Some of us in our school are doing a book study about grading.  Last night we were discussing stuff.  Some of us had specific moments in our schooling that still stand out. 

A lot of the memories of school just blur together.  Then there are the distinct ones.  Lat night one of the topics was academic dishonesty and cheating.  The book contends that if someone cheats that they should have another chance.  They shouldn’t fail.   The reasoning being that it doesn’t reflect on how much someone knows.  Retest them to see what they actually know.  There should be a seperate consequence for the cheating.    I tend to agree. 

I remember zero hour chemistry.  We were taking a quiz and I had no clue on how to do the problem.  That feeling is awful.  My solution was to look at my neighbors answer.  I wrote down the correct number. It wasn’t about getting a good score it was about not feeling stupid.   We were then grading them and talking about what the work should look like.  Of course my work was probably like a paragraph written in english.  You get to the conclusion and it is french.  They don’t jive.  The teacher obviously knew that someone had cheated.  It would have been very easy to figure it out.  I don’t remember what his words were, but he just left it.  Moved on.  It sticks in my head.  He could have handled it very differently and failed me for the course or had me suspended.  Who knows how much that contributed to who I am. I don’t see it as a defining moment in my life.  I just know that I remember. 

It’s a vivid moment.  There are many of them.  Each day in the class there is the possibility that something might be a defining moment for one of the kids.  They ccould either be positive or negative.  Who knows if that moment will have a big impact on their life or not…

but it is important to be aware that some of the events in our lives can become defining moments that could possibly be part of our lives forever by living within our memories. 

Those stinking elfs!

Our school does a Breakfast with Santa to raise money for the less fortunate in the community.  Mrs. Claus and Santa Claus attend and the kids can have their photos taken. 

I offered to take photos for the event.  After accepting it was suggested that I dress up as an elf.    Okay I’m always game for something fun and know that the kids will get a kick out of it.  

So Saturday I set out to assemble my costume.  It was all coming together: elf ears, elf tights, shoes, and hat but I needed a vest.  So it was off to Ross.  It seems that acceptable elf wear is located in the women’s section.  I found quite a few items to go back and try and arrived with a handful of items at the changing room.

The attendant looked at the clothes and then me.  The person next to me gave me a glance.  Yeah you can totally picture the thoughts running through their heads.  I assured them that it was for a costume.  I don’t know if they were convinced.  The attendant counted up the garments and handed me an 8.

By the way it isn’t easy to pick the perfect vest.  I was very torn.  However, I finally selected one even though there was some doubt.  I return all of the items and show her the one I’m taking. 

Her- You are missing one.  there are only 7.

Me- they are all here.

Her- I gave you an 8.

Me- I only have 7.

Her- I gave you an 8 though.

So I go back to the changing room to check to see if I dropped one.  That is a big negative. 

Me- there must have only been seven

Her- But I gave you a 8

At this point I tell her that she can strip search me if need be, but I’m not here to steal women’s clothes and pointed out that there was nowhere fo rme to hide anything.  She finally gave up on that number 8.  I was left with the thought that I hope that wasn’t one of my former students busting out some of those math skills that I had taught them.

As I type maybe I have finally figured it all out.  Maybe an elf took it.  And if so then that means I made the wrong choice!

Or alternately titled smoothness 

I was thinking the other day about how I use to say it wasn’t my decade when it came to women.  That was the 90′s.  hmmm.  It seems like the new millenium hasn’t brought a change in that:) 

It was a fun joke.  And at times it did seem like I was cursed.  There was the cute girl that was in one of my classes.  She was often at the gym when my friend Chris and I went.  I don’t know where I went wrong.  I definitely caught her attention.  Just not in a good way.  It seems that taking your student id out and having the entire contents of your wallet go flying out right in front of her doesn’t exude confidence and mystique.

So a new decade.  Same skills.  I was at the Y the other night.  There happens to be a cute girl working on the elliptical next to me.  I go over and get a towel to clean the machine and she is finishing up so we cross paths.  Some eye contact is actually made.  I could have imagined it but there might have even been a smile.  Maybe she had a premonition of what was to come….

I was downstairs doing some of the weight machines when I decide out of the blue to do the treadmill to see where I was at in my quest to improve my mile run.  I finished running and started walking towards the back of the treadmill.  I look and there is the same girl over on one of the rowing machines.  And then I busted out the smoothness.  Yes,  I hit the back edge of the tread and my feet slipped out and found myself flat on my back. 

“Are You Okay”  Yep she saw the whole thing.  I don’t even know what I said after that. 

Remembering the fond memories led me to put myself in touch Chris.   He had some advice.

“Dude at least your not the Cubs.  Anyone can have a bad century!”

So go Cub’s go!  Inspire me!

So this is the bottle of Two Buck Chuck that has been saved for a special occassion.  Two buck chuck is made in california and it has been given that moniker because it used to cost 2 dollars.  It’s still under the three dollar mark so it still lives up to its name.  I was given a couple of bottles of Chuck as a Christmas gift last year from one of my students parents who are friends.  It’s companion created a beautiful piece of art work when it had an unexpected meeting with the asphalt.  Maybe that is what was meant to happen as it made this bottle the “It” bottle.  As you can see the lone survivor has been opened….

I think I really was holding onto it for when I meant someone special.  Yeah i think that was always my intention.  To share it with them and say this is what I wanted to save it for.  Despite the persistent rumors that continue to travel amongst the parents at school that is not the case.

The teenage years.  Maybe even the early college years.  I would often do something fun.   Be totally stoked about whatever it is.  Then that night it would turn into depression.  A depression that it was gone.  It was history.  hmmm maybe that is why I like History.  It was a deep ache that the moment of that day was gone.  Also, maybe on some level a worry that there would never be moments like that again.  I guess when your always looking back you never see what is coming at you.  I have had incredible moments in my life since those years. 

Right now I really ache for some moments in the past.  There are images in my head that are so vivid right now.  They are moments that fill you with smiles.  I wish they could be back.  I miss them.  They won’t be back.

It’s time to open the bottle.  Nothing earth shattering or even memorable has happened to mark the occassion.  Instead of ”holding” onto the bottle maybe it’s time to say farewell.  Life is unexpected and if we hold onto it for that special occassion we may not realize that it is special at that time.  Take a look to the future and see what happens.  Hope that life is full of events that burn new images and experiences into my existence.  Those moments that are meant for big smiles.

There is a part of me that says I made a mistake opening it.  That there will be a special occasion where I will be like this would have been perfect for opening that bottle.  Maybe feeling that means that the event/experience is out there.