Off to Vegas for
the next three days.  We’ve got two free nights at Harrah’s. 
That makes me feel a little less guilty about throwing some money away
on gambling.  Penny slots here I come! 

What happens in Vegas won’t stay in Vegas (unfortunately, we aren’t that exciting)… pics and stories when we get back.

Well, they’re gone.  I thought for sure that I
would cry on Wednesday, the last day, but they were so darn naughty
that it made it easier to let go … at least in the moment. 
 

It was Thursday that was hard, coming back to a lonely
classroom to face a year’s worth of clutter.  The past two days
have been a whirlwind of dust and paperwork, but I actually checked out
today.  I think that’s the fastest I’ve ever done it!



By the time I left today, I felt completely drained.  Toshi and I
went to dinner, and it was all I could do to stay awake.  I even
had (and still have) a tired stomachache … my body’s way of telling
me that enough is enough. 



When we got home, we stopped by the mailbox and found my first student
letter of the summer.  Every year on the last day of school I give
them a stamped envelope with my address on it, and tell them that if
they write to me, I’ll reply and send another stamped envelope. 
Well, I’ve received my first letter, and it was dated Wednesday.


Dear Miss Garstang,

    I miss you
already and I so badly want to go back to school with you.  How
are    you doing?  I can’t wait ’til July 2nd, the concert picnic
time when I get to see you and Toshi and even my friends.  It’s
hard for me to stop thinking about you and your beautiful smile. 
You are the greatest, fantastic, and prettiest teacher I’ve ever had in
the whole universe!



   
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
        Love,

   
           
           
           
           
           
             
           
      D.


P.S.  Make sure you bring yummy food to the concert picnic.
P.S.S. Don’t forget I’m going to visit you and everyone else on Fridays next year.


Look in back–>

(On the back is an outline of her hand )



Needless to say, I cried all the way back from the
mailbox.  I miss that kid already, too.  Even though I’ve
been at this teaching thing for ten years, there are times when I feel
like a miserable failure and like I don’t know what the heck I’m
doing.  But, then something like this letter comes along and
reassures me that at the very least, the kids know I care, and really,
what means more than that?



So,
anyway, now that I’m all signed out, I have one whole evening of
freedom.  Tomorrow is the first of the summer trips for kids who
earned a reading medal.  Up first is a trip to see “Cars” with a
group of three of my boys.  Should be fun, but didn’t I just say
goodbye to these people? 

Quote of the Day:



People won’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. 

The year is
really winding down now, but not without tons of end-of-year activities
and responsibilities.  Today we went to Medieval Times.  For
those who haven’t heard of it, Medieval times is a dinner show. 
It was great fun, and the kids had an absolutely fantastic time. 
Really, what kid wouldn’t love getting to eat with his or her fingers
in a restaurant setting?  I cried three times during the show …
no, not because it was so moving.    Just seeing all my
kids having so much fun brought home the realization that in only a few
short days they will be leaving me.  Fortunately, I managed to
pull myself together. 



Tonight I’ve been working
on report cards and comments for their fourth grade teachers. 
Again, boohooing on and off all the way.  I have two more report
cards to go, but I just can’t do anymore tonight.  It’s been a few
years since I have felt this emotional about the end of the school
year.  When I started tearing up during “So You Think You Can
Dance”, I began to wonder if perhaps it was just PMS, but it’s too
early for that. 



Hmmm … that paragraph
just reminded me that I have to put together information about summer
trips with Miss G. for tomorrow.  Ugh!  I’m so tired and
promised Toshi I would do the dishes for him because he’s been working
so hard on the house.  Aiya!



Speaking of the house, the
floor is officially finished!  Woohoo!  It is so nice to be
able to cook at home and sit on the furniture again. 



Quote of the Day:




The object of teaching a child is to enable him to get along without his teacher. 
           
           
           
           
           
        ~Elbert Hubbard

Update in protected posts … see you there!