The Virus Diary: The Last Day of School.

I always take the last day of the school year off so that we can "celebrate."  I did so again this year; I put in my request at the beginning of the year.    Who knew...?

Although we cannot agree on everything and perhaps cannot even agree on most things, I DO believe that we CAN agree that this has been one STRANGE school year.  When I dropped my son off for his first day of high school I could NEVER have imagined what was to come.  Who would have thought that March 13th would be the last day that he and all of his classmates would walk through those halls?  Who would have thought that the cast party for the musical on March 7th would have been the last social event he would attend?  It has been one STRANGE year.

It was also a challenging year.  And I'm not just talking about the pandemic.  Even before that, as a family, we were facing some issues.  Being "stuck" together since March has made life difficult at times.  My son needed to learn the importance of the "submit" button, as well as doing so in a timely manner. He needed to learn the importance of staying up to date with what was going on in his "classroom" and checking (and re-checking) email.  Lessons were learned the hard way.  (It may not be a bad thing that this semester's grades were P or F.)  I learned too (also the hard way).  I hope that both my son and I have learned and grown from this experience.  As with years in the past, this year has been a bumpy road.  Only this year many of those bumps were out of our control.  I hope that we've learned to control what we can and to let go of what we can't.

As challenging as this year has been, it would NOT have been possible if it weren't for the incredible teachers my son had.  I never imagined you could have a gym class on line.  You CAN!  I never imagined you could have choir on line!  You CAN!  I never imagined you could do a One Act Play on line!  You CAN!  Amazing things CAN be done.  Of course you need some pretty amazing educators who are dedicated to their students, think WAY outside of the box and are more flexible than a willow tree.  We are lucky to have educators who have always gone above and beyond and this year went way, way beyond.  

It's been a challenging three plus months.  Today it officially ended.  Tonight, our high school graduates will be able to see their ceremony on tv. (Graduates were given a time slot over the past several weeks to officially receive their diploma as well as say a few words; all of this and more was edited into the video that will air tonight.)  It may not be the ideal way to "graduate" but it certainly is unique and memorable; just like they are.

We head into summer.  We don't know what the fall will bring.  For now I am grateful for what we had and how we made it through.  For the teachers and students, I hope this summer brings some rest and relaxation so that they can be ready come September for whatever school life will look like.

We made it through...all of us...together.

Thank you.
Dropping off school books

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We Have Taken America Back

Image
Back to a time when all men (and women) are not created equal.  Where women's healthcare is determined by men's laws and not by medical professionals. Where education tells only the "winning" side of the story and truth does not matter.  Where banning and burning books is a social event.  Where people who are "different" than those in power can be mocked, shunned and hurt with no real consequences. Where lies are acceptable and integrity is  just a word on a page We have moved into a time where rage is the rage.  Where hate is not just normal, but accepted and even cheered. Where leaders can ask to have their "enemies" killed and no one will bat an eye.  Where it's "funny" to see someone struggle.  Where felony is applauded. Where compassion is not shown and caring for others is looked down upon. We have taken America back to a time of pain and suffering for many.  Back to when the "haves" can have and the have nots don'...
Read more

It's Not About Starbucks (or is it)?

Image
  About a block and a half from my home in a major intersection.  At the southeast corner (which is nearest to me), is an empty building.  Back in 1995 it was a Bank of NY (I remember this because they didn't shovel/de-ice their parking lot well and my husband fell and broke his ankle one Monday morning.  I recall this clearly because we were not yet married and it was the first day of a new job for me.  I had gotten on the bus to work and he was catching a later one; only he never got there.  Instead he ended up laying on the ground until an employee came to open up the bank.  Then he had them call an ambulance AND my mother who took control of the situation until I arrived home that night blissfully unaware of what had happened that day.)  It eventually became a Chase Bank; the second one in my small little town.  It eventually closed.  I'm not sure when but it's been empty for quite a long time.  (I do know that it was open in 20...
Read more

As Is

Image
  Today I want to discuss what I think it is a relatively simple concept, but may be difficult for some, even an attorney who might have once, over a decade ago won a  prestigious award  for young lawyers .  That term is "AS IS." As you may know, I volunteer in a thrift shop.  Everything we sell, from all the donations we receive, is "as is."  The items are not brand new.  They are not perfect.  That doesn't mean they aren't any good or worth something. They are sold "as is."  Buyers should go in knowing that. (After all you are shopping in a thrift shop!)  In some cases, particularly when we are offering higher end products, we will actually write on the price tag, "as is." Such is the case of two designer purses that I purchased from there this summer.  (I'm a purse-aholic!  Don't look in my closet.)  They were reasonably priced (especially when you consider the name brand), but each had an "as is" clearly marked o...
Read more