary sport, her swim was a team effort.
Her support team of 35 people were with her the entire distance. Divers swam ahead and shooed away the jelly fish, others monitored her health and provided food and fluids. To avoid the jelly fish stings that finished her last effort, she wore a molded mask.
When interviewed today, she asserted that 64 is the prime of her life. That's how I feel. Sixty four does not feel old, despite aches and pains.
When we got up this morning, I heard kids laughing and talking outside. What's going on? The kids across the street were waiting for the bus to NCCS. School started today for many schools and I didn't even realize it. This is the sixth September that I will not be returning to the high school. Every year it's been a little less painful. On Monday we will depart for an amazing trip through the Baltics that would not have been possible when we were still teaching. But still.... The job has changed significantly since I left with APPRs and common core standards and all sorts of other obligations. But, the essence of it, the irreplaceable interactions with kids, the sharing of knowledge, the growth and excitement, the art and craft of teaching, that hasn't changed. And that's what I miss so much.
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