Tight shoulders
released from pressure.
The weight off me now
Life returns.
Last Friday at 4:20 I got to enjoy a ritual I had not had the pleasure of indulging in for many months.
In the morning I had written the little poem above, inspired by Billy Collins' poem "Argument for Design." I then wrote this:
Looking forward
to that moment
the kids leave
and I have a few
minutes of quiet
to myself I haven't
had since
September 23rd!
On Friday, September 23rd I had stayed a little late prepping for a guest teacher since I was taking Monday the 26th off for my husband's milestone birthday. Talk of hurricane was in the works, and I prepped accordingly for that as well.
By Tuesday the 27th school was closed, and the kids did not return to our school until Wednesday, October 19th. That coincided with the day Jim began radiation treatments. Every single day I scooted out early, imposing on my co-workers to take my kids for me so I could leave, pick up Jim, and battle traffic to get him to the cancer center. The daily routine for six weeks was a royal drag in many ways, especially for him, of course.
It wasn't until I wrote that poem I realized how much I missed that quiet time at the end of the day. I actually hadn't thought much about how every day I was losing the chance to reflect, get things set for the next day, and in the case of the 16th, actually creating an activity to use. Frankly, many times I leave right away, but it is nice to have the option.
Teachers spend their days greeting, teaching, listening, and saying goodbye to dozens of students. Having that few minutes when it is over to breathe in the day, reflect a bit, and move forward for the next day is an important part of the process. There is something about the end of the school day that can feel like a little gift to ourselves. I am grateful Jim is done with his treatments, of course. But for me, that time at the end of the day is like unwrapping a little piece of chocolate and savoring it all by myself.
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