As I type this I am sitting on my deck on a beautiful Minnesota summer evening sipping a glass of wine and I have been reading Harry Potter for the past hour and a half. Seriously it doesn't get much better than this.
This summer has been really great for me so far. I've had a lot of great accomplishments at work and I'm happy with the work/life balance that I have this summer. The past 5 years I worked at a summer camp where my schedule was handed to me and I was around kids 24/7. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED that job, but it's also nice having an adult summer for the first time. I control what I do and when I do it. I choose who I spend time with. I have time to do the things I want to accomplish. It's such a nice change of pace from the camp lifestyle. I miss camp a ton, but at the same time, this was definitely the right choice for me this summer.
Tonight I met a friend for happy hour who I hadn't seen in forever. We sat on a patio and drank martinis and caught up on life. I got home and I came straight out to my deck with my book. As I sit here I hear kids playing on a swing set nearby, I've seen many happy dogs and people walking or running by, and the air temperature is pretty close to perfect. I'm on the 3rd floor so mosquitoes (the Minnesota state bird so it seems) aren't bothering me. This is what it's about. Enjoying every breath, every sight, every sound.
My main hobbies this summer have been reading and running. I'm taking up running slowly but surely and I am now able to run more than 20 minutes straight without stopping! For me that is a pretty significant feat. I'm running the Color Run on Sunday and my hope is this will be the start of a healthy lifestyle. I want to become a runner. I want to tackle those 5k's, and maybe 10k's. When I'm on my runs I get in a zone. I tune everything out and I just focus on one foot right in front of the other. I focus on my breathing and matching the cadence of my steps with the beat of the music. I won't lie, running is difficult for me. I often sweat through my shirt completely and I'm huffing and puffing much of the way. But I'm doing it. I'm conquering something that I didn't think I could do. It's a process, but the simplicity of it all makes me so happy. One foot in front of the other.
The feeling when I get home after a run like that is impossible to describe. Many times I'm exhausted, but I feel so accomplished. The best part is when I realize I ran faster and farther than before. At that point I realize I want to run even farther and I want to do even more.
Here's to joyous, simple summers.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Monday, July 7, 2014
A Letter to My 16-year-old Self
Inspired by this blog: http://aredheadsguide.com/
Dear Laura,
I'm so excited for you to see where life will lead in the next decade. It's crazy, in a good way. You have learned so much and grown so much in the past ten years. I know you think you know a lot now, but just wait. The older you get the more you realize you DON'T know.
In the next decade, you will fall in love multiple times. You will have your heart broken multiple times. You will find a teaching job or two. You will have successes. You will have failures. You will realize that your parents are actually pretty cool (I know, I know...). You will realize that real life isn't as awesome as it's cracked up to be. You will still be best friends with your close high school friends, even though you grow up and grow apart a bit. You will still be a band nerd.
Love yourself. A lot. Tell yourself you're beautiful. You won't believe it at first, but you are. You have a beautiful personality. Your future students LOVE that about you. Never lose your kindhearted personality. Be positive. Be upbeat. Be inclusive. Be inviting. Be welcoming.
When you get to college, it is fun and a nice change from high school. Don't feel like you have to stay in your dorm all the time -- you can meet so many more great, interesting people! You meet some friends, but they'll never be *quite* as close as your high school friends. You will befriend your freshman RA and end up working as an RA for 3 years which doesn't seem like a great thing at the time, but it will save you SO MUCH MONEY. Even when it gets hard, you stick through it and when you get a student loan bill every month you appreciate that money you saved! And the girl who was your RA your first year? She will get you through a lot later in life. Appreciate her and all that she is.
You will fall in love for the first time at age 21. He will be your first kiss, and it will be a really freaking great first kiss story -- he kisses you when you are standing on the border of two countries. Seriously, isn't that the coolest?? The first year with him will be really great. You'll even think he's "The One". He will tell you he loves you and that he wants to spend his life with you. You spend 3.5 years with him, though the rest of the relationship won't be as magical as the first year. All I can say is listen to your gut the first time. Your bestie (same bestie that you have now) never really likes him. You should listen to her. She knows what she's talking about.
You will move for that first love and it will blow up in your face. He will distance himself from you and you will feel lost and abandoned. He won't respect you as you deserve. You end up going through the break up from hell, but those around you will show you they care about you. You will miss your friends and family 500 miles away, but they will be there when you need them most. It will take a long while to get over him but eventually you will realize that you are better off without him and that he doesn't deserve you.
Mom will be diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2011. You cry, a lot. You think the world will end. But she takes control of it like a champ and even when she has bad days she is overall pretty healthy. Don't take your mom for granted. She's a pretty cool gal. She hurts a lot more than she lets on, but you're able to be there for her when she needs you. She will miss you a lot the year you move to North Dakota, but she'll be overjoyed when you move back. In a lot of ways she is your rock, and she is your family's rock.
Your dad still has a kooky way of helping you out with anything and everything, but remember he always means well. Always. He will even drive a moving truck across the countryside to save your butt and help you move home after you quit your first teaching job. In many ways he will still drive you crazy. He will have problems coming to terms with the fact that you are a responsible, mature adult who doesn't need her dad quite as much anymore. Again, he always means well. You will realize just how much alike the two of you are. It will scare you a bit, but you learn to embrace it. You will realize that he's not invincible and that scares you a bit too. Appreciate him. He's such a great guy.
You will go on a million first dates that go nowhere and eventually you fall in love with a guy who treats you REALLY well. He will open doors and take your coat and make you dinner and pay for dates and carry your stuff up to your apartment for you. He will be there for you when you absolutely need him most and he will prove that he is worth keeping around. You will realize that this is how dating should be: easy. You are kind of unsure about him at first, but you realize that he is really freaking amazing and in time you fall for him. It is a healthy relationship and he makes you ridiculously happy. You don't want to rush it and you take it at a healthy pace.
That brings us to today. You will look back at who you were and even though you're still the same person, you'll marvel in how much you've changed over such a short period of time. It's amazing how far you've come and how far you have yet to go. Sit back, enjoy the ride. Don't take one day for granted.
Dear Laura,
I'm so excited for you to see where life will lead in the next decade. It's crazy, in a good way. You have learned so much and grown so much in the past ten years. I know you think you know a lot now, but just wait. The older you get the more you realize you DON'T know.
In the next decade, you will fall in love multiple times. You will have your heart broken multiple times. You will find a teaching job or two. You will have successes. You will have failures. You will realize that your parents are actually pretty cool (I know, I know...). You will realize that real life isn't as awesome as it's cracked up to be. You will still be best friends with your close high school friends, even though you grow up and grow apart a bit. You will still be a band nerd.
Love yourself. A lot. Tell yourself you're beautiful. You won't believe it at first, but you are. You have a beautiful personality. Your future students LOVE that about you. Never lose your kindhearted personality. Be positive. Be upbeat. Be inclusive. Be inviting. Be welcoming.
When you get to college, it is fun and a nice change from high school. Don't feel like you have to stay in your dorm all the time -- you can meet so many more great, interesting people! You meet some friends, but they'll never be *quite* as close as your high school friends. You will befriend your freshman RA and end up working as an RA for 3 years which doesn't seem like a great thing at the time, but it will save you SO MUCH MONEY. Even when it gets hard, you stick through it and when you get a student loan bill every month you appreciate that money you saved! And the girl who was your RA your first year? She will get you through a lot later in life. Appreciate her and all that she is.
You will fall in love for the first time at age 21. He will be your first kiss, and it will be a really freaking great first kiss story -- he kisses you when you are standing on the border of two countries. Seriously, isn't that the coolest?? The first year with him will be really great. You'll even think he's "The One". He will tell you he loves you and that he wants to spend his life with you. You spend 3.5 years with him, though the rest of the relationship won't be as magical as the first year. All I can say is listen to your gut the first time. Your bestie (same bestie that you have now) never really likes him. You should listen to her. She knows what she's talking about.
You will move for that first love and it will blow up in your face. He will distance himself from you and you will feel lost and abandoned. He won't respect you as you deserve. You end up going through the break up from hell, but those around you will show you they care about you. You will miss your friends and family 500 miles away, but they will be there when you need them most. It will take a long while to get over him but eventually you will realize that you are better off without him and that he doesn't deserve you.
Mom will be diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2011. You cry, a lot. You think the world will end. But she takes control of it like a champ and even when she has bad days she is overall pretty healthy. Don't take your mom for granted. She's a pretty cool gal. She hurts a lot more than she lets on, but you're able to be there for her when she needs you. She will miss you a lot the year you move to North Dakota, but she'll be overjoyed when you move back. In a lot of ways she is your rock, and she is your family's rock.
Your dad still has a kooky way of helping you out with anything and everything, but remember he always means well. Always. He will even drive a moving truck across the countryside to save your butt and help you move home after you quit your first teaching job. In many ways he will still drive you crazy. He will have problems coming to terms with the fact that you are a responsible, mature adult who doesn't need her dad quite as much anymore. Again, he always means well. You will realize just how much alike the two of you are. It will scare you a bit, but you learn to embrace it. You will realize that he's not invincible and that scares you a bit too. Appreciate him. He's such a great guy.
You will go on a million first dates that go nowhere and eventually you fall in love with a guy who treats you REALLY well. He will open doors and take your coat and make you dinner and pay for dates and carry your stuff up to your apartment for you. He will be there for you when you absolutely need him most and he will prove that he is worth keeping around. You will realize that this is how dating should be: easy. You are kind of unsure about him at first, but you realize that he is really freaking amazing and in time you fall for him. It is a healthy relationship and he makes you ridiculously happy. You don't want to rush it and you take it at a healthy pace.
That brings us to today. You will look back at who you were and even though you're still the same person, you'll marvel in how much you've changed over such a short period of time. It's amazing how far you've come and how far you have yet to go. Sit back, enjoy the ride. Don't take one day for granted.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
The Hardest Goodbye
I took a bit of a break on this blog for the start of summer. A lot has happened since then: I started working full time for my boss, I've had many drinks on patios, I've visited friends who I hadn't seen in a while, and I said a really freaking hard goodbye.
My family's dog, Sequoia, hadn't been doing well from about March until we said our final goodbye to her on June 11th. She had really bad arthritis in her back legs, and it was getting to the point where she just couldn't move. She couldn't control her bowels. She couldn't follow us around the yard. She would walk 25 feet and lay down. It was so hard seeing her like that. We knew that it was the beginning of the end and I was trying to prepare myself, but when the time came it was still so hard.
We adopted Sequoia in May 2002 after a year hiatus with no dog. Being the animal lover that I am I had pestered my dad to get another dog daily for that entire year. Every morning it was: "Dad, can we get a dog?" He always said he wasn't ready yet. One day, he dropped me off for my band concert and I realized that he had snuck in after the concert had started. It was VERY unlike him and I was super curious where he had gone. That night, he said the magic words: "I think I found our next dog." I jumped up and gave him a huge hug. He had snuck down to the Humane Society to see her for himself, but he didn't want to get my hopes up before he did. I don't think he even told my mom. Nice one Dad.
The very next day was a Friday and I counted down the hours until we could go meet her. I was beyond excited. After supper, we piled in our tiny 4-door sedan to drive down to see her. They said she hadn't been spayed yet so we wouldn't be able to take her home that day. We pulled up and walked into the dog kennels. All the dogs were barking as we walked through. All but Sequoia that is. she was laying down and looked up at us calmly with these gorgeous chocolate brown eyes as if to say "take me home". I will never forget that first look. I fell in love. We walked her outside and we all knew that she was the one for us. She had this huge smile on her face as we walked around with her as if she knew her family had come to get her and take her home.
Dad walked up to the front desk to tell them that we would adopt her. The clerk looked through the files and realized that she indeed WAS spayed. "Would you like to take her home tonight?" the lady asked.
My response: "YES!!!"
Dad's response: "We don't have the right car to take her home." (She was 80 pounds of adorable mutt.)
Secretary: "Oh that's ok, we'll give you a sheet!"
So my parents finished the paperwork as I pet our beautiful new dog. We all piled in the car again, this time with me and my dad in the back seat with Sequoia sitting on a sheet between us, happy as a clam. She laid down immediately and had this huge doggie grin on her face. I hugged her and pet her and we definitely bonded on that ride home. Dad had to stop at Target to get dog food and supplies because we didn't think we would have a dog with us when we came home! I sat in the car with Sequoia and she looked out the window happily.
She got out into our yard and just started running around excitedly. She knew she was home. We had 12 amazing years with her. I always felt like her Girl. She loved being home. She loved chasing rabbits and trotting after us when we worked in the gardens. She loved sitting on the back step, especially if one of us sat with her and she could get lots of love. She loved her morning walks with my dad. She loved when he laid down and snuggled with her in the grass. She loved her family. Whenever I packed up the van to move to college, she would find a Sequoia-sized spot and she would hop in and lay down because she wanted to go with. She was loyal to a fault.
I cried so hard the day we had to put her down. I'm crying just writing this post. I was able to spend a good chunk of the day with her before my dad had to take her to the vet. It was such a hard goodbye. I sat down and cried into her fur and she just put her head in my lap as if to tell me it was ok. She always knew what I needed.
She's no longer in pain, but I miss her like crazy. I have faith that she is on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge waiting for me and that I will see her again. She will always have part of my heart. Pets are so much more than a dog or a cat or a hamster or a fish or whatever. They become part of the family. That is why it is the hardest goodbye.
My family's dog, Sequoia, hadn't been doing well from about March until we said our final goodbye to her on June 11th. She had really bad arthritis in her back legs, and it was getting to the point where she just couldn't move. She couldn't control her bowels. She couldn't follow us around the yard. She would walk 25 feet and lay down. It was so hard seeing her like that. We knew that it was the beginning of the end and I was trying to prepare myself, but when the time came it was still so hard.
We adopted Sequoia in May 2002 after a year hiatus with no dog. Being the animal lover that I am I had pestered my dad to get another dog daily for that entire year. Every morning it was: "Dad, can we get a dog?" He always said he wasn't ready yet. One day, he dropped me off for my band concert and I realized that he had snuck in after the concert had started. It was VERY unlike him and I was super curious where he had gone. That night, he said the magic words: "I think I found our next dog." I jumped up and gave him a huge hug. He had snuck down to the Humane Society to see her for himself, but he didn't want to get my hopes up before he did. I don't think he even told my mom. Nice one Dad.
The very next day was a Friday and I counted down the hours until we could go meet her. I was beyond excited. After supper, we piled in our tiny 4-door sedan to drive down to see her. They said she hadn't been spayed yet so we wouldn't be able to take her home that day. We pulled up and walked into the dog kennels. All the dogs were barking as we walked through. All but Sequoia that is. she was laying down and looked up at us calmly with these gorgeous chocolate brown eyes as if to say "take me home". I will never forget that first look. I fell in love. We walked her outside and we all knew that she was the one for us. She had this huge smile on her face as we walked around with her as if she knew her family had come to get her and take her home.
Dad walked up to the front desk to tell them that we would adopt her. The clerk looked through the files and realized that she indeed WAS spayed. "Would you like to take her home tonight?" the lady asked.
My response: "YES!!!"
Dad's response: "We don't have the right car to take her home." (She was 80 pounds of adorable mutt.)
Secretary: "Oh that's ok, we'll give you a sheet!"
So my parents finished the paperwork as I pet our beautiful new dog. We all piled in the car again, this time with me and my dad in the back seat with Sequoia sitting on a sheet between us, happy as a clam. She laid down immediately and had this huge doggie grin on her face. I hugged her and pet her and we definitely bonded on that ride home. Dad had to stop at Target to get dog food and supplies because we didn't think we would have a dog with us when we came home! I sat in the car with Sequoia and she looked out the window happily.
She got out into our yard and just started running around excitedly. She knew she was home. We had 12 amazing years with her. I always felt like her Girl. She loved being home. She loved chasing rabbits and trotting after us when we worked in the gardens. She loved sitting on the back step, especially if one of us sat with her and she could get lots of love. She loved her morning walks with my dad. She loved when he laid down and snuggled with her in the grass. She loved her family. Whenever I packed up the van to move to college, she would find a Sequoia-sized spot and she would hop in and lay down because she wanted to go with. She was loyal to a fault.
I cried so hard the day we had to put her down. I'm crying just writing this post. I was able to spend a good chunk of the day with her before my dad had to take her to the vet. It was such a hard goodbye. I sat down and cried into her fur and she just put her head in my lap as if to tell me it was ok. She always knew what I needed.
She's no longer in pain, but I miss her like crazy. I have faith that she is on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge waiting for me and that I will see her again. She will always have part of my heart. Pets are so much more than a dog or a cat or a hamster or a fish or whatever. They become part of the family. That is why it is the hardest goodbye.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Summer Bucket List
Summer is upon us! It is so exciting that the days have gotten warmer and I don't have to bundle up in a big coat just to go outside. There are also SO MANY THINGS that I want to accomplish this summer! My bucket list is long and I really hope I can achieve most of these things in the next three months before life gets crazy busy again.
When I was thinking about all the things I want to accomplish, I chose things that were decently cheap/affordable. A HUGE goal is to pay off more of my debt...hopefully ALL of my debt in the not too distant future...so in order to achieve that goal my summer bucket list is full of fun and cheap (or free!) things.
My expensive treats for myself are the following: I'm going to the BACKSTREET BOYS (!!!!!!!) concert as well as a music festival later on in the summer!! I'm super excited for both.
The rest of my bucket list is as follows:
1. Visit at least 10 state parks and go adventuring. My dad got me a state parks pass as a gift for finishing my second year of teaching and I intend to use it liberally.
2. Go camping. Twice.
3. Read a lot! My goal is to finish 5 books if not more.
4. Volunteer at least once.
5. Walk around the chain of lakes in Minneapolis.
6. Continue growing plants on my deck! Hoping I get flowers sometime!
7. Help my mom pick her fruits/veggies and do some canning.
8. Do at least one thing that scares me.
9. Travel by myself.
10. Adventure on my bike. Start running errands on my bike and discover new trails.
11. Run my first 5k!
I'm really excited for all the possibilities. What are some of the things on your summer bucket list?
When I was thinking about all the things I want to accomplish, I chose things that were decently cheap/affordable. A HUGE goal is to pay off more of my debt...hopefully ALL of my debt in the not too distant future...so in order to achieve that goal my summer bucket list is full of fun and cheap (or free!) things.
My expensive treats for myself are the following: I'm going to the BACKSTREET BOYS (!!!!!!!) concert as well as a music festival later on in the summer!! I'm super excited for both.
The rest of my bucket list is as follows:
1. Visit at least 10 state parks and go adventuring. My dad got me a state parks pass as a gift for finishing my second year of teaching and I intend to use it liberally.
2. Go camping. Twice.
3. Read a lot! My goal is to finish 5 books if not more.
4. Volunteer at least once.
5. Walk around the chain of lakes in Minneapolis.
6. Continue growing plants on my deck! Hoping I get flowers sometime!
7. Help my mom pick her fruits/veggies and do some canning.
8. Do at least one thing that scares me.
9. Travel by myself.
10. Adventure on my bike. Start running errands on my bike and discover new trails.
11. Run my first 5k!
I'm really excited for all the possibilities. What are some of the things on your summer bucket list?
Monday, May 26, 2014
That one moment in time...
Has there ever been one particular moment in time that literally changed your life? I've been thinking about this recently. One moment, one decision, one thing, one action, one person, can change your life.
My Moment happened in 7th grade. I was really awkward with a face full of acne, clothes that weren't trendy, and I was taller than EVERYONE. I stood out when all I wanted to do was fit in. I remember trying to make friends. The people I was trying to befriend were more of "frenemies" if you will. They would talk about me behind my back. They would embarrass me on purpose. They would make fun of me. And all I wanted was for them to like me for who I was.
I ate lunch alone. I sat at my table by myself for the longest 25 minutes of the day. I was overwhelmed by all the noise and everyone who had their big groups of friends where I had no one. I just wanted to fit in, but I didn't. It was this way for about six months.
I was in band and I was good at it. I had kind of talked to some of the other girls in the flute section, and one in particular seemed pretty fun. I had been watching her and her friends eating at lunch from afar. They looked like they had so much fun together. I recognized the others as people who were also in band. For whatever reason, my seventh grade self decided it was time to step waaaaay outside of her comfort zone. When I finished my lunch, I dumped my tray and it took all the courage I possessed to go sit with these girls I had been watching from afar. I silently sat down next to them, on the edge of the group afraid to even introduce myself. I observed them and laughed along with them. It felt SO GOOD. The next day, I sat down with them again and I was brave enough to tell them my name. Each day got easier, and I finally felt like I fit in. I didn't necessarily want to be popular, I just wanted a group, as every 12-13 year old does.
That moment literally changed my life. Some of the girls are still my best friends to this day. Through them I found myself. They encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone and I started coming out of my shell. I realized that there was more to life than eating lunch in the corner. I opened up -- a lot -- and I wasn't as shy and I wasn't as afraid to speak my mind anymore.
As a teacher, I see the people who are just like I was when I was in 7th grade. Shy, quiet, and oftentimes they are sitting outside the group looking in just wanting someone to accept them for who they are. I reach out to these students in particular because I can relate to how they're feeling. Ultimately I think that has made me a better teacher. I can spot kids who really just need someone to talk to and to know they're not alone. I try to include them whenever possible so that they don't feel left behind.
The girls I befriended at age 13 will be bridesmaids in my wedding whenever that may be. They are the people I still go to when I need to vent or when I need advice. They've seen me through a lot of stuff, yet they still love me. Had I not gone to sit with them that one day, I don't know if I ever would have gotten to know them and I think my life would have taken a different path. I wish I could go back and thank my 7th grade self for being so uncharacteristically bold.
What was your Moment?
My Moment happened in 7th grade. I was really awkward with a face full of acne, clothes that weren't trendy, and I was taller than EVERYONE. I stood out when all I wanted to do was fit in. I remember trying to make friends. The people I was trying to befriend were more of "frenemies" if you will. They would talk about me behind my back. They would embarrass me on purpose. They would make fun of me. And all I wanted was for them to like me for who I was.
I ate lunch alone. I sat at my table by myself for the longest 25 minutes of the day. I was overwhelmed by all the noise and everyone who had their big groups of friends where I had no one. I just wanted to fit in, but I didn't. It was this way for about six months.
I was in band and I was good at it. I had kind of talked to some of the other girls in the flute section, and one in particular seemed pretty fun. I had been watching her and her friends eating at lunch from afar. They looked like they had so much fun together. I recognized the others as people who were also in band. For whatever reason, my seventh grade self decided it was time to step waaaaay outside of her comfort zone. When I finished my lunch, I dumped my tray and it took all the courage I possessed to go sit with these girls I had been watching from afar. I silently sat down next to them, on the edge of the group afraid to even introduce myself. I observed them and laughed along with them. It felt SO GOOD. The next day, I sat down with them again and I was brave enough to tell them my name. Each day got easier, and I finally felt like I fit in. I didn't necessarily want to be popular, I just wanted a group, as every 12-13 year old does.
That moment literally changed my life. Some of the girls are still my best friends to this day. Through them I found myself. They encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone and I started coming out of my shell. I realized that there was more to life than eating lunch in the corner. I opened up -- a lot -- and I wasn't as shy and I wasn't as afraid to speak my mind anymore.
As a teacher, I see the people who are just like I was when I was in 7th grade. Shy, quiet, and oftentimes they are sitting outside the group looking in just wanting someone to accept them for who they are. I reach out to these students in particular because I can relate to how they're feeling. Ultimately I think that has made me a better teacher. I can spot kids who really just need someone to talk to and to know they're not alone. I try to include them whenever possible so that they don't feel left behind.
The girls I befriended at age 13 will be bridesmaids in my wedding whenever that may be. They are the people I still go to when I need to vent or when I need advice. They've seen me through a lot of stuff, yet they still love me. Had I not gone to sit with them that one day, I don't know if I ever would have gotten to know them and I think my life would have taken a different path. I wish I could go back and thank my 7th grade self for being so uncharacteristically bold.
What was your Moment?
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Why I do what I do.
My job has never been "just a job"
to me. It's a passion. Though there are some days when I feel like
I REALLY earned my paycheck, the good outweighs the bad by far.
Teaching band is one of the greatest things ever.
I had a concert last night for my
biggest school. The kids there all started on their instruments in
late October so they are all beginners. They are all little sponges
for everything music. They take everything that I teach them and
they run with it. They are proud to be part of the band. They think
it's the coolest thing ever. Lots of parents came up to me after the
concert and told me how they always hear about how cool I am and how
cool band is. One parent told me "My daughter thinks you walk
on water. She loves you so much." That in and of itself is so
humbling, and it makes me so proud to be part of their lives.
I remember my very first year in band.
I was good at it and I absolutely loved my band director. To this
day I remember my lessons with Mr. Jenni. He has taught beginning
band in the district I grew up in for 40+ years. When I was in high
school I wondered why he loved it so much because in beginning band
you master Hot Cross Buns and Jingle Bells and the music is not very
complex. But now that I'm teaching, I realize why he loves it so
much. Beginning band kids are so fun to teach. They have energy and
excitement and motivation. Not to mention seeing them go from their
very first notes to performing a full concert is pretty incredible.
There were many great moments at the
concert last night, I think I will always remember how it felt when
the principal publicly thanked me for all my hard work and my band
started hollering and cheering loudly for me. When I decided to go
to college to become a band director, it was because of the sense of
community I felt in my bands in school. I loved the fact that I had
made so many great friends in band and that it gave me a sense of
belonging. It was really cool being part of something so much bigger
than myself. I was REALLY proud to be a part of band. And now, I'm
able to create for these kids that same feeling and that exact same
environment. That in and of itself is powerful.
In February, a woman who was my church
music director in elementary school passed away at age 52. Donna Mae
was a huge inspiration to me and she was a big reason for why I fell
in love with music in the first place. She was inspirational in many
ways and I always looked up to her. She was kind, compassionate,
joyful, and she absolutely loved everyone. I've never met a kinder
woman. I think about her on occasion when I'm teaching because I
find myself doing things that she used to do. In this particular
school, I feel like I am the "Donna Mae" that these kids
needed in their lives.
I have 100% retention in this
particular band for next year. Every single student has already
signed up for band next year. I was amazed at how many parents told
me that their kids love having me as their teacher. When I told the
kids that I was going to be back next year they started cheering. I
love that band is the cool thing to do in that school and we're going
to go on to even bigger and better things in years to come.
It's a powerful thing to be someone's
very first band director. They will always remember their first year
in band. I hope that they will look back on it and have fond
memories of it. After all, these kids are the reason why I do what I
do.
Monday, May 19, 2014
I Have Crohn's Disease
Crohn's Disease has changed my life in lots of ways. Crohn's is a form of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS. It isn't something I talk about at all really. Only a handful of people who I know in real life know that I suffer from it. It most definitely is an embarrassing illness to have to deal with, and it doesn't exactly come up in day to day conversation. You can probably guess what some of the symptoms are. If you can't, look them up. I will spare you details in this post. I have issues digesting certain things due to lesions on my bowel. Thus, there are times when I have stomach issues and just can't digest things properly.
I was diagnosed with Crohn's at age 17 in January 2006. I had been suffering for quite some time up until that point. I originally started having issues May of 2005. I didn't tell my parents and tried to suffer in silence because I thought maybe it was a kind of flu or something and it would go away. Well, when I started visiting the bathroom much more frequently and in the middle of meals and when I was in there for an extended period of time, they noticed. I was losing weight, and not in a healthy way. I couldn't keep any food down and that which I did eat went right through me.
I went to my regular doctor who had me do a bunch of tests: blood work, samples, allergy checks, everything he could think of that was causing my gut to react poorly. Everything came back negative. He then referred me to a Gastrointestinal (GI) specialist in the office. I visited him a few times. I had more blood work done and more tests, including an upper GI test where I had to drink two 16 ounce cups of barium. Yeah. Not fun. He exhausted all his nonintrusive options and he said the next step was a colonoscopy. My 17-year-old self said no freaking way. I was NOT about to have a camera shoved up my butt. My parents tried to convince me, but I had made up my mind.
Logically, my brain knew I had to do the colonoscopy, but my body didn't want to go through that. I was a senior in high school...I didn't want to go through what I thought was an old person's procedure. But I didn't get better. I kept on having to ask my teachers to go to the bathroom every hour, and I kept on having to stay in there for 10-15 minutes. I FINALLY reached my breaking point. One day in January I told my mom that I was ready and she could schedule a colonoscopy.
I had to fast the day before so I spent my lunch working on homework in the library. I ate my chicken broth and lime Jello and pretended it was real food. The night before I had to take a gross laxative to clear out my system. Ickkkkk. The next day, I had my procedure. They put me under and I don't remember a thing about it. I remember being embarrassed about showing my bare naked butt to the doctor, but at that point I just wanted to eat real food again so I got over it real fast. I woke up and it was done and I had answers. He showed me the lesions on my intestine and explained that they were clear signs of Crohn's. Instead of being scared I was relieved. I finally had answers. I could finally get better. I was 40 pounds lighter because of being sick -- I had needed to lose weight, but it I had lost it for the wrong reasons. (Side note, I've since gained all that weight back, ugh.) I was tired of not being able to eat without worrying about it affecting my digestive system.
I had the day off from school so I spent the day recovering and working on my make up homework. I was put on the drug Pentasa which helped me to digest things again. After a few days on my meds, I felt closer to normal than I had in months. I had answers. I only had a mild case. I felt like I could finally live again.
Crohn's still affects me daily and it definitely doesn't simplify my life. There are still times when I have to excuse myself to make a quick pit stop. There are days when I feel like crap (pun very much intended) but I can't take the day off from work. I work through it most of the time. I automatically look for the bathrooms whenever I'm in a new place. I still avoid some foods, but I'm able to eat others. There are days when I feel gross and days where I feel pretty dang normal. I stopped taking Pentasa for a few years because it was almost making me worse, but I had to go back on it recently due to increased flare-ups. Again, I'm finding it helps. I feel as close to normal as I think I can feel.
My closest friends, family, and my boyfriend know about it and that's about it. I don't particularly like talking about it for obvious reasons, but sometimes I wish I was more comfortable. I think this post is a start. I have Crohn's Disease and I'm not ashamed.
I was diagnosed with Crohn's at age 17 in January 2006. I had been suffering for quite some time up until that point. I originally started having issues May of 2005. I didn't tell my parents and tried to suffer in silence because I thought maybe it was a kind of flu or something and it would go away. Well, when I started visiting the bathroom much more frequently and in the middle of meals and when I was in there for an extended period of time, they noticed. I was losing weight, and not in a healthy way. I couldn't keep any food down and that which I did eat went right through me.
I went to my regular doctor who had me do a bunch of tests: blood work, samples, allergy checks, everything he could think of that was causing my gut to react poorly. Everything came back negative. He then referred me to a Gastrointestinal (GI) specialist in the office. I visited him a few times. I had more blood work done and more tests, including an upper GI test where I had to drink two 16 ounce cups of barium. Yeah. Not fun. He exhausted all his nonintrusive options and he said the next step was a colonoscopy. My 17-year-old self said no freaking way. I was NOT about to have a camera shoved up my butt. My parents tried to convince me, but I had made up my mind.
Logically, my brain knew I had to do the colonoscopy, but my body didn't want to go through that. I was a senior in high school...I didn't want to go through what I thought was an old person's procedure. But I didn't get better. I kept on having to ask my teachers to go to the bathroom every hour, and I kept on having to stay in there for 10-15 minutes. I FINALLY reached my breaking point. One day in January I told my mom that I was ready and she could schedule a colonoscopy.
I had to fast the day before so I spent my lunch working on homework in the library. I ate my chicken broth and lime Jello and pretended it was real food. The night before I had to take a gross laxative to clear out my system. Ickkkkk. The next day, I had my procedure. They put me under and I don't remember a thing about it. I remember being embarrassed about showing my bare naked butt to the doctor, but at that point I just wanted to eat real food again so I got over it real fast. I woke up and it was done and I had answers. He showed me the lesions on my intestine and explained that they were clear signs of Crohn's. Instead of being scared I was relieved. I finally had answers. I could finally get better. I was 40 pounds lighter because of being sick -- I had needed to lose weight, but it I had lost it for the wrong reasons. (Side note, I've since gained all that weight back, ugh.) I was tired of not being able to eat without worrying about it affecting my digestive system.
I had the day off from school so I spent the day recovering and working on my make up homework. I was put on the drug Pentasa which helped me to digest things again. After a few days on my meds, I felt closer to normal than I had in months. I had answers. I only had a mild case. I felt like I could finally live again.
Crohn's still affects me daily and it definitely doesn't simplify my life. There are still times when I have to excuse myself to make a quick pit stop. There are days when I feel like crap (pun very much intended) but I can't take the day off from work. I work through it most of the time. I automatically look for the bathrooms whenever I'm in a new place. I still avoid some foods, but I'm able to eat others. There are days when I feel gross and days where I feel pretty dang normal. I stopped taking Pentasa for a few years because it was almost making me worse, but I had to go back on it recently due to increased flare-ups. Again, I'm finding it helps. I feel as close to normal as I think I can feel.
My closest friends, family, and my boyfriend know about it and that's about it. I don't particularly like talking about it for obvious reasons, but sometimes I wish I was more comfortable. I think this post is a start. I have Crohn's Disease and I'm not ashamed.
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