The Journey Inward

Arriving home a few minutes after six, I was met by road closures and wailing sirens.  Inside the house, Henry was racing from room to room, imitating the emergency call with his howl.  Either the whole borough was on fire, or more hopefully, Santa Claus had come to town!

The frenetic pace of the last few weeks has kept me from dialing in to the town happenings, so Santa’s drive by caught me by complete surprise! Although I laughed and went out on the porch to wave, fear struck my heart!

I'M NOT READY!!!!

I start Secret Snowman on Monday and I need to buy 5 cute little bags and write 5 enlightening, but not too revealing poems that drop clues as to my identity.

Report cards are due Wednesday.

I have to write three ELA curricular units for three different grade levels by the end of the month - on assessment prep of all things (snooze!).  

I've shopped for my girls and their significant others (and I think I've nailed it!), but now have to figure out gifts for the significant others' families.

Speaking of offspring, I need to pin down who is coming when and for how long and check for extra sets of sheets so I won't have to wash them on demand for the next shift.  

Which leads me to meal planning and fridge and freezer storage.

I have a White Elephant family party next weekend and need to find a funny, but practical gift.

I've booked my tickets to DC, but haven't connected with my brother, sister, brother-in-law and their friends to make our plans.  I can't book my flight to Denver over the break until my ex-husband figures out his holiday schedule.

My friends and I are trying to get to Wicked and not sit in the front row, but there are lots of moving parts there.  

I "volunteered" to make a signature punch for our staff holiday party, which is not really my wheelhouse.  I happened to mention I'd made a really good one at Thanksgiving and I was voluntold to make that happen again.  That's what you get for boasting, I guess!

I'm hosting a dinner/viewing party of our district's Town Hall Meeting (another $3 million needs to be cut from the school budget...my position was eliminated last year after this happened...nail biter) at my house after Writing Group.

A week before Christmas, my Journal Book Club is going Country Line dancing to end our year of reading and reflecting, and I'm organizing transportation.

And last (and BEST!), my youngest will be home in two weeks, but will need a good deal of physical therapy during her stay, so I've got to find someplace that takes her insurance (which is unbelievably hard for one who is serving our nation in the Coast Guard).

So, yay!  Santa came to town to kick off the season, and it was nice to pause and have warm memories, feel the exciting anticipation of what's to come, and be grateful for all I have in my life, for all the goodwill I experience daily, and for the fortitude I feel in making a positive difference in the world to bring about change.

But it also stressed me out!!!

Oh, and I also need to book my annual mammogram!

Photo: Santa Claus is coming to town.  12.6.24 by LA