Thoughts, experiences and adventures from a resident of DelSo aka Delaware Avenue South in Albany, N.Y.
For most of my life, Labor Day has separated summer freedom and 10 months of being at school. As the days began to dawn later, often with more crispness, and end earlier, the inevitable approach of the schedule to which I must abide grew louder and louder until it was impossible to ignore. School was … Continue reading Thoughts on Labor Day from a retired teacher
Right-wing activist,* Charlie Kirk was assassinated yesterday in Utah. Beyond recognizing a couple of his statements retrospectively, I was unaware of him while he was alive. I’m not really his demographic and most certainly am not someone who subscribed to his ideology, which included a strong belief in the second amendment, opposition to gay and … Continue reading Turning my fear into anger
As I reclined on my mat in the dark yoga studio the other night, I realized that in two weeks, school would be back in session. How did that happen? This mid August epiphany is one that I’ve experienced dozens upon dozens of times, usually with the same takeaway - damn, summers certainly go by … Continue reading Two Weeks Notice
If you could have anything, what would you want? Since making the decision to retire I’ve had some intense moments of panic. How do I walk away from a career that brought me much professional satisfaction and a strong sense of belonging to a community? Will the absence of students and colleagues from my everyday … Continue reading “Lost time is never found again” – Benjamin Franklin
We’re living in a country where the Republican vice presidential candidate believes that school shootings are a fact of life in contemporary American society. The answer, of course, is more guns because schools (and concert venues and churches and grocery stores and movie theaters and shopping malls and…) are “soft targets” which need to be … Continue reading How does one plan a national walkout?
Just another day in America yet, somehow, since it’s the day before my students return to their classrooms after summer break, the latest school shooting in the United States is hitting me hard. Why do we tolerate this? Why do we allow our government to do nothing? Why have we given organizations like the NRA … Continue reading Starting the school year off with a bang
Next Monday, our country will pause to remember all of those lost through the years in defense of our country. I mean, that’s the origin, at least, of what has come to be considered the unofficial start of the summer season. There will be cold beers quaffed and hot dogs chomped under the stars … Continue reading Memorial Day, 2022 style
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