The Doo-Wah is Hitting the Fan or Boils and Locusts

So, the past week I have watched and read a variety of news: The news/press conferences, the breaking news, the local news, the banter on Facebook and all of my many newspapers.  What I decided is that -- I am excellent at practicing social distancing!  Now, you all know I like people.  But, I also like being by myself.  It makes perfectly good sense not to overwhelm hospitals and the medical infrastructure by all of us NOT getting sick simultaneously.  I can wash my hands and stay away from people.  I also promise not to lick any handrails.

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The news gives me the creeps though.   I am fully aware that I am creeping toward being in the elderly category....butI DON'T FEEL elderly deep down inside.  I sometimes catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I think, "That's my mom." But upon further observation, it's me.  When did that happen?  Creepy.  I told you the news was creepy....just like my neck is creepy.  Be careful out there!  Ah, good old Sergeant Phil Esterhaus.

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I also DO NOT want to be responsible for giving this "super bug" to a medically fragile person.  I spent a career with germs.  (Funny story--- a pre-k teacher had a mark on her skirt at about mid-thigh.   I innocently asked what it was.  She nonchalantly called it the "snot line".  AND IT WAS!   Pre-K teachers taught this old high school principal quite a bit.).  I will wash my hands, stay away from people, work in the yard, play with the pets, and enjoy trying to stay healthy.  I promise to stay the heck away from humankind as much as possible.  Hey, have you watched TIK TOC?  I love the animal videos.

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Mary Michael (4th) and Sally (1st) are out of school for an indefinite period of time.  I get to share my deep love of reading with Mary Michael and she'll share her deep love of reading with me.   I taught fourth grade and I LOVED it! What a wonderful reason to reread the Newbery Award winning children's literature books and engage some standards' based instruction with my oldest grand girl.  The kids (Lordy, they are old enough to retire) that I taught in Nevada, Iowa and Centerville, Iowa will attest to the fact that I love literature and a great book can make a good reader a great reader.  We are starting off with Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien, and New Kid by Jerry Craft.  I know she's going to have me read some of the graphic young adult children novels.  We'll use FaceTime and some on-line journaling to start our book studies.  I am really excited to get to know Mary Michael in another dimension.  We'll have a terrific time!

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Sally and I are going "to get" together virtually using some Pinkalicious books.  I never taught first grade-- yikes.  Sally is excited about reading and I'm excited about keeping her moving in the right direction at this pivotal period of her reading development.   Pinkalicious reminds me of my sweet unicorn-loving, tu-tu wearing, "gee I love my red cowboy boots", little 7 year old.  It will be an adventure for the both of us.  The more I know, the more I know I don't know.  Wish me luck!

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Anna got a tooth this week.  It's one on the bottom.  She's quite a champ, if I do say so myself.  No formal school for her but she's going to get some nursery rhyme time from me.

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I am going to make lemonade out of the lemons that our society has been handed.  Frankly, I might make a margarita out of my lemons.  Heck, I might just do shots.  That's what a little age does for a person-- pass my lost shaker of salt.

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One day I was bemoaning the fact that everything was going to hell in a hand basket.  I asked rhetorically, "What else could happen?"  Mack Bullard, one of the assistant superintendents in Bibb County at the time,  looked me square in the eye and said, "Boils and locusts."  Since that wake up call,  I think I'm pretty good at putting things in perspective.  Look, this isn't how I envisioned 2020, but it could be lots worse.

Friends and family, let's pull together (metaphorically without touching), follow the guidelines for staying healthy, and just get through this!  WASH YOUR HANDS!