A Moment in Time

I have purposely distanced myself from this arena to grade research papers and catch up on some very necessary school work. I find it easier to deal with long term projects if I live life as it approaches instead of looking constantly forward to the big reward.

Currently, I am trying to get seniors out of high school and on to more gratifying activities. Once again, I find myself surrounded by students who can barely use the English language planning to be doctors, lawyers, nurses, etc. I find that some of them have what seems to me an impossible dream, and I cope less and less with their surreality.

The greatest thing about high school students is their relentless belief that they can do better than those who have come before them.  The funniest thing about them is that the lack of work ethic, basic knowledge, and financial stability hasn't "punched them in the stomach" yet. The world will open to them like the pages of a book and hand them everything they need for success. Unfortunately, they will probably fail to read the material the book offers like they have failed to read any book this year.

It saddens me to think I have failed, but there is always next year. I have hope that one day the student who will step up and take the initiative to make a change that is desperately needed to promote a successful future will magically appear.  Perhaps he or she will find that the definition of success has nothing to do with how much money you make, what kind of house you own, what car you drive, or what clothes you wear. I might possibly convince a student someday that you are successful if you make a change for the better, enjoy your work, have happy children, or simply do no harm to others. These are the true measures of success.

Washington and Beyond

 

After a day of rest, I find that I am ready to share my trip. 

I arrived on schedule Thursday and checked into my room just prior to dinner at 6:00 pm. At dinner, I met some wonderful folks who were ready to explore the city, so we walked the mall and visited several of the national monuments at night. I found myself wishing I had a good camera because the one I brought did not have a flash, and some of the monuments were not lit. I would like to thank Perry for his awesome tour guide skills, the walk was fun and educational. 

On Friday, there were meetings and food. The meetings were interesting, informative, and tiring. The food was excessive. I have attended many meetings, but I have never been to one where I was fed so well. There was a huge breakfast, a morning snack, a huge lunch, an afternoon snack, and a huge dinner. The food was delicious, and there were many options. I could always find something to satisfy my hunger. 

On Saturday, we finally got to the portion of the symposium that most interested me - actually meeting with my travel cohorts and a representative from my country of  travel. My travel companions were just as excited as I, and we all wanted to learn more about our host country. The speaker spoke swiftly, and I found that I often wanted to stop him and ask him to repeat himself. I restrained myself from such impudent behavior, but I was sorely tempted. This meeting left me with more questions than answers, so I will have to purchase some traveling books and do some research. He did instill me with the desire for my trip to speed. I can't wait to be in country experiencing the culture and meeting new people. 

 

Happy Valentine's Day

Is it me, or does the world seem to cling tighter and tighter to fanciful holidays? I'm pretty sure that my parents never celebrated this day and they were married for 43 years before my mom died. They loved each other everyday and expressed it regularly. It didn't take a holiday to make them appreciate their life together.

I am also sure that there is nothing you can purchase or do that will make someone love you. It seems that we as a modern society have confused gratitude with love. Sure, I like to get gifts just as much as the next person, but in an era of obesity and food related illnesses, is a holiday that thrives on candy and flowers really appropriate?

Also, with as many people in our world in need of real food, real jobs, and real help, isn't it a bit ridiculous for those of us with much to give to waste it on luxury items? Think about it, how many families could be fed for what we spend on Valentine's day alone? Surely, we should attempt to change the focus of this holiday from romantic love to brotherly love.

I am not however a cynic; I am just giving you a little candy for thought. Happy Valentine's Day!

So little to do, so much time. Wait a minute - Reverse that!

As Thursday comes rushing forward, I have decided to write a list of things to do. 1. Pack 2. Clean 3. Repack 5. Re-clean. I am beginning to see some redundancy here.

Looking Toward DC

As I write this, I am preparing to travel to Washington DC. I have been busily making arrangements for the children, and I have been busily washing laundry. It seems that the chore list gets longer when I am going to be out of town for a few days.