A Gwinn Morning
I pulled up to Gwinn High School and the large plow-pile (of snow) had completely melted and the sun was up. On the drive in, I spotted three sandhill cranes down in a hollow of land with standing melt water. Nothing is green yet, the rushes and grasses from last year stand yellowed and broken. Only catkins and pussy willow are showing a bit of color. The trees have yet to go thru green-up this spring–we need rain.
Today I teach within my major, English. It is the first time this year that I have spent the whole day teaching English. I’ve instructed everything from Chemistry to German. And today, I walk in to giving a test on Shakespeare’s J. Ceasar. My favorite Shakespeare works are Hamlet, King Lear, and Romeo and Juliet.
But I want to drop back in thought to this morning. I love coming to Gwinn–this is the school where all three of my children graduated. It was my first school–as a substitute. There is always a feeling of coming home. Winter mornings remind me of dropping off my swimmers for 6 a.m. practices. Spring of track, prom and graduations where I have cried and watched so many young friends march. I am proud to be from Gwinn. Some people think this is not a place to be proud of–it is being stereo-typed and treated like some inner city. But Gwinn is old school, if you let it. Gwinn is hometown pride, if you let it. Gwinn is a place of hard work and perseverance.
Gwinn gave me the confidence and backbone to overcome, chronic fatigue, back pain, and my marriage. And I am a teacher, here. Yet I still learn everytime I am in the building.
Thank you for your suggestions for gifts for my Mother. I am so grateful! They were spot on.
You sound like a fascinating person and am going to browse around your site.
Have a wonderful Mother’s Day!
Jen
some years ago I had the opportunity to sub. (6 weeks) at the high school I had graduated from, in my hometown.
I was so excited, as I had such fond memories.
what is it they say, “you can’t go home again” – I’m afraid so much had changed, students had changed, and it was not a very pleasant experience.
but I learned a lot about myself from it, and also came to cherish those memories even more.
thanks so much for the link, and I have put some on my blog for you, as well.
it seems we have much in common.
take care,
Patty
I read this post aloud to class, yesterday. They said it was “sappy.”
Everything an adult says is sappy to high schoolers! Happy Mother’s Day Kim!
Thanks Beth! :-)