Grateful

It's been a crazy fall. I'm teaching 3rd grade this year, a grade which I haven't taught in seven years, and so had to take a step back and reacclimate myself to a whole new classroom. Reacclimate: readjust to a new climate, readapt to new surroundings. Exactly. I'm in a new classroom (I had to move out of my 5th grade classroom in the 5th grade wing to be near the other 3rd grade classrooms) with smaller students, younger books, cuter drawings and, quite frankly, a new set of needs. In between teaching 3rd grade, I taught special education and 5th grade, and so now I'm reacclimating myself and it's not an easy task. I won't bore you with the details but it was a struggle with some sleepless nights, and some what-went-wrong-there-days, but I'm happy to report that all is now well, and I am now (finally) feeling acclimated in my new classroom with my new younger students. And the one thing that has been consistent from day one, and the one thing that has been my feeling-like-I can-do-this is teaching writing. I love to teach writing. I don't really feel like I'm teaching, it's more like this is what I love and you all can do it, too. And they do. And they really seem to like it right along with me. I am grateful for that. I am grateful that my parents gave me the love for writing just by being readers and writers themselves. By surrounding us with books and magazines and more books, my sisters and brother and I are avid readers and love to write.

My dad passed away a year ago. It was three days after Thanksgiving and a part of me went right along with him. Luckily the writing part didn't go away, the part that he gave me is here and stronger than ever. I think he's perched on my shoulder as I write, spurring me on. "Come on Lu, you can do it." I feel his presence with me, especially when I go home to the Cape and I sit in his chair. I think he likes that.

I am grateful. I am grateful to finally feel acclimated in my classroom. I am grateful for my mom and how she is feisty and strong, and doing very well. I am grateful for my siblings and how we get along. I am grateful for my family, for my own kids and how they are finding their way in the world. I am grateful for my partner, Rick, and how we found each other again. Yes, I am grateful.