We are new to Canvas and there have been days that been difficult as we solve the issues that come up. Today I was on the phone a few times because one tiny aspect was not working.
I was shocked they could not solve it in under a minute. Every time I called in the past they usually solve the issue in a minute or two.
This issue seemed huge.
But it wasn’t.
And I figured it out.
It was one of those times I wanted to jump up and run around the office getting high fives from everyone. Or maybe get a cake to celebrate.
But I just hang up the phone, did a self high five and get back to solve other issues.
There were summers when I would spend the summers with my grandparents. It was a full two and a half day drive from our house to theirs.
One tiny memory I have is our nightly walks. Nearly every night after the dishes were done gramps and I would go for a walk. Maybe a mile maybe three, it just depended on the heat of the day.
I found his old house and instantly recalled the names of the streets.
The last few nights have been pretty nice so I have been taking short walks around the neighborhood. I hadn’t really thought about our walks until I turned the corner.
The picture does not do the colors justice. It reminded me of a late Georgia sunset.
Some days we need these little glimpse of happiness to steel us for tomorrow.
I’m fascinated by things that should not be. These tiny little anomalies jump out at me from time to time. Most are so small that some people just walk on by. Some are so common that they become invisible.
Here are three that I have me thinking.
There is a huge boulder in front of a school. If you look closely there is a small plant growing. There isn’t any real dirt, just a crack in the rock. This plant shouldn’t be growing in this location. My guess is someone never told this plant that it wasn’t possible to grow, it shouldn’t be possible for it to be doing what it is. The plant just took root and grew.
How many times have you been told no or it just isn’t possible. Next time remember my little friend. Almost anything is possible.
There is this steel thing in a sidewalk. It is packed with dirt and grim and I can’t really figure out what it is. Once the weather turns somewhat nice all this green starts to grow within a field of concrete and steel. It shouldn’t support life yet these things thrive.
This little guy lives near a curb. Somehow it has survived people stepping on it and the occasional car running it over.
I’m pretty sure each of these represent every person who reads this post.
I wonder… is there someone in our classrooms, buildings or districts that is the little plant that no one is noticing? Find that plant.
Certain things smell bad but pull you deep into a memory.
Sometimes it is a tiny smell that lasts a microsecond but transport you through time. Sometimes it is a big smell that wraps everyone up but only you know its deep secret.
I was walking down the street and was wrapped in this big smell that was somewhat foul but familiar. It was awful yet I had to pause to drink it in.
This construction site was emitting a deep machine, dirty oil and diesel exhaust mixed just so as if trying to create a cologne of a long lost relic. If bottled it might bear the name like LST 1184 or Ode of Remembrance.
This stink was exact smell of deep within an old ship.
The inside was cramped, we slept four high. I was lucky enough that our bunk was right against a bulkhead, others only had inches from the next group of four.
The stink of dirty grease didn’t always penetrate within the berth but it was an undertone. You could scrub but it was still there.
When they fired up all the Hogs you could smell the exhaust. In the tank deck your eyes would sting with the smoke. I sometimes wondered how many months this was taking off my life, breathing it hurt.
Outside wasn’t much better. Inside this little windtunnel was cold on some days and others blistering hot.
I have described living on ship was like sleeping in your classroom every night. Then you wake to begin work like that groundhogs day movie. And your whole classroom of kids never leave. And it lasts six months. All of you in one small space.
That construction smell transported me to another life I used to live. While many of the days were not great, time makes me cherish them a little more.
My son is part of the middle school band so every single thing he encounters turns into some type of percussion instrument. We were waiting for our food so he was clanging the fork against the knife. It. Drives. Me. Nuts!
He absent mindedly uses his knuckles to bang out a beat. Some days he might change it up and use his palms. Other times he is in his room with sticks and a practice pad. I wonder how much of this helps him in the classroom and for concerts.
Sometimes it is better to just not say anything at all. This also kinda drives me nuts. Aidan believes eating with his hands makes the food taste better. (I’m seeing a pattern here… what can he do to drive me nuts…)
He sometimes (always) eats his salad with his hands. We coach (and yell) but it does little good. I have caught him shoving fistfulls of spinach into his mouth when he thinks no one is watching. Somedays I think it is because he hates it and this is just a faster way to get it over with. There is a HUGE upside to this, he is eating things that are not just meat!
It is all about the little wins.
We visited a national park today. We had to travel through a metal detector and little did we know they also have a radiation sensor somewhere nearby. Someone or something set it off so we all had to hold tight while they took a secondary scan of the area. I have never had this happen before but the whole area was dead silent, it was pretty interesting.
Side note… they allowed a woman to carry a foldable saw in the museum. It was in her camera bag. She said it was to cut limbs when she was out on her photo shoots. I was skeptical. They pulled it out and the security personnel laughed a little and told her it was OK.
It was a huge menacing blade, how is that OK?
Bob Ross Positive Energy Drink. Aidan was pumped but that faded after the first sip. What is it with Bob Ross that middle school kids love?
Four little snapshots of the day. Four tiny little moments that are just a memory now. Four little times in my life I don’t want to forget. There are times when the kids were younger that I couldn’t wait until they were older so they could/ we could (FILL IN THE BLANK). Maybe it is age but I am trying to savor every minute.
(Kids… if you ever read this know that I did try. There are times when I get stressed or express my thoughts with passion (you might call it yelling) but I do loved these days.)
When Aidan was young and springtime hit it was the worst. His face would swell and he had a hard time breathing. There were times when he would eat an apple and would complain his throat would feel itchy, a sign of a reaction coming on.
There was at least once when he had pneumonia due to how hard it was for him to just breathe. Weeks upon weeks he had to stay in from recess because the pollen was too thick in the air.
He was on three daily medication, it was the pits.
We took him to an allergist to find out what what going on. Aidan was allergic to everything outside and dogs. We had a dog. A shedding dog.
It was shortly after we got the report when we started shots. In the beginning it was three shots a week. I think that went on for maybe a year. After school we would drive to get shots, wait for 30 minutes to make sure there wasn’t a reaction and then make our way home. It made for a very long day.
That first spring was a world of difference. On a nice day we could actually drive with the windows down. Every recess Aidan was outside. Worth every penny to have him enjoying life again.
As time went on we dropped to just twice a week shots, once a week, to once every few weeks.
After five long years we are finally done!
Five years ago I made him a promise, once we are finished he could order anything on the menu at Andy’s. He could even order two or three if he wanted. Tonight he ordered a large Oreo shake. I am so thankful we have hit this milestone, now on to the next challenge.
