Progress Report

Hey, A.

We just had a faculty luncheon—administrators on the busy end of the grill and pot luck dishes contributed by all—and now we are really in a crunch to get ready for the first day of school. That is, I have no business taking a few more minutes to write before getting my ducks in a row. But I am anyway. And I’m not really nervous.

I guess somewhere along the line I became a pro at this. If we had a gas leak and needed to evacuate the building at this very moment, I know I could still start tomorrow. I leave all the nervousness to the newbies. I am so glad I’m not there anymore, and so grateful for the forecast.

I remember lots of first days of 90 and humid weather, but the heat is supposed to break overnight and it’s supposed to be a pleasant “fall preview” 75 tomorrow and Friday, so I don’t have to worry about sweating like some Saturday night live skit either. See, it’s all good. And—despite all the complaining—I know I will have a good year, even though I haven’t had my annual trip to Staples yet. And I truly am grateful just to have a job....

W is really depressed and I’m not sure how I can help, what to ever say to him. What’s worse is sometimes I have the hardest time just giving him space and saying nothing. I feel like I always want to jump in and share a job-search tip I heard on this show or that show when what I probably should just shut up. Say, I’m so sorry, babe, I don’t know what to say, and leave it at that.

Glad you still have some time to yourself before the school year. You sound well and that makes me smile.

xo,
Barb