If you look closely you will find my mom helping assemble hygiene kits for Afghan refugees. These last fews weeks of watching the horrid attempt of our government to leave a country she loved living in as a child has been very difficult (to say the least). I am grateful for her love and perspective and am deeply saddened that my nation didn’t do a better job reacting to 9/11 (which we just marked the 20th anniversary of this month). Revenge is never worth it, even if you call it patriotism. And that hope we had of helping the Afghans against Taliban rule totally and completely backfired. We are mourning opportunities lost, lives lost, and lives permanently changed for the worse. On a more personal note for yours truly dealing with loss, I had the opportunity to attend the funeral of Rachel B. It was evident much time and thought went into the planning. Listening to a father eulogize and sing Mad World to his daughter will touch your heart. How heartbreaking it is say goodby to a child, even if she is 29. I really admire how much love the B. family has and consider myself lucky to know them.
I am so proud of these dancers that dusted off their competition routines and performed at the Art Walk in the summer sun. It was great to be able to see them dance in a completely different venue and with a police car as a backdrop.
Michelle was also able to pivot with a schedule change due to being moved to a different math class. She has been moved from advanced math (7th grade math) to accelerated math (8th grade math). At first I didn’t like that idea because many of the 6th graders in accelerated math went to Project Launch this summer to prepare them and she did not. Hubby, Michelle and I talked as we walked the dog together. Michelle absolutely loved her advanced math teacher and expressed concern that she might be behind the other accelerated students. However, Michelle also acknowledged that she already has the new math teacher as a LEAD teacher and could get extra help from her every day if necessary. Michelle already knew students in the classes she was changing to, which meant she didn’t feel completely new. Michelle also mentioned that the concepts she was learning were easy for her to understand and she’s up for the challenge of accelerated math. So we had to say yes! It was so strange knowing that all three of my middle schoolers are in 8th grade math this year and I was still a tad nervous for Michelle’s first day. That night Danny helped her with her homework. Then, on the second day of her new math class, Michelle came home saying she took her first test there and got a 96%! Let’s just say I’m done worrying.
Danny had his first official games with the Vibes and made a really good throw from 3rd to 1st to get the batter out! He was disappointed in his hitting but the team tied 4-4 and won the second game 12-0. A nice surprise was that his beloved NYS team was playing on another field so he got to say hello to his former teammates. H. was in full catching gear and gave Danny a big hug. Lots of smiles all around. I love those families so much and it was a joy for me to see them as well. The next weekend it was Hubby's turn to take him to a double header and Danny had a good single and RBI and then stole two bases to score and had an awesome play at third then the very next play had an error (according to Hubby's texts to me). The second game did not go their way but there is always next time.
I do wish I could have seen Danny for the matching day spirit day at the middle school wearing his new jersey with his new teammates. I literally offered him $15 for a good group photo! And Kate with C. wearing the new t-shirts they bought at Target together and Michelle with her lunch buddies wearing black shirts and blue jeans. But no pictures. Middle schoolers can be killers for blogs and scrapbooks! Of course, my co-workers in the SPED department and I wore matching shirts as well but with zero photos so I can’t complain too much. Oh! And kickball! Dan started up a kickball team with his co-workers and their significant others and we don’t have photo evidence of that either. I did think of it but was so nervous about not letting the team down and too busy getting whacked in the head with the ball while running to first base to care too much. And yes, that hurt. Luckily the next week when I tweaked by quad kicking the ball it was much less painful. And yes, I'm a bit resistant of the idea of going to game #3 and finding some new way to get hurt.
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