It Was Going Great, 'Til Uncle Milton Met Up With The Steamboat...

January 13, 2009. "Pa and Uncle Milton were up on the roof trying to fix the leak. Uncle Milton fell off the roof and died right there in the back yard....On the way to bury him, the coffin fell out of the wagon and into the river. Pa raced down and grabbed the coffin, but a wave from a passing steamboat swamped Pa and he had to let go. Uncle Milton floated down the river, until he met up with the paddles of the Steamboat... " O.k., I am paraphrasing, but that is basically what I read to some fourth graders today. It was a pretty good day. I even enjoyed reading them that fairly morbid story about the Oregon Trail.

Funny thing is, when I was sitting there trying to decode the notes, the kids began walking in andstating how much they like me. Things like, "It's the cool sub..." I am getting used to it, but, still! I got plenty of hugs...most of which I would have avoided if possible. Often, however, they are sprung upon me when meeting kids in the hallway or checking with a neighboring teacher. Students will suddenly recognize me and mob me...it's a little embrrassing, but the inner glutton for attention is thinkng, "Oh, YEEEE-AHHH! Look at ME! I AM POP-U-LARRRR!" (finally)

All in all, it was a good day! I got some love from the sixth grade teachers at the end of the day. I am scheduled to teach for one of them on the 21 and 22. One of them has a student teacher, and they plan for me to help and observe her. I told them about how some kids ask about a mark next to my eye. I usually tell them that I had a tatoo removed that I had gotten in prison. The kids usually laugh, but then they take a moment..."Ummm, did he just say what I thought he said?" Of course, most of them know I am too much of a softy to go to prison, but I enjoy messing with their young minds.

Which reminds me. Yesteday at the HS there was a darkened hallway, at the end of which was my classroom. As I began my journey through the relatively short hallway in its twilight darkness, a student I know came out a door next to me. I don't think she even saw me. In a low voice, slightly above a whisper, I said, "Are you scared of the dark?" She whipped her head around and then realized who it was. She later came into the classroom and told me just how startled she had been. She said it was one thing if friend yelled at her in the hallway, quite another for some weird voice to whisper to her from out of nowhere. Made my day.

Well, I hope everyone else is having as good a week as I am!