48

 48 is the atomic number of Cadmium (a metal), and the international telephone country code for Poland. 

It is a highly favorable number in Chinese Numerology.

It's the number of US states in the contingent "lower 48."

There are 48 preludes and fugues in Bach's "The Well-Tempered Clavier." (No, I didn't remember this from Music History from over 25 years ago, I Googled it like a normal person.)

On a musical metronome, it falls under Lento (slow).

And...48 is my age today. 

It's All Greek to Me

 I really have become terrible at blogging. I mean, who blogs anymore? But I want to, and I have stuff to share. Like Greece. I went to Greece five months ago and saw some amazing things and took great pics. I ate delicious food (seriously, seriously delicious food). 

So it's about time I blog about it. But first, I need to download and sort out the photos. So Iu  will leave this here, tonight. A picture of the Parthenon, the biggest can't-miss in Athens. Can't miss it because, well, it's the most famous tourist stop, and also, because you can see it from pretty much all over Central Athens. 

More to come.

Year 22

 As I cover my classroom instruments with sheets for the summer, and tuck bits and bobs of a well-used Music classroom into cupboards and drawers, I'm feeling very reflective. 

I'm completing my 22nd year of teaching; it's incredible to me how fast the years fly by. My career has taken me in so many amazing directions:

• Ten school campuses
• Every grade level from preschool and TK to seniors in high school
• All kinds of music: band, orchestra, choir, classroom music, theory
• Two states (California, Washington)
• Two countries (USA, UK)
• Two teaching credentials (Single Subject Music with ELA authorization, and a Multiple Subject)
• A trimester teaching 5th grade
• One year teaching 6th grade ELA (in addition to Music)
• Student Council co-advisor for five years now
• Teacher mentor program

But these are just the subjects and places. I cannot tell you how many kids I've known. I can tell you that my very first kindergarten music students at my first job in Elverta are now...29 years old. 

Holy moly.

The 8th grade boy whose mom was dying of cancer, who told an aide he only came to school because of my band class...well, he'd be 39 now (he was 15 in 8th grade). 

That I am aware of, I've had two former students who have since died. The first, a young man I was an advisor to in England who had a lifetime of heart issues, and the second, one from my time at my current school who died a few years ago in a motorcycle accident. I'm sure there could be more; while I'd love to be one of those teachers who remembers every student she ever had, I have a hard time remembering names for current students, let alone those I had so many years ago. 

Eleven of the twenty-two years I've been teaching have been at my current school. After 13 years of wandering, not finding my fit, being unemployed for two years or partially-employed for others...this place took a chance on me, and through ups and downs and loop-de-loops, I've made it work. I have had days I wanted to quit entirely, and even one memorable time I handed a principal a list of all the reasons I was ready to walk out. That list helped me learn to advocate for myself. Yes, I have the credential and knowledge to teach 5th grade--but my passion is music. My experience is music. And if I'm going to teach music well, it has to be my primary focus. 

That said, I'm happy to expand by taking on other challenges. In 2021 I took on a co-advisor role in Student Council, something I'm still doing. I enjoy the task of Student Council, because I get to work with some of our most enthusiastic kids. We create opportunities for school spirit and celebrate all that makes our school special: the diversity, the International Baccalaureate status, and our commitment to creating opportunities for kids who are often brand-new to the United States.

Then, this year, I took on yet another new challenge. I became a mentor to three teachers going through the induction program. Teachers are required to complete a two-year induction program at some point in their first five years of teaching in order to clear their credential. Once cleared, the only requirements for renewal (every five years) are paying a fee to the Commission on Teaching Credentialing. California has some of the most rigorous standards in all of the United States for earning a credential, and the induction program, I have learned, is valuable for newly-minted teachers to establish themselves. This year, I mentored two second grade teachers and one transitional kindergarten (TK) teacher in my district--and I loved it. They inspired me to reflect on my own teaching practice in new ways, and the rapport we built was lovely. 

I'm feeling reflective today because last night we held our 8th grade promotion ceremony. We celebrated another group of kids, many of whom we've known since kindergarten, as they fly our nest and go on to bigger adventures in high school and beyond. It's bittersweet; I have been their music teacher for a lot of years, and it's lovely to see how much they've grown up. Some of them were my class when I taught 5th grade--and our IB Student of the Year acknowledged me in her speech last night, thanking me for giving their class so much "in both 5th grade and 8th grade." Her nod to the work I did in that one extremely stressful trimester was appreciated.

I'll miss them...even though sometimes they drove me absolutely bonkers with their antics. But that's how it's supposed to be. They are kids, growing, learning, testing boundaries, trying on personalities and images as they figure out who they are in a confusing world. Honestly, it's an honor to be one who laughs with them, occasionally turns Colonel Cooper on them, and nerds out about music in front of them. If nothing else, I hope my very obvious love for my subject shows them that it is absolutely okay to be passionate about something, and to share that passion with others. 

Yes, I'll miss them, but I also have a group of 7th graders, and my 6th graders, and...the cycle continues. I love them, too.

I am so very fortunate that I still love what I do. Of course, I see the problems. They're addicted to screens. They are surrounded by too much information, too soon. Parents need to do more, but also less, and they are not aware, but they're also helicopters. The 24-hour news cycle has us all convinced that kids are in constant danger, but they are the danger, too. 

Honestly though? The kids are alright. We do need to overhaul our education system--and that's another blog post for another day. And our world is, indeed, a terrifying place. But teachers everywhere are working hard every day to create safe, loving places for kids to grow, learn, and thrive. We're fighting that fight because if our children aren't worth it, who is?

My colleagues and I are all ready for the summer break--a chance to recharge and reset. August will bring a clean slate, fresh classes, and new opportunities to be even better teachers. For now, a road trip is calling me (it's calling out, "beeeeaaaach!!!") and I have a jury summons for the end of June. I have a massive stack of books to read and my egg chair just sitting there, waiting for me. A cat who loves lap time. So I finish off Year 22 with a definite need for my break, but always, always, an eye towards what is coming.

Here's to a needed rest, and then Year 23 being my best yet.

Goals So Far

 My country is an absolute shitshow at the moment, so I'm going to stick my fingers in my ears and LALALA CAN'T HEAR YOU after consuming way too much news today. 

And I'm going to blog about my own personal stuff. It's a coping mechanism.

So...how are my January goals going?

Fitness:

I have been absolutely smashing the workouts. Gym three times a week, upping the running, and making use of the equipment I have at home--namely my spin bike and punching bag. I have gone on days that I didn't particularly want to, and my only rest days have been truly needed. 

On average, I reach 10,000 steps by about 5:00 pm, and most of that is at work. Teaching isn't exactly sedentary. Teaching music adds a new layer of cardio to that, as a typical Friday sees me hosting three kindergarten and three first grade classes, for six 30 minute sessions of jumping, stomping, clapping, scarf-waving, and more as we sing. On Friday, I often reach about 7,000 of my steps before my 12:30 lunch time. It is exhausting in the best way.

Anywho, it's been a good month. I feel amazing. I sleep very well. 

Career Growth

I mean, we're three weeks in, so it's not like I've moved mountains. But I did have a huge win this week when one of the teachers I'm mentoring came to observe the TK teachers at my site. She is the lone TK teacher at her site, so having a chance to connect her with two teachers of her grade level (one requirement for her program is to do a peer observation) was pretty cool. Even better: both her school and mine follow the International Baccalaureate program.

When she arrived on Tuesday, I met her briefly while one of my admin babysat my 7th graders for five minutes so I could walk my mentee across the street to where our TK classes are located. I left her in the capable hands of one of my colleagues and dashed back to my middle school mayhem, hoping she'd have a good time.

We had our regularly-scheduled Zoom chat that afternoon, and she was ecstatic. She was so excited to see and learn new ways of doing things she hadn't considered or seen in her own school. She wants to ask her boss if she can take a full day to come and watch them some more. She wants to actually bring her principal so he can see what an established, well-run TK program looks like and support her in building the same.

Now, I didn't do much here, except introduce her (over email, then in person) to a couple of my colleagues. But just being able to facilitate that for a young teacher was such a great feeling. She now has a connection she can really use in the sometimes-lonely world of teaching our youngest, tiniest charges. 

The Rest

I had the not-at-all-vague intention of being intentional, and, by my own definition, I really am doing a great job. I've read every single day this year so far. I'm on my 10th book now, and I've been slowly listening to the absolute brick that is President Obama's A Promised Land. I can only listen to audiobooks when I'm doing something completely mundane, like vacuuming and mopping, so it's taken me three weeks to get to 64% (the audio, read by Obama himself--I love his voice, by the way--is a whipping 29 hours). I'll do a "books of January" post next week, but I haven't yet read anything that has truly knocked my socks off, though I've had some close calls. 

I got the first of two stipends I'll receive for being a mentor a couple weeks ago, which was a tidy little sum that mostly got shoved into my two savings accounts. Some was kept in my checking, though, because three weeks from today, I will be on a plane to Athens for some Greek history and, even more exciting, Greek food. This will be my 20th country.

I'm toying with the idea of a June trip, too, but right now it's just a matter of where do I want to go? Well, everywhere. I'm leaning towards Tokyo, just because I haven't yet been to Asia, and Tokyo looks amazing. It's also home to a Charles Schulz Museum that is affiliated with the one here in California--the only other museum in the world affiliated with the Santa Rosa original. And, of course, some amazing history and architecture and food and culture. We shall see. 

There you have it. I'm plugging along nicely and paying attention to the absolute fuckery that is happening in my country while also doing what I can to keep my sanity. It's a very thin tightrope to walk. 

Gymbo Rant

 Ahh, January. 

That time of year when the resolutions start, and the gyms become crowded. My rant today, however, is not about the newbies, but rather, the regulars. One group in particular.

When I quit 24 Hour Fitness, I eventually found myself at my current place, a small, independent gym called Iron Addiction, owned by a truly badass woman who has body building crowns on display in her office. Seriously, I want her shoulders. 

The gym is great--it's small, but it has top-of-the-line equipment and everything is kept in great working order. It's always clean (though I did once watch a muscle-bound dude spit on the floor, wipe his shoe in it, and use the wet spot to have some glide in his lunges, but I don't blame the owner for that one). The people who flock there tend to be very serious about weight lifting--there's a mirrored room for posing and taking pictures, and no one gives you side-eye for grunting or gasping while you lift. 

And, for the most part, people are really good about not hogging things. It seems to be understood that with a gym that small, you can't hog multiple machines or spend an inordinate amount of time on one piece of equipment.

Enter the young'uns.

I'm fully aware that I'm sound entirely like a perimenopausal, get-off-my-lawn, Grade A Old. 

But I am perimenopausal. And yeah, get off my lawn. (I'm not old, however.)

Yesterday was a gym day, but I didn't leave work 'til about 4:30 because I had a meeting with one of the teachers I'm mentoring. By the time I sit through the mess of I 80 and get to my gym, it's nearing 5:00 and I want to spend no more than an hour. Get in, get 'er done, get out. Go home. Feed cat. Feed Meg.

It was an upper body day, so after a quick cardio warm-up, I set out to do some seated rows. There were a lot more people than usual, so I was careful to make my four sets as quick as possible. Next, it was over to the dumbbell rack, for some bicep curls into overhead presses. (My back just twinged typing that sentence--DOMS is real, ya'll.) 

While doing four sets of curl-to-press, I was eyeing a nearby bench, currently being used by a twenty-something woman (Bench Lady) and dude. Another pair (guy and gal) had just claimed a machine near the bench, and they started talking to the two using the bench. 

In my four sets--going back to the rack between each set to get a new set of weights--I noticed that Bench Lady never did one set on said bench. She stood around chit-chatting withing the small group of four. 

I finished my sets just as the four dispersed, and Bench Lady walked away from the bench. I thought I'd give it a try. "Are you using this still?"

"Oh yeah! I'm using it."

Girl, I just spent a good 15 minutes competing four difficult sets of my exercise while you stood around hogging one of two available benches and doing nothing with it. I muttered, "Then, you know, use it." as I walked away.

Now, in the grand scheme of things, is this earth-shattering? Heavens, no. But it grated on my get-off-my-lawn, perimenopausal nerves. My gym is not prohibitively expensive--at $60 a month, it's rather a bargain--but my reasoning here is that I spend $60 a month to use these facilities, and when I do, I'm not on a social call. I'm there to work out, and I want to move as quickly as my body allows and then get home. I do not want to stand around waiting for anyone's social group to finish their reunion while hogging a piece of equipment that many people might need.

In the spirit of blogging more in 2026, I figured I'd put it here. 

Coming Thrills for 2026

 I don't do New Year's Resolutions, as I know the minute I make anything a MUST-do, I end up losing steam and my anxiety steps in to guilt me. Mercilessly.

I prefer intentions. Something that is not all-or-nothing, but rather goal-setting. Attainable goals, that I actually enjoy meeting. 

So without further ado, here are my intentions for 2026. 

Consistency in All Things Fitness

I can go a bit hot-and-cold with my fitness regime, especially as life gets stressful. December was almost completely a bust with gym-going and running, because the three weeks between Thanksgiving and Winter Break were consumed with planning for my school's annual winter performances. As the Music teacher, it's my job to make sure things go smoothly, and it is a lot of work. Good work; work I enjoy. But still, a lot of work. 

Anywho, consistency. I'm making a plan that doesn't dictate when I go to the gym, when I run, but rather, what kind of workouts I should aim to get each week. Three gym visits (one for upper body, one for lower, one for some full-body HIIT), at least two runs, at least two spin workouts here at home. So far, it's working. Having flexibility really helps when I find that yesterday's Leg Day means running is off the table today. 

Career Growth 

I mean, this is a given. I'm always looking to grow in teaching, as all good teachers are. This year, however, I took on a new role that has been exciting and a bit terrifying for Ye Olde Impostore Syndrome: I am a mentor to three young teachers who are working on clearing their credentials. 

I never would have thought to do this, until my work friend J asked if I'd ever thought about it. "No one thinks I'd be capable of that." 

I received a "look" from her. "Why not? You're an amazing teacher, and you work with all of the grade levels here at our school. You've taught 5th grade--even though it was just a trimester. You know so much about pedagogy for so many different age groups."

When she said that, something clicked. Just because I'm not a classroom teacher, and not an expert in the latest reading and math curriculums, does not mean I don't understand teaching, and how children learn. 

Long story short: I went for it. I'm mentoring three amazing ladies (a TK and two 2nd grade teachers) in my district, and I'm enjoying our weekly meetings and helping them find solutions and see different perspectives. All of them are fabulous teachers, and I'm able to help them find resources, and sometimes to view a problem they may be trying to solve from a different perspective. 

Best of all, I'm learning from them, too. That's the best part about having a teaching community.

Be Intentional

This is broad, and for good reason. I have, over the last decade or two, made a point of being more intentional in my recycling and consuming--my unemployment era helped a lot with the consuming part. Ten years ago, being more intentional in saving allowed me to buy Casa Meg. Yes, ten years. I know, right?

I find myself opening my 48th year on earth with two very healthy savings accounts (one a higher interest rate through USAA, and the other the standard low-interest attached to my checking account). My CALSTRS retirement is growing, as is my 403b plan. 

I drive a 10-year-old car--paid off, in good shape, excellent fuel economy--and live in a home that was very, very affordable. (Side note: I realize now that even in 2016, finding a 2bed/2bath condo for $140k was incredible.) 

All this is to remind myself that being intentional helps get me the good stuff--a comfortable home, trips all over the world (three continents down, four to go, baby!!), and peace of mind in my future. It also pays for vet bills. And cat sitters for my travels. 

Keep Those Friendships Flourishing

I have a wonderful circle of friends, starting with Sarah and Summer, my Marigolds at work, and some new ladies I've met through Sarah more recently that all seem to have a similar outlook on life. I'm in a Bunco group (work ladies), and a long-running book club. 

And yet, I can sometimes still find myself locking up in my Bat Cave. Winter Break was especially this way in some regards. I'm working to find a balance between work, where I'm always in "go" mode, and always fielding a lot of "Ms. Cooper! Ms. Cooper! Ms. Cooper!!!" and family (weekly lunch date with my dear Dad), friends (Marigold Bunco, Goldilocks Book Club, various social outings with one and all), and, you know, locking myself into my cave where it's quiet and peaceful and there are no children shouting at me, "MS. COOPER, HE LOOKED AT MEEE!!" (If you are a teacher or parent, I know you know. Like, you know.) 

I absolutely do need my time at home to recharge and reflect. But I also need nights like Bitchmas, where we exchanged inappropriate wearable gifts, played Cards Against Humanity, and laughed 'til we cried. Dress code? Pajamas. 

I haven't really put a lot of huge thought into these. It's more or less the same as every year. Work out. Be good at your job. Earn some money, save some money, have friends and whatnot. Still, it's good to sit down and assess every once in a while...and as for why my non-blogging ass is writing a post about all this after only writing two posts in 2025?

Well, rediscovering writing as a creative outlet is one more of my intentions for this year. 😏

Moments 2025

 In some ways, this year was an absolute dumpster fire (I mean, look at the socio-political situation in this country and tell me we're looking good...I'll wait). But despite all that, there was a lot of good in my world, with the ups and downs.

I'll just get to it, then.

A Proud Moment

This year I returned to running and completed my first official 5K in...too long. In September I participated in the Urban Cow race, earning my cowbell in a respectable time, and five minutes faster than my best training run. I went into the race with absolutely zero cares about my time--this was just a happy bonus brought on by the race day excitement seeping in. 

Running in my mid-ish-late-ish 40s is different than when I started in my early 30s. I'm just glad that my body is capable of running, that I can get out there and enjoy the process. Here's to more running in 2026! 

A Moment of Hilarity (Part 1) 

I'm a creature of habit. I like my daily yogurt for breakfast, topped with Honey Nut Cheerios. And I like my little morning iced coffee in my favorite tumbler. I put a little bit of sugar-free Torani and a splash of milk in it. 

But some mornings, I'm tired, or in a hurry. And we all know what can happen when a perimenopausal woman is in a hurry. 

The WTF Moment

Why do kids do the things they do? 

Why, indeed. They're kids. They're impulsive. It's fine...it's FINE. Okay, so I had actual steam coming out of my ears when one of my middle school kids nearly started a fire in my classroom. And my students got to see me Actually Mad, not "haha, Teacher Mad." My colleagues got to hear me on the school walkie-talkie system sounding like I was spitting fire. 

Now, it's done, it's over, it's forgiven. Mostly. 

Mostly.

Moments With My People

I'm a lucky lady. I have some really great people in my corner. Whether it's a 20s-inspired murder mystery dinner for Karen's birthday, concerts and other shenanigans with Sarah and Debbie, or just girls' night with the women in my life, I'm so happy to have these people around me. Some are colleagues-turned-friends, some are people I've known a while, some are newer. But they're all amazing. 

This year's fun has included the above-mentioned birthday fun at the dinner theater, with all of us in our flapper best, a couple of concerts (pictured here the Offspring at the amphitheater in Wheatland), and an evening at a local speakeasy. Not pictured: more fun evenings out for dinner or drinks, a day trip to San Francisco, Book Club, my Marigold Bunco group, Halloween watching an 80s cover band, and just hanging out. We capped the year with a ladies-only Bitchmas, and yes, it was hilarious and much-needed. 

A Moment 22 Years--TWENTY-TWO YEARS--In the Making

There's not much to really say. I've been teaching for 22 years, and began my 11th year at my current school in August. My chosen career has it's wild moments--I mean, look: paper clips in power outlets, yay! But it also has moments of delight, and they really do outweigh the frustration. 

I get to teach a subject I am passionate about, and work with 630 amazing children in grades K-8. I have amazing colleagues, many of whom are also dear friends now. Teaching is far from perfect, but I still love it, and for that, I feel incredibly fortunate. 

Here's to twenty-two...oh, hell no. I've got 13 years left, max. 

A Sweet Moment

While I'm normally a leave-my-summer-alone type of teacher (I do just fine on my 10 months spread over 12, thank you), this year I offered to do half of Summer School. I had some vet bills to pay off for Archie, so I was happy to do it. I had about six students on my most "crowded" days, and they were all rising 6th graders. I love this particular year group, and had a lot of fun with them. 

This particular day, as we came back from recess, a couple of boys stopped to inspect a snail, showing that even as they barrel towards middle school, kids are still curious. I snapped this picture because it delighted me to see them stopping to investigate and observe. The beauty of learning, in one simple, face-free picture.


The Saddest Moment

In July, I had to say goodbye to my dear Popcorn. Archie was my "sick" cat, taking chemo for small-cell lymphoma, but doing really, really well. And then Popcorn rapidly lost weight, started peeing on my bed one morning, and one immediate vet appointment later...was diagnosed as having an inoperable tumor in his belly.

It was a two-day roller coaster ride from his peeing on the bed to me saying goodbye, and I hated every minute of it. My sweet Poppers, gone? Unimaginable. 

We're doing okay. Archie--his littermate and lifelong companion--struggled a bit at first, but we got through the initial shock and grief to the other side. We still miss our Popper-Doodle. 

Nothing on the horizon yet for a 2nd cat. There was a sweet girl available but the timing wasn't right. I wasn't quite ready. The universe is funny like that. We'll see what 2026 brings.

Rest well, Popcorn. We love you.

A Moment to Remember

In May, my colleagues and I found out that on Mother's Day, our former colleague (but still friend) Tiffany had passed away. She was only 41 years old, and our shock and grief was immediate. As the news spread, colleagues past and present convened in texts, emails, and in person to grieve and celebrate her.

A few days after her death, a few of us gathered together at a mural of her in Midtown Sacramento. A few years ago, a local artist was painting real people of Sacramento, and heard about Tiffany and her work in education. She asked if she could paint Tiffany...and Tiffany ended up forever memorialized there. 

We gathered to leave some flowers, and to take a few minutes to remember her. Tiffany was truly an amazing educator--she came to our school in 2019 as a social studies teacher, while completing her admin credential. She would leave a few years later to be a principal at another school, but she was always, always, one of our Marigolds. To honor her, we all wore silk marigolds on our shirts at our end-of-year district celebration. 

A Moment With Dad

Sometime in late summer, Dad accompanied me to the Schulz Museum. I'm a member, so I try to visit a few times a year to see the latest exhibits. It's truly a happy place for me. 

On this trip, Dad was moving to take a picture of me at Lucy's booth when a volunteer docent asked if we'd like her to take a picture of both of us. The result was this adorable picture. I enjoy my time with Dad, and I'm so very thankful for our weekly lunch dates and the time I'm able to hang out with him.

A Moment to Stand Up

This year I participated in two No Kings Rallies at the state capitol in Sacramento. I 100% believe that my rights are in danger in our current administration, and I will absolutely fight for them. 

I am sick and tired of being painted as some kind of clueless liberal by the other side, or someone who hates America. I do not hate my country--I love it enough to fight for democracy and the Constitution. I love it enough to fight for free and comprehensive education for every single child. I want my fellow citizens to thrive right alongside me. 

I want the world to know that many--MOST--of us are appalled by our leadership in this moment. We want to be better neighbors and allies. 

I remain hopeful, and willing to put in the work.

A Moment in My Favorite Second Home

When it came time to choose a destination for my 2025 February Break, I had a lot of ideas, but in the end, London was calling. I mean, it's always calling. I felt I was due a visit.

So I spent a wonderful, too-short week in my favorite city. I saw my duck lady Sarah for a day in London. I took the train to Leicester to see my brother-from-another-mother Kay and my doggie nephew Zeus the Staffie. I visited Burnham--of course!!--and spent a lovely afternoon with Kathy and Derek. 

Traveling to London these days is wonderful because I'm not in a rush to see all the things. I can pick and choose based on what I haven't seen in a while, or my mood. This trip, I spent a day in Greenwich, returned to the Courtauld for the first time since 1999, and just meandered...though I made a point of going to Richmond to see some of the Ted Lasso sites. I love me some Ted Lasso. 

I wandered the streets of Burnham-on-Crouch for a morning, stopping to pay my respects to the river. I'll never not love that town. 

So...What's Next? 

I face down 2026 with my usual cautious optimism. I'm going to Athens in February with a work friend, and that promises to be a lot of fun. We had lunch last week to discuss things we want to do--we're both happy to do stuff together, or take off for alone time if the other is not as excited about an activity. We definitely agree that one of the cool walking food tours looks amazing. Mmm, Greek food!

I'm mulling the possibility of booking another international trip for June, too. The hardest part is choosing where to go! The last few days I've been thinking Tokyo could be fun.

I want to do more day trips around California. I made it to San Francisco three times this year, and to Monterey once. I had three or four trips to the Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa. So this year, I hope to do more mini-trips around my beautiful home, too.

Career-wise, I've become a mentor this year, and I'm loving it. I want to continue to grow in that role (it's a lot of figure-it-out-as-you-go), and continue growing in my own teaching practice. 

I want to continue my running and my gym habit. November and December were a bit hairy in that regard--Dad was hospitalized in November with a gallbladder infection and he needed me there a lot to help him navigate the stress of it all. Then December was the usual Music Teacher Fun of preparing holiday performances and ending a semester of grading for my middle school students. Our school has grown a lot this year, which created logistical problems we didn't anticipate. This prompted a lot of last-minute meetings with me and my bosses, all of us staring at each other saying, "Soooo, where do we put all these kids?!" Fortunately, my current administrators are one of the best teams I've ever worked for, and they truly value my input and want to help when they can.

One thing I do know is that my life is never boring. It's Wild and Absolutely True. I wouldn't have it any other way.