Last day, last moments of summer

I'm lingering over a cup of tea and a bowl of dry honey nut cheerios that I'm sharing with my cat. (No, he's not eating out of the bowl) Lingering is the important word, it's my last day for it. Though I spent all day yesterday working in my classroom and will do the same today and for that matter, have worked all summer with my new fourth grade colleague, TOMORROW is the official first day of school for faculty. Start time: 8:00, quitting time: June. The days of lingering over anything will have passed.

Like bookends, summer ended in the same way it began, a week in the company of a wonderful, supportive community of people. I worked as I have for the past 5 years at a dance camp in West Virgina. I keep the books, run the fund raising auction, assist the camp director-a old friend-in any way I can. And dance and sing everyday. Thanks to email I can keep in touch with some of the people through the years, but life gets busy, frantic, crazy and so we count on this week to see and catch up with each other. It's a booster shot of love, affection and goodwill that lasts me a long time. So I second Oman's suggestion of a Westtown get together, somewhere, sometime this year. I'll do my best to be there.

In between the summer was quiet, leisurely with lots of time for lingering. I had a couple of opportunities to share my Westtown experience with colleagues"who knew". I read, (Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert-a must read) knit, slept late. Right before leaving for Westtown I had met a nice man at a contra dance and that relationship progressed happily over the summer. I feel relaxed and thanks to Westtown and you guys, renewed and ready to teach . My well has been refilled.

My love to you all. And my best wishes for a productive, successful, satisfying school year. May all our students be engaged and eager, may all our parents be happy and love us.

Stay in touch,
Love, Ellen

the first week..

 greetings all, 

I hope that things are great in your neck of the campus. yeah its hot. real hot down here in hotlanta, and the school year is in full swing,  i have been getting things ready and apologize for the tardiness of my bloggin.  but it begins.....

 so i totally miss the companionship and honesty we shared, i miss the food and ice cream sandy's as well as late late late nights and soul nourishing conversations. the first week was a good one, but one where i found myself longing to hear the silence of a meeting, to have the insanely cold ac. and to be in the presence of all 44 of us.  so i say that to say.... LOL. i miss you. all of you, and its not cliche, i think of you all on my rides in to school, like kind of a " what would Westtown do?" or wishing lunch was in that cafe, with so much joy and some pain. and gosh i want to lay on that floor and watch movies, but what i want most is for all of you to understand how incredible and wonderful you are. and that we are still connected.  i hope that you are all enjoying your year, and if possible or when one of us wins the lottery, lets meet in Philly and do this mid year refresh our well.   that would be SWEET! 

littlefoot is coming, and the house is good, I'm finally getting my feet on the ground.  and i want to show my gold like a french prostitute..... LOL

hope you all are experiencing the beauty of who you are.

peaceloveandsoul

Oman

Picture project is a "go"

I'm very happy to tell you that I've been occupying some of my spare time working on our Westtown "picture project." I've compiled a bunch so far into a sort of slideshow-DVD using Shutterfly (I totally recommend it!). But I'm STILL looking for more pics if you have them. I know that I wasn't the only one running around with a camera those last few days! My plan is to try to get this done before my school year starts (9/4) and send everyone a copy. Think of it as an early holiday present! :)

My last few weeks have been spent taking care of my husband. I told some of you about his motorcycle accident and the loss of our beloved Triumph (may it RIP). The good news is that neither of us will be getting on a motorcycle anytime soon! He had ACL surgery almost 3 weeks ago and it recovering well. 3 weeks of being cooped up in our house was a good test of our adult relationship. We've been very congenial! :)

Anywho...hope this finds everyone well.
MEG :)

PS - My screensaver says "Would you like a balloon?" No one here gets it!

Mil gracias!!!

As I return home from my 3 week trip to Mexico to see my family, I find a pile of the most amazingly uplifting cards.... all filled with balloons!!! My eyes got teary, but I swear it was pure joy. It was hard to explain to my boyfriend what it all meant, but I conveyed the message the best I could and I think he got it.


I cannot thank you enough. Thanks for your warm words, your prayers, your good vibe.. I carry it all in my heart and I promise I'll pay it forward (now I have a little box full of balloons that will lift anybody's spirit!).


Cheers to my Westtown friends:

Love,

Tania