Fourth First Day

Today was Friday. 

I woke up tired. Again. But now it's the end of the day; I am at home. Steve is home early. Actually, he had the day off and was even home at lunchtime, which sort of threw off my 'lunchtime game'. I almost forgot to take my meds for my back. But it was really great to get a hug and a kiss and some company...and now I am home and enjoying a beer or two and listening to The Crabfeast podcast.

I got to do different things today which was great. And I knew in advance when my lunchtime was going to be; ditto with great. I got to go to an acting class and we watched the first part of the 1989 TV version of the play Our Town. The teacher noted that Spalding Gray was the main character, the narrator, but didn't mention his suicide...it was sad to watch because of that. Steven and I saw an exemplary high school version of it a few years ago and I think it was the first time he had seen it. The teach did say that although it was from 1938 it is still referenced a lot today.Which is so true!  It was one of the first major plays to utilize minimal stage sets and props as well as constantly breaking the fourth wall and perpetrating the meta play trope where characters themselves reference the play.

I wanted to say wait, didn't Shakespeare do that? Where they acknowledged that they were only actors within a stage play performing for an audience? But I couldn't remember a direct reference so I didn't say anything. It was funny for a second when he said Our Town by Gordon Wilder, and I was like, Wha...? But the next time he said it correctly so either it was a small faux pas and he was just tired or, well, that was probably it. I'm tired so I'm sure the teachers are tired. And they have more to do like plan lessons and lectures and take attendance. I would do what they do in college and pass around a sheet where everyone signs their names while I start the lesson. Because I am efficient and shit! I also had a great idea in an art class that if I taught I would use a bell or cymbals to gently ring and remind ppl that it was time to pay attention. Or be quiet. The drama teacher used a flashlight and shone it on ppl who were talking or using their phones during the movie.

Then we got to do an imaginary pantomime where you envision yourself entering a room and turning on the light and shutting the door and discovering an object that you use and then hearing a sound that causes you to leave the room. I was helping a student figure out how to do this so that was fun and challenging. She was a cool kid who just had limited attention span and focuses. So we did what we could and that was cool.

I had a break in one room and found a bookshelf which is my favorite thing, so I read during break time and borrowed the book so I still had it when I got to work during last period with our one nonverbal student Sasha. I asked her if I could read it to her and with her eye gaze indicating yes, I read this children's book by Margaret Atwood to her. It reminded me of SMART and I am hoping I get to do that this year again. It gives me like the most joy to read to kids and help to teach them how to read. It appears that a handful of kids in our main class have great difficulty and lack confidence in reading and writing. Which indicates to me that their parents left it to the schools and didn't practice at home at all. Because that's how you learn. And there's never enough time or emphasis on it in school.

I had a conversation with a band member and she said they practice for over three hours at a time. I was so impressed. I wish that I had been in a band in high school. I don't recall us even having one. I'm signing off. I could write for another hour but we have a Winco pizza to assemble and bake and a few beers to enjoy. God Bless America and the World. You are all very Special and deserve Love. Peace!