The Big Swim

Today in one of my composition classes I charged them with interviewing another with the end result a biographical sketch. In one class, we had an odd number and the sweet girl who grabbed the short straw had to interview me.

Her first question was "who shaped who you are?"

I immediately teared up and apologized for being like I am, with all the tears ;).There are so many who have shaped me. But when I was able to speak again, I told her my Dad was strong and competitive and the best. And I told her Nyds was incredible. All those are understatements, by the way.

The best thing about the interview was what I learned about her. Some kiddos endure lives most of us couldn't fathom. She has had the run of it. But, you know what? She keeps swimming back to the surface. And I have no doubt she will continue to do just that.

Teaching is an interesting scene. Sometimes--no, more often than not--students inspire me, rather than the converse. I'm grateful I get to keep swimming up; as do they. And I will forever try to bring them up. As long as I can pull.

Toots

Back in the day, I got crossways with a fellow coach who thought storytelling was the most important event of all time. Storytelling is animatedly telling a children's story, which is remarkably silly, if you ask me. But I coached it; we placed nationally in it. This coach, however, took issue at one tournament when I had a student performing (quite well, I might add) with a book called "Walter the Farting Dog."

Karma is a bitch, my friends, because my dog Oscar is a gas machine. My guess is Oscar could out-do Walter.

I apologize to that former colleague. I set my course.😂

The Ride

I was just watching an old episode of "Ellen" with Melissa McCarthy as a guest. She was describing her youngest daughter (who apparently has lots of zip) on her Big Wheel.

The story drummed up memories I haven't had in a while. I had a Big Wheel called "Flower Power" (not by me) and I would drive it as fast as I could then slam on the brakes. The result was one flat side of the wheel. I drove that sucker around in a very bumpy fashion for years.

But then I also thought of that moment on the street where my Nanny and Papa lived, and where we lived for a time, and my Pops held onto the back of my bike when I was learning to ride. He let go, and I kept riding. I remember realizing he had let go and he was back down the road watching me ride. I was afraid. But I was free.

Isn't that the way? A bumpy ride, sometimes afraid, but, if you are lucky and can pedal and balance: free❤️

The Fear

Well, I've given this some thought. Obviously I have or I wouldn't be putting it in writing. It's the idea of fear. 

I've been watching a bit of old Letterman clips of late, and in one he admits to frequently being afraid before going before an audience. 

I ain't Dave (whom I love), but there wasn't a day I wasn't afraid before walking into the classroom. And even the years when we were winning again and again (not to sound like an a**hole), I was afraid every weekend we would never win another trophy. I didn't doubt the kids. They were brilliant and talented. I always doubted I hadn't done enough for them. 

But the fear made me work harder and strive beyond it. And I will never forget my buddy, David Watkins--a hero in his own right--one night at the end of his tourney (the toughest all around), handing me a bag of cookies from his sweet wife and saying "the climb is sometimes better than the top."

I had lived with fear of not living up to my predecessors. I know I did all right. Seeing Dave admit the fear gave me pause. I never think of these folks as mortals. But I suppose they lie awake as we do; as I am now. 

I'm grateful for kiddos who understand me and two predecessors who always made me feel like I did good stuff. And an assistant principal who always cracked up when I chilled my Diet Cokes on the roof outside of my classroom.