On June 28th at 3:15 p.m., our Extended School Year (summer school) ends and a month and a half of vacation will begin. It is a welcome break! Teaching special education students who have behavior and learning issues is very rewarding but it’s also a daily challenge. I’ve often said the kind of work our teachers, para-professionals and crisis staffers do is not for sissies.
I recently read a great phrase that fits all pre-K through grade 12 educators- “They’re not on summer vacation, they’re in recovery!”
The first benefit of being off is I’m no longer on a clock. No looking at my watch and thinking “Oh, this lesson has to wrap up at so and so time so we can start a new chapter in another class, and then we have to get the kids to P.E.” I have no clock to answer to and that is a nice thing to say.
FOR THE NEXT MONTH AND A HALF I WILL NOT BE ON A CLOCK AND A CLOCK WILL NOT BE ON ME EITHER.
Another benefit is for the next month and a half I have no dress code. I’ll be living as if I were Jimmy Buffet. Barring some unforeseen formal event such as a wake or a special dinner, I will not be wearing long pants. All that’s in my dresser drawers are gym shorts, board shorts and swim trunks. No dress shirts allowed, an occasional polo shirt yes, but mostly just T-shirts. I won’t wear socks and my footwear will be a mix of gym shoes, Adidas slides and Reef flip flops. Wait, me, Mr. Bare Foot Phobia in flip flops? Truth being told, despite having my toes and ankles banged up from years of playing hockey, they’re actually in decent shape. And I keep my nails closely trimmed so as to not gross myself or anyone else out.
As my regular Facebook and blog readers know, I’ll be spending the bulk of my days at East End Pool during the Adult Swim on Sundays through Fridays and catching up with my fellow pool ‘regulars.’ Also, if I get to the water early on Saturdays, there’s time to enjoy it before the crowd of youngsters arrive there. The Elmhurst Park District has slated several night swims this season and I’ll take part in them too. Taking laps and floating around under the stars is great fun that brings me back to my teen years. Naturally, by the end of summer I expect to be tan enough to make George Hamilton look pale as Beetlejuice.
Unless you’re a 12 year old kid or are into mindless popcorn flicks, this summer’s movie schedule looks a bit lean. Still I plan to see the Beatles never existed fantasy “Yesterday,” the live action “Lion King”, the scatological farce “Good Boys” and in late July I really look forward to Quentin Tarantino’s latest effort “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”
Back at my house there are a couple of small repair jobs I need to take care of including window washing and the waterproofing of my back stairs. I’m also getting my driveway sealed for the first time in several years, it needs it!
I’ll be faithfully watching both Cubs and White Sox games and geeking out with some home scorecard tracking too. Hey, I’m a sports nerd, get over it.
One creative endeavor I have is to develop a fictional trilogy of short stories. All three tales have their basic structure completed and I know where the plots are going, I just need to fill them in with details and color.
Also, I’ve pulled my acoustic guitar out of mothballs and hope to add to my mastery of two chords I sort of remember from about five years ago. It’ll take a couple weeks for my left hand’s fingertips to callous up but I’m fine with that.
I’ll also be meeting up with friends for lunches, a movie or a few cocktails and some laughs. As far as a summer romance goes, to be honest I’m kind of set in the mode of a ‘Solitary Man’ as Neil Diamond once sang. Still, you never know what can happen. I’ve got a nice six week break to take in and I’ll enjoy every single minute of it. (minus my watch)
NEXT BLOG WILL POST ON 7/2/19– I Ask Lots of Questions and Hope for Answers.