The Birthday

Reader(s?), you have read about my apprehension concerning this week's milestone birthday so it just seems appropriate to follow-up with how it went.
Daniel had planned a nice quiet, family party for Sunday afternoon. He made sandwiches, cut up some fruit, bought a cake, and made my favorite dessert too (Brownie Delight - brownies with vanilla ice cream, Cool Whip, chopped peanuts, and chocolate syrup). Most of the family came bearing cards with cash and we had a fun time hanging out together. It was simple and fun. All of this was on Sunday seeing as how my birthday fell on a back-to-work Monday (how appropriate - Monday and 40 on the same day).
Monday morning I went to work as always and it wasn't a big deal, just another day at the schoolhouse or so I thought. The morning was quiet and uneventful. My sister came in and wrote HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY TRACY on my board (how sweet), but that was it.
Lunchtime arrived and I walked down the hall to the lounge with my lunchbag. I saw a couple of people in the hall that I don't normally see at that time, but it didn't really register as unusual until...I walked into the lounge and saw DANIEL standing there!! He and Jeri H. had been cooking up a plan with some others in my department to give me a surprise party for lunch. He brought Zaxby's and fruit and ANOTHER cake. What a sweet man to go to such lengths for me! There were cards and a couple of gag gifts too. Unfortunately, Kara got sick so Jeri was out that day and missed the whole thing! But, we had fun anyway.
Then, I went back to my classroom and in the middle of my To Kill a Mockingbird lesson, there was a knock on the door. Several of the Leadership students were there with inflatable flamingos to 'flock' my room in honor of my birthday. That thank you goes to my department chair who was also absent that day, but still very much 'in' on the festivities.
I ended my special day with Daniel and the kids having dinner at Olive Garden. This was followed by a dish of Brownie Delight and Daniel cleaning the kitchen for me (the BEST gift of all). However, it isn't completely over yet. There is one more birthday activity to come. This Saturday Daniel is taking me on an all-day shopping spree to spend all that birthday cash. I can't wait! 40 isn't bad...so far.

Lordy, Lordy...here comes forty

Victor Hugo once said, "Forty is the old age of youth; fifty is the youth of old age." Yikes!

No matter how hard I have tried to ignore it, that fortieth birthday is looming. (I can even hear the Darth Vader theme song whenever I pass a calendar...no joke) There are reminders everywhere - former students getting married and starting families, being called a "veteran" colleague at work, remembering things that happened in college -twenty years ago, seeing my daughter navigate the perils of adolescence.
So, how do I feel about 40? Well, I don't feel the way 40 is usually described. I don't feel old or like my time is running out. I don't necessarily feel any more mature or wise. I still don't think I've mastered a sense of personal style. I don't feel an urgent need to demonstrate how young I still am - sorry, no wild parties or sports cars or relationship-wrecking behaviors here.
I just feel settled. I'm not climbing any sort of career ladder. I'm doing exactly what I want to be doing there. I'm not struggling with small children and wishing they'd grow up so things would be easier. The road with the kids has been a bit bumpy lately, but it's nothing compared to sleepless nights with cranky toddlers. Daniel and I are in a good place. He's still my best friend and the love of my life.
I guess what I'm trying to say is I have nothing to prove. Is that what forty means? Not feeling compelled to live up to someone else's standards? Because I certainly don't feel that urge at all. I love my life. There's nothing that I need that I don't already have (well, maybe some new shoes...). I have a great job, a wonderful and loving family, a comfortable house, a solid relationship with my maker. What else is really important?
Maybe the first half of life is spent attaining the life you want and the second half is spent enjoying it. That sounds nice. I think I'll go with that. I'll try to remember it whenever I hear "dum, dum, dum, dum-da-dum, dum-da-dum."

SNOW

This has been a very cold and somewhat snowy winter by SC standards anyway. We had the sleet I wrote about in an earlier post. That was followed by a February 12 snow of about 4 inches and there is another 2-3 inches forecast for today.
One thing I love about being a teacher is the excitement over snow. Kids love snow. They love to play in it and they love to have school canceled because of snow. In fact, very few of my high school students understand that school isn't canceled just because the snow falls. They don't yet grasp the whole hazardous road conditions concept or they just really don't care.
Anyway, the Feb. 12 snow came on a Friday which just happened to be teacher workday so the kids were already home. One would think there would be less excitement. NOPE! We teachers spent all day talking about the snow. Our principal rearranged our professional development schedule just in case it snowed. We were just as giddy as the kids. Most of us left just a little early to get home before the snow started (about 4 pm). It was a fun day.
Today the forecast is again calling for snow. Teachers arrived at work with a new spring in their steps and there were smiles on every face in the hall as student made their way to their first period classes. I'm a little skeptical about today's snow, but that hasn't stopped me from walking by the outside windows on the back hall whenever I have the chance. :-)
UPDATE: DISMISSAL AT NOON!!!!!!!!YIPPEE!!!!