Saturday, August 29, 2026

It’s a rare Saturday post so I can participate with Jenn in her monthly Share 4 Somethings.

August has changed drastically for me! I used to have to start thinking about school at the end of July with “retreats” for professional development, supply buying, setting up my classroom, and all the things. August was never my own. Now, it is still part of summer but at this point I am over summer! The heat, the humidity, the bugs, my legs sticking to the seats when I wear shorts…over it! I am a June girl, not an August girl!

Something I’ve loved – AC, reading, walking with my dog, my little daily routines…

I’ve mostly read inside this month! I prefer to read outside but I’ve learned to embrace reading inside, too. I still never turn on the tv during the day.

Walking with Eddie Otis and increasing my step count with my new pedometer!

I’ve been telling myself that EO is my trainer. Lol.

Something that has sustained me – Celebrating little things and connections with people…

Like I said, August is still a little weird for me in my second year of not going back to school! I guess I had conflicting emotions this year – a bit of FOMO – but lots of relief at not having to get on the roller coaster that was the school year anymore.

I had a nice day on the first day of school in my old district at the beginning of the month – scary early – August 6th. I took myself to breakfast with a book and had happy hour with a former student. Of course I had to make a sign:

Madeleine and I got to see each other 3 or 4 times this summer. I just really appreciate her 25-year-old wisdom. She is going to be a teacher! She is moving to Chicago to do a Masters, and she just wants to live in Chicago, so she found a program there and she is doing it! I taught Madeleine her junior and senior year of high school and it’s been so cool to see how she has grown up.

One of the most fun things of the month was supporting my friend’s band and dancing to songs from the 90s.

My friend’s daughter:

The ones I’ve danced with the most since 1990:

All of these things made me feel connected and sustained me.

Something I’m carrying forward – looking for opportunities to bring more fun and whimsy into my life…

I’m trying to carry a sense of fun and whimsy forward. I’m looking for little things to celebrate and little happies for Tom, especially.

He has not felt great this summer – he had a stomach issue that lasted way too long from bad food truck food, an ear infection, and he is still dealing with tinnitus from I think his last bout of you know what. He visited an ENT and didn’t get much hope from that visit a couple of weeks ago. He has also taken to wearing Breathe-Right strips as a fashion accessory and might be a good candidate for a septoplasty. I’m reading this back and thinking, “too many details” but I felt bad not including Tom in my first two categories.

He is very busy at work and hasn’t taken enough time off, either.

I pack his breakfast and lunch for work and try to give him some notes and treats.

I have taken a lot of home stuff off his plate for now.

We went to see a silly movie this month. Tom loves going to the movie theater!

We have enjoyed several tv shows together this summer.

I made Ted Lasso shortbread for the premiere:

Tom discovered Instagram reels recently and we like to send each other funny things – mostly about dogs and marriage.

Something I’m making space for – personal growth and learning…

My circle has gotten smaller over the last year, and I have had to realize that I’ve outgrown some friendships or needed to move those to more of an occasional friendship category. I’ve also reconnected with some old friends which has been wonderful. I’m figuring out who the retired Amy is, you know? I think I like her.

What would you share today?

Amy