Well, I'm still alive -- a little tattered and torn, but still breathing! No, I didn't have an accident, I just finished a very intense semester in my quest to become a school teacher.
The first part wasn't so very bad, but the last part was insane! Then I had a class every day in May, and now I am taking one online. But it is a breeze compared to the semester I just finished.
I will be student teaching next fall. I can't believe it! I started taking online classes, just a couple at a time, in the spring of 2012. I completed the first two years that way. I took summer classes, too, and that made up for not taking two full semesters during the regular school year. I just finished my second full-time year. Wow! So if you are thinking about it, don't wait. It's never too late!
I feel like I have barely gotten to enjoy the last couple of months, though, and May and June are my two favorite months of the year. Everything is so fresh and green, and I just love all the rain we have had lately. My husband and I went "dirt-roading" a couple of weeks ago during one of those rainy evenings. It was great. This area is beautiful, and we meandered for several hours over some barely driven back roads. We saw some pretty scenery and found a couple of interesting old barns. You know me and old buildings! I always wonder how long they have been there, who built them and just wish I could hear their stories.
I am sad to say my dad's old barn is falling into disrepair. I'm sure it is well over 100 years old, and it is a main player in many of my childhood memories. If I was wealthy, I would do something about it but it is not to be.
Anyway, before we know it the Fourth will be here and, after that, the summer just flies! I didn't even have time to make a garden this year, so I will be hitting some local farmers' markets for my fresh veggie fix. Or, maybe, I will just raid my sister's garden. She always makes a big one. I helped her some last year but this year my nose has been in a book too much to be any help. My house is a mess and I have projects piling up, and here I am, sitting on my front porch, writing. I haven't been able to do much porch sitting lately either. I will really be glad when this school thing is over.
I did manage to plant a couple of flower beds, which my dogs promptly dug up. The dogs like to go under the porch where it is cool and the flower beds are on the front of the porch. I thought, if we put up lattice between the porch and flower beds, it might prevent the problem. My husband fixed that up for me and it looks great, but the dogs found a place to squeeze through. I redid the beds and then they redid them to their liking which, unfortunately, is not to mine. So now my husband is working on putting an electric fence around the flower beds. It is a bit unsightly, but at least my flowers will be left to bloom in peace. I hope so, anyway. I love my animals, but sometimes they are such a pain.
My daughter had a beautiful baby girl just a few days ago, so our family is growing. She was grandchild number 10 and number 11 is due in a few more weeks. I am a very lucky grandma.
It is a beautiful early-June evening, so very still right now. There are a few fireflies beginning to show on the lawn. That always reminds me of evenings just like this so long ago, chasing down those lightning bugs and putting them into a mason jar we had filled with grass. Of course, we were barefoot. Supper was over and daddy was watching baseball on TV. Mom was in her rocking chair, having a few minutes rest from her long day. There was cold iced tea in the fridge, and all was well with my world.
I am reminded of these words from the poem, "Rock Me to Sleep" by Elizabeth Akers Allen: "Backward, turn backward, O time in thy flight, and make me a child again, just for tonight." I may not be able to physically go back, but I can close my eyes and remember. It's almost as good!
So, 'til next time, happy memories!
Tamela Weeks is a freelance writer in the Gentry area. She may be reached by email at [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 06/24/2015