Graduation

(me at NHS graduation, May 18th, 1994)

I am going to speak at graduation this year.

Ever since I started teaching at Niwot High, I have wanted to speak at graduation. I think it is because I went to Niwot and my dad taught at Niwot and my birth was announced over the PA system. I've taught there for 7 years (this year will be 8) and it just seems to get better every year. My students are so funny and interesting and weird and odd and real and human and wonderful. I feed off their energy.

I was so honored to get the "official" invitation from the sweet Student Council reps, I couldn't stop smiling. Then I had to email my people and let them know, and I asked them what they would say. So far, I have received some great responses. I have so many ideas about what to say and how to say it. But the idea of coming around full circle, of stepping out onto the field where I graduated, fills me with a sense of honor. I tell you, if I had won the Nobel Prize this week I wouldn't be happier than I am now.

So what would YOU tell the graduating class? I am compiling ideas and weaving them all together. Hopefully, I will have something better than "Life is like a backpack". :-)

Love is all around

Valentine's Day is coming up and I decided to send some Valentine love out to people I think are just the Bee's Knees. My valentines are (in no particular order):

• Patient, hopeful Kara and her inspired prayers for me
• Jen for her humor and friendship (and encyclopedic knowledge of all things Royal)
• Sammie, Jen's son who is just... so..... DARLING

• Angie who eats lunch with me daily and reminds me to laugh.
  
• Shannon for braving the isolation of the South Pole with a wink and a smile (START YOUR BLOG, SHANNIE!)

• Amy for her vivid art and infectious laughter
• My momma--knitting stuff for me and sending me care packages
• Aunt Marti and her Scrabble game
• All the students who make me laugh (AND the ones who don't)
• My cats... but then I feel like crazy cat lady who talks to her cats..... ummm...
• Gerard Butler now, always, forever

There are many many more....but I wanted to take a sec and give a valentine's shout out to some of the lovely lovely people who make me smile and who remind me on Valentine's Day that while I am not IN love, I do get to LOVE every day.