Starting to be me again

 Well I can't say my first few days of summer were productive but I think I am starting to be me again.

First, it was brutally hot. SK isn't meant to get to 100F/38C. I am beyond grateful for the AC we put in last year. I cringe at the near future power bill, and I definitely feel for my son and his GF who are at our old house which would be stifling hot. But there is something weirdly isolating about blinds down and being inside.

Second, I slept. and slept. I would go from one spot to another for a quick lay down which turned into nap after nap. Hopefully it is just 'end of school' exhaustion, and not something more. I so desperately want to feel better and DO things.

Third, no brain energy. Not even enough to just enjoy a nice reading session outside in the early morning or late at night. No energy to think about finances. No brain energy to plan. I did not even have enough to make my usual summer lists.

Towards the end of this afternoon, I felt a flicker of me. A desire to do things, to think of things, to go places.

I hope, with the morning, it is still there. It would sure be nice to welcome 'me' back to life.

Finally Summer

I am sure that every year it feels like 'thank goodness summer is here', but I am certainly feeling it this year.

We finished school yesterday, June 30th.

Don't get me wrong....this was  a great group of students to work with during this Pandemic teaching year. They were cooperative for protocols, they adapted to the multiple switches we had to make during the year, and they were fun to work with.

It was just  an incredibly draining year. Not one big thing (covid aside) but just that ongoing grind of restrictions and constantly trying to find new ways to make learning successful for the students. 

Staff were grumpy amongst themselves and policy changes were misplaced during such a tough year.

We were fortunate in my class to have in person learning all but two weeks for the year. It's a big building and there were many classes (and staff) who had to do multiple self isolations due to close contacts.

It was a year of creativity and relying on each other more than usual to find ways to make things work.

It was a way of steep technological learning.

I worked with students whose parents had never stepped foot in the building, or met me in person. It took a lot of trust for them to do that, so I worked hard at staying more connected that ever.

I am grateful for time to stop and rest and breathe. I am not looking for any WOW travel experiences this summer. Just incredibly grateful for a chance to recharge and destress.

Almost the last day of school

I am hanging out on the covered part of my patio, providing sustenance to the hoards of mosquitos that hatched this week. I have spray on and a citronella candle and they are still just a buzzing.

I hate to have this lovely yard and not be outside enjoying it. The winters here are long enough where we are indoors.

We officially were done teaching on the 16th. It was a nice zoom wrap up with the kids who had been participating and a few who stopped by to say hi.

Since then we have been given a huge Professional development course we need to complete, ideally by June 30 but I am behind so I may have to keep on after official let out.

Today our graduation video was launched. Students and their parents had scheduled times earlier in June to come in to tape their stage crossing and tassel switching. The production crew then put it all together along with a voice over introductions and the awards they received. Included in it were the valedictorian speeches, greetings from all kinds of important people (not me) and their slideshow.

It was really well done and the best it could be for  the situation here. We are just too large a school to meet any kind of guidelines set out by the province.

DS2 came home Wed and Thurs on his days off from the campground he manages. He is dealing with all the phase changes and it's super frustrating for him as well. Fingers crossed his mental health stays strong.

DS1 and his gf have been working for my sister, who is planting a ton of plants - the harvest will be for sale as things come ready. Rhubarb anyone? It's good to go. They are learning a lot about gardening and enjoying setting up house together in our old house.

They still haven't decided if they are going to go to the US to play hockey this fall.
a) they have to wait for things to calm down and open up and Florida is a hot mess these days.
b) if it does open up, getting her a VISA may be tough and
c) he won't go back without her. This is year 6 for them and they agreed they would not be apart anymore. Which is fair

so that means he may be done his hockey career, which is sad.

I am looking forward to the weekend, and making my summer list of to dos. It may not be extravagant as there aren't a ton of places to go, but that is ok. There is a lot of quality that can be had being near or at home.

This will be the first summer in 3 years I haven't been parent caregiving, and I need to make sure it counts. in lots of little ways. Life is just too darn short.