teaching dilemna

Once every so often, I dabble a little in the teaching arts...and each experience is a learning one for me. Not just in working with children, I learn quite a lot about myself as well.
Most children are lovely, but today I had two girls in my class who seemed ultra self absorbed, they demanded things from me constantly. They wanted an extra pair of scissors (I caught them cutting their hair with it), they wanted a nicer glue stick...they wanted to take more pictures of their faces, they wanted desperately to be the first to present their project. It really annoyed me, and I felt terrible about this, but I found myself wanting to withhold things from them. I mean, I've been annoying people for years, and it's never gotten ME anything!

the IN-keeper

Once upon a time, my friends and I stayed at this little bed and breakfast place that had a beautiful view of the ocean, and a cute little deck where I could enjoy the sound of the roaring waves, and the wind slipping through the swaying tall trees. But deep in this tranquil place, there lived an enigmatic caretaker. Through the week, interaction with this little innkeeper became more and more bizarre.

Day 1:

Made us a wonderful gourmet dinner, we shared laughter, some light conversation and we all went back to our own rooms to relax.

Day 2:

We decide to have fish and chips a quaint restaurant nearby. Just as we were walking out of the restaurant, innkeeper strolls in for his dinner. What a coincidence...well, not really, there are only four or five restaurants in that town.

Day 3:
At breakfast, to fill a bit of peaceful silence, "Last night I woke up and thought my nose was bleeding...but I switched on the light you know, and thank God, it was just mucus."

Day 4:
"...yeah, I was listening to hear if you were awake in there. Because you know, sometimes I can hear sounds you make in your room...like you open your closet door, or when you use your washroom"

Day 5:
"Visiting your mother makes her want you to see her more often. It's like an addiction...like sex and drugs - the more you do it the more you want to."

"...oh, maybe that is not the best way to explain it"

Day 6:
We had a work meeting during dinnertime and asked if we could have our meal in my room. Yes ofcourse we could. But then at dessert time - "Oh by the way, I made a blueberry cobbler today, you can have some with vanilla ice-cream...when you guys come over."

Day 7:
We looked on his coffee table, the remote control sat on top of a book...my heart was pounding as we slowly, and carefully pushed the remote control to the side, revealing the title: "How to Alienate Your Friends and Make Enemies"

Well, he didn't manage to make an enemy out of me. I left the little lodge and lived happily ever since.



illustration for this story to be posted tomorrow

here-sighted

Yesterday, at 11 am, I finally gained some perspective on everything I've been going through in the past year. I feel like I'd been staring intently at a picture with one of my glasses lens popped out, all that time.

I'd been struggling with what seemed to be the world's longest breakup and heartbreak. I'd been angry, disappointed and very unhappy. But then, an hour before noon, I just let it all go. Finally everything that my loved ones had been saying to me made sense. It felt just as satisfying as putting the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle into that empty spot. I'm so happy now!

To celebrate, I'm going to pick out a new pair of sassy spectacles for myself! When the sun comes out, I want to make sure I have some clip on sunglasses.

last day of self indulgence

I know there is a world full of sunshine and reality out there...I just haven't put my bag of chips down long enough to dig myself out.

well, one can hope

Haida Gwaii - Night Light Show

At night, we stumble out onto the beach with small flashlights in our hands. The broad darkness hovers over us so I close my fearful little eyes and listen to the rumbling waves for a bit. That didn't really quash my fears. I open my eyes and see a hazy brightness above me...the film floats away and I see the moon, all orangy and warm. It was sharp and glowy at the same time. Then the veil draws back over it. Someone says "thank you moon".

"Look!" down the other end of the beach, two flashes of lighting strike.

Then, above us, the clouds dispersed revealing millions of intensely bright little stars. Everywhere!

"I feel small" says a puny voice. It might have been mine.

Thank you night sky.