Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Today I get to serve breakfast to the senior class. I love this tradition. I have first period planning so I can help for a bit. The servers are counselors, admin, and teachers who teach seniors. We always have a nice catered hot breakfast for them in the cafeteria. They have 5 days of activities this week leading up to graduation.

1. May 20th is World Bee Day…what’s something that’s kept you ‘busy as a bee’ lately? 

I’m not that busy and I keep room in my calendar for spontaneity. I am out of the house from 8-4 every week day so that keeps me busy as a bee. I like to come home straight away to be with Eddie Otis, start dinner, talk to Tom, and then relax for a bit before bed. I hate the busyness culture in this country. I give up if I have a friend that is literally impossible to schedule with!

2. Do you like honey? What’s something you make or enjoy that calls for honey? 

I like honey in things more than by itself. I love making homemade honey mustard and Tom and I both choose this dressing at restaurants – either that or balsamic vinaigrette. Honey mustard is so easy – EVOO, any type of mustard (yellow or dijon), and lemon juice. I add a little pepper and a little garlic powder and you can thin it out with water.

3. “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” Proverbs 16:24

What’s a proverb you love, or one that speaks to you or has helped you in some way? 

I use so many of the colloquial ones in my classes. “Strike while the iron is hot”, “Many hands make light work” – this was a favorite of my Dad’s.

The Bible is full of Proverbs, a whole book in fact, if that helps with your answer. The word proverb is defined as ‘a short pithy saying in general use, stating a general truth or piece of advice’. 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding” is a good one for a type A person who wants to control and manage the situation.

4. Tell us about a ‘sweet’ moment in your life recently that filled you with joy, gratitude, or peace. 

I received a note from a not very engaged senior boy. Well, I thought he was not very engaged. I think his note meant so much because it was brutally honest. He told me that he admired my enthusiasm and that I caused him to be more interested in the language. I think he said something about realizing he didn’t need to Google so much. Ha! Anyway, it was just really sweet because it came from an unexpected source.

5. When you were a child, what did you want to ‘be’ when you grew up? How close did you come to that? 

From the moment I started school I loved it and I wanted to be a teacher. I came home from school and taught my stuffed animals and dolls. My mom put up a giant chalkboard in our playroom. I also played “piano teacher”. I had a friend in my neighborhood who I played school with at her house and she always got to be the teacher. I was mad! After that I wanted to be a newspaper reporter, then when I discovered my love of Spanish, I wanted to be a foreign correspondent, then an international lawyer, then I finally came back to teacher! It was in the blood the whole time!

I still remember how incredulous I felt the first time I signed my teacher name on a hall pass at age 22 in my first teaching job!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I am a bit overwhelmed right now. My mom’s estate sale starts on the last day of my teaching career this Friday. I don’t have anything to do with the sale but the emotions are there, of course, or I probably wouldn’t be human.

My sister posted information on Facebook and we received a not so nice comment from our mom’s friend about “how sad it is that we are selling our mother’s beautiful things”. My one sister and I wanted to fight her and my other sister very diplomatically replied that “we still have plenty to cherish her by”.

Right after the sale, the house and carpets will be cleaned, the realtor photos will be taken, and then it will go on the market. So, a lot is happening. None of this is fun. It’s super sad. It’s also a lot of responsibility to manage a house and lawn at a distance. One of my sisters runs the security camera operation to make sure nothing is going on and she says it’s not hard on her emotionally but I think it has to be.

I really got off the topic of the hodgepodge, now didn’t I?

Thank you for indulging me today!

Amy

23 thoughts on “Hodgepodge”

  1. Oh I hate the busy culture too and checked out of it years ago; I am very rarely busy with much of anything and much prefer it that way. I’m not a big honey fan but I do like it in recipes. I think I use it most to make granola and granola bars for the family. I wish I had any words of advice about your mom’s house but I really don’t. I’m sure it’s not easy but it is necessary and you are doing the right thing.

    Like

    Reply

    1. Right? I just want to tell these people to be more organized. My two besties are so busy and I am like with what? I get all this done and work full time outside of the home! Lol
      Thank you – I am getting through it and I have my sisters.

      Like

      Reply

  2. What Joanne said! I agree with that completely. You have a lot going on even with intentionally not living a super busy life. Life circumstances at the moment have conspired, so to speak, to make this season particularly busy for you. How kind to receive an unexpected note from a student. You truly never know the impact that you have. I’m sure your impact has been great. I hope you have a good day and find some ways to relax and take your mind off “all the things” that are going on right now!

    Like

    Reply

    1. You’re right and I think I will need time to process it all. It won’t happen over night. The note from the student was great and he wanted to talk about it. I told him thank you and you could tell he wanted to expound/expand. It was so cute.
      Thank you! I know so much is in my attitude so I need to put on an outfit I like and get myself right!

      Like

      Reply

  3. Not off topic at all. We’re here for the random. I’m sorry for the negative comment and wish a friend could have been more gracious and understanding. Of course you have to sell things, including the house. And it’s hard, not something done without a lot of emotion. I hope all goes smoothly. The note was extra special from your student for the reason you mentioned. I so agree with you about the busy-ness of our culture. If you spend any time in Europe you see how much better they are at slowing things down. We are ‘busy’ but not in a way that brings stress. Busy with friends, grandkids, and enjoying the lake. Enjoy this ‘graduation’ week…it’s yours too in a way : )

    Like

    Reply

    1. Thank you for those kind words. I think people have gotten comfortable typing things they wouldn’t say aloud at a dinner party.
      I am a little worried about handling all the emotion of the week – the seniors saying bye today, me closing a chapter, and my mom’s estate business and what it symbolizes. I had a weird dream about it last night.
      I am lucky I have two sisters who will listen to me ramble and share the same/similar emotions.

      Like

      Reply

  4. Loved reading this post! I always wanted to be a teacher …never really had any other plan. Glad it’s worked out so far. Haha
    Love when I receive a note. It’s so meaningful. I’m sure you’ve impacted to many students’ lives over your career 🙂
    I will be thinking of you all! I’m sure every step of estate sale and home sale is filled with different emotions. Have fun at senior breakfast!

    Like

    Reply

    1. Aww thank you! It really did work out for you! I also wanted to be a mom but never dreamed of twins! Ha! It’s been one of the most exciting things to happen to me if not the most!
      A note is the best. I am trying to decide what to do with them. I have saved every last one.
      Thank you so much!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. If you don’t have a spot to keep them, you should take pics of each one and make one of those chat books to have them all in one spot. I think I’m going to try to do that this summer with the kids elementary artwork.

        Like

  5. I hope the senior class had a lovely breakfast!
    I hate being too busy, it always stresses me out. I like the slower pace that I usually have.
    I only learned how to make honey mustard dressing over the last year and we have it all of the time now.
    What a sweet note from that student. It just goes to show what an amazing teacher you are.
    Sending love and hugs. People who have unwanted opinions do make things harder than they need to be. I hope everything goes smoothly on Friday.

    Like

    Reply

  8. What a sweet note you got from your student! I love that teaching is in your blood; I know you’ve enjoyed it and impacted so many students over the years. What’s not to love about your enthusiasm? I know you will be deeply missed when they start back in August. I’m so sorry about the mean comment; it’s impossible to please everyone, and y’all are doing what needs to be done. There’s no way you all can physically take her stuff, so what else would you do with it? I’m going to be praying for you now that I know how overwhelmed you are. I wish I could be there to lend a hand or offer a shoulder for you to lean on. Love you, friend! Keep hanging in there; you and your sisters are all doing a great job.

    Like

    Reply

  9. I have learned to embrace the emotions as they come and show emotion as well and this is all part of healing during transitions. If I have negative emotions, I just can’t stay stuck there for too long. So kind of the student to write you a note. You have definitely worked in the area where you are so gifted and talented. That breakfast sounds special and I hope the rest of the week goes well with so many things happening around you. Love you friend!

    Like

    Reply

  12. My next door neighbors have both passed away. Their kids had an estate sale that I went to. That was very sad for us because they were wonderful neighbors who were like family. My husband and I both bought a few things to remember them by. I can’t imagine how hard it must be for you and your sisters to sell your parents house and belongings. My neighbor’s daughter in law said she came over to the house one last time and said she cried for an hour!! Big hugs to you and your family ❤️❤️❤️

    Like

    Reply

  13. I think even when you think you are “ready” for something like an estate sale or selling a parent’s house, it sneaks up on you and can be hard to handle. Hang in there. You have a lot of changes happening all at once. I also love homemade honey mustard. And I also hate the busyness culture today. When I lived as an expat, it was so fun because everyone moved there and didn’t have many commitments or friends. So everyone seemed very available. When I got back to the US, it seemed like the busyness culture had amped up and I missed having people who were interested/available.

    Like

    Reply

  14. I once got a note from a student who wasn’t mine. He was a troubled kid, and I was determined to make a difference one way or the other. I always had Little Debbie snack cakes in my room (my kids attended the same school at that time). He knew it so he’d hit me up for one at the end of the day. In May of that school year, I found out I was being RIFd, and everyone knew about it (the school was K-8), even the kids. He tore off a piece of paper, and wrote, “You are a good teacher” Eric I still have it because it meant so much to me to have him recognize my pain. I, too, always wanted to be a teacher. I’m sorry the sale of your mom’s house and your last teaching day are the same day. It will (perhaps has been) be a very emotional day, but emotions are not bad things as is not being busy 24/7!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

    Like

    Reply

  15. I once got a note from a student who wasn’t mine. He was a troubled kid, and I was determined to make a difference one way or the other. I always had Little Debbie snack cakes in my room (my kids attended the same school at that time). He knew it so he’d hit me up for one at the end of the day. In May of that school year, I found out I was being RIFd, and everyone knew about it (the school was K-8), even the kids. He tore off a piece of paper, and wrote, “You are a good teacher” Eric I still have it because it meant so much to me to have him recognize my pain. I, too, always wanted to be a teacher. I’m sorry the sale of your mom’s house and your last teaching day are the same day. It will (perhaps has been) be a very emotional day, but emotions are not bad things as is not being busy 24/7!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

    Like

    Reply

  16. I once got a note from a student who wasn’t mine. He was a troubled kid, and I was determined to make a difference one way or the other. I always had Little Debbie snack cakes in my room (my kids attended the same school at that time). He knew it so he’d hit me up for one at the end of the day. In May of that school year, I found out I was being RIFd, and everyone knew about it (the school was K-8), even the kids. He tore off a piece of paper, and wrote, “You are a good teacher” Eric I still have it because it meant so much to me to have him recognize my pain. I, too, always wanted to be a teacher. I’m sorry the sale of your mom’s house and your last teaching day are the same day. It will (perhaps has been) be a very emotional day, but emotions are not bad things as is not being busy 24/7!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment