The Season of Buzz

Today during our literature circles, my high level group, who might be close to the most extraordinarily passionate group of readers I have ever taught were buzzing.  They buzzed about their book: racism, turning points, injustice, and in my head, the whole conversation made me a little envious. I really longed being a part of a book club just like the one we were having in class, guided by a much smarter, more worldly experienced person to lead us and guide us along the way.

These days, so many things are buzzing. My world is alive with holiday experiences, travel destinations that are hanging out around my head doing swirls, laughing and taunting me and saying, just do it.  And why not, we are young... There is this wonderful song by the group Fun, called "We are young." The song goes a bit like this..

Tonight. We are young, so let´s set the world on fire. We can burn brighter than the sun.

I think right now I am beginning to feel that way.  Even though work is the most challenging it´s been in a long time, I cannot complain.  Everyday, I question how I can do things bigger, better and brighter for these kids so that they will be engaged because they love the good stuff.
At the same time, due to the weather (aka shockingly cold for March 21), and working tooooo much, I have not been exercising as much as I should and I know that those outside activities are the ones that make work, family, boys, everything so much easier.

So, as spring equinox unfolds, the bees dashing around the pollen;  the youth pedaling rapidly around the city on Bicing; a new season of fruits, vegetables and culinary wonders spring to life; to all, I say... buzz, buzz, buzz...

What grows beneath

By March of last year, I had experienced so many highs and lows, you would have thought I was having a heart attack if you looked at a heart monitor.  There were beats that blew up, there were beats that made big bangs and there were beats that bellowed sadness and pain.

In 2012,  there has been these silent growths within myself, my life, my understanding of the world that are creeping up through soil and I am hoping that they sprout into something incredible.

One part of my life that has been particularly enchanting is a boy.  After my last shot of love, which lasted approximately 6 months but felt like what I would imagine a heroin injection would, an extreme high, followed by a terribly dreadful low, I am cautious to speak too much of it.  However, the more I talk about it, the more I realize that I am dating a friend.  Someone that I share amazing conversations with that climb up poles like ivy creating these beautiful intertwined plants that energize and support one another.  I am dating someone that enjoys adventures, culinary, travel, pure fun as much as I do and is willing to get lost in order to find.  And, the best part is that the whole thing does not stress me out.  I saw an ex last week and it could have been stressful.  It made me think a bit, but in the end, I felt at peace with my situation and comfortable where I was with myself and no need to make a bigger deal about it than it was.

Another part of life that has been satisfying is work.  I am working with two kind, thoughtful and cooperative people and that has made my work environment both positive and enjoyable.  And even though, I am dealing with by far the most neurotic, behavior issue filled group of students I have ever worked with,  I feel incredibly inspired to help, to teach, to reach out, to problem solve in order to get these kids on track for next year.  It sure hasn´t been easy and success is hard to measure on this front, but I feel like it´s improving and baby steps are key to our progress in general.  Finally,  I have had the opportunity to present, exchange knowledge, attend conferences etc. and learn a whole bunch of new things in a work environment which has been extremely transparent.  A wonderful embraced change!

Finally,  I have been lucky enough to have a recent surge of incredible people in my life all around.  Old friends paying visits to my stomping grounds, connections with friends of friends.  If I can have one wish in my life, it´s in the honor of the traveling funeral novel, I want my friends to have a big blowout when I die.  If I can bring all those amazing people together to celebrate, discuss, laugh, dance and eat while telling stories that we shared around the world, than I will know my life has been something beautiful and that my legend and life will still grow even when I lie beneath the earth.