Practicing Vacation

A beautiful day. Warm with a crispy edge in the morning and evening, bright sun, and a smell that can only be spring nudging herself around a very distant corner.

The mountains were out, too. Rainier, Baker, the Cascades, the Olympics -- surrounded like a white cape on my shoulders.

We walked Chester at his favorite marshy park and then down by the lake, though his increase in medication made him slow and wobbly. Still, his tail was up, his ears alert, and his eyes focused on the possibility of chicken bones or goose shit. Ah, the life and palette of a dog.

Aside from stopping by the house to check on the remodel (we have windows and morning light!) and two walks with the old man-dog, I did nothing today and it felt great. I watched the Olympics and then home improvement shows. I read. I downloaded pictures of the house. I ate healthy food. I slept.

Those who say teachers get too many days off just don't get how precious recovery time is. If I could not unwind, if I didn't have a vacation every now and then, I might not be allowed to be in the same room with children.

I'd swear far more than I do.

I'd stomp my feet a lot.

I'd scream loudly at drivers who talk on cellphones and don't "think" about driving.

I'd send my food back if it arrived at my table cold or if the portion size was too small for the dollar paid.

I'd be mean to cats.

I'd bite off my nails.

I'd run down to the ritzy mall at the bottom of the hill and force everyone to look me in the eye and say hello (which is something they never do!)

I'd scratch the sides of BMW's and Lexus' and Mercedes'...

I'd eat a whole chocolate cake.

Every day.

We have one more week of teaching before our mid-winter break. Today's rest was a warm up. In one week, I will start to get my life back just enough so I can make it until April when we take one more break so I can make it to June.

This summer I'm taking a 3 week class, so summer is really more work though I can wear shorts and t-shirts, I can stay up late and I won't have papers to grade, though I might have papers to write. Still that feels invigorating not exhausting.

I can lose some weight in the summer since I won't be running to the faculty room during my breaks to eat Top Pot donuts or handfuls of peanuts or cheese and crackers or that divine apple cake some parent brings at least once a month.

On vacations I can think about what I eat and not just eat so I don't have to think.

I can say hello to Ann more than once or twice a day.

We can go for walks with Chester...enjoy him during these last few months. We can pack up the house for the final push in the remodel -- cabinets and bamboo floors and lights, oh my.

Today was practice.

I don't think I've got vacation done, though, so I might just have to practice tomorrow, too!

Too bad there are a stack of papers to grade!