It's All Good

When I decided to write this blog, my goal was to write every day. Of course, I was not thinking about the whirlwind of activity that is my life. Therefore, I have adjusted my goal to writing a couple of times a week. So much has happened in the last three days!

We arrived in Acworth, GA. My brother’s house is my first home on this adventure we are undertaking. Walking in the front door, I knew I would not stay more than a couple of weeks. Patti, on the other hand, will be figured out as we find out what is happening. I am so proud of her! When we moved to Colorado, she had a difficult time stopping the tears. This move is uncertain. She only brought two small suitcases with her. She has been positive throughout! No drama! (For those of you who know Patti, you know this is HUGE!) I had no idea what she packed. Upon walking into her room, I saw pieces of home – pictures, stuffed animals, and stuffed animals. Not sure where she fit her clothes, but she has made the guest room her own.

I debated whether I should unpack or leave my suitcase ready to go for when that call comes. Ultimately, I decided to unpack. No pieces of home for me. Just clothing. (Although, I do have my computer with all of my pictures.) Upon the landing of the plane, I listened to my messages. One of the schools I was interviewing with on Friday had wanted to move it to a phone interview. Today. We played phone tag until 9:15pm. After a day of travel and three days of very little sleep, I had my phone interview. An hour and a half later, I was feeling confident as I headed to bed. He told me he didn’t want to interview anyone else but wanted me for the job. Unfortunately, it has to go through his principal and human resources first. (It has been two days and I am still working with human resources so I can be offered the job.) I unpacked and went to bed knowing I would have a job soon.

Ever since we decided we were going to ‘just do it,’ the toughest part has been figuring out the right thing to do for the girls and school. It was easy to know if Tony got the job in New Hampshire at a high school, Sana would go with him and go to school there. Patti was a bit more difficult. We were keeping an open mind. One of our options was keeping Patti in 7^th grade for another year. When we talked to Patti about it, she was all for it. She tends to have more in common with younger students; she works hard academically; and the uncertainty of what the year will bring and where she will be. Then we walked into Barber Middle School to register her. 1200 students. Patti is coming from schools of less than 150. It was not an option to keep her in 7^th grade. Her grades were too good for that.(The guidance counselor did ask me if homeschooling was an option. Interesting discussion for that one.) When all was said and done, Patti was an 8^th grader excited about her new adventure. Her first day of school was very successful! We have all heard a rundown of the day and the friends she met. She is all set until I get my job and we need to make the tough decision of what happens for her next.

After registering Patti for school, I began my road trip to North Carolina. So people have been so supportive of me and what I am doing. Janet is no exception. I have not seen her in 31 years, yet she was willing to open up her house to me so I would have a place to stay rather than travel 8 hours to my interviews. (Of course, there was the added bonus of getting to visit and rekindle our friendship.)

And now for the interviews…..

Anyone who knows me, knows that a sense of direction is not my forte. I eventually get where I am going, but sometimes it takes a bit longer than originally planned. Things today were not to be any different. Although, this time it was the fault of the GPS. I arrived in Albemarle an hour early. Great! Gave me time to go to the library, check my e-mail, and just breathe a bit. I decided to head to the school a few minutes early only to find I was looking at the OLD middle school sign. The new middle school was a couple of miles away, which wouldn’t have been a problem had the secretary given me better directions. I made it just a couple of minutes late just to be kept waiting for 20. No worries. It gave me time to talk to my competition, a gorgeous blonde. I have always said that I put myself into my job so much, I make sure my body is not a distraction to the students. This woman did not give of herself as much as I do. I have no doubt that the boys (and some girls) will be so busy looking at her that they won’t know what she is saying. The interview went okay. Not my top choice. The jock principal takes awhile to develop. I have worked under a couple. The first couple of years are tough. This was his first year. I think he might do better with the blonde cheerleader as his teacher.

Back in the car at 12:00. My next interview was in Durham at 2:00. It was a two and a half hour drive. I debated calling and canceling. What does it say about a person who is so late for an interview? I called and went to the interview. All three North Carolina interviews have been out of the norm. There has been no committee. Just the principal and I. The two on this day were more conversations than anything else. I was asked about my philosophy on grading. I have had many discussions with teachers and principals throughout the years that I was not okay with a zero or marking students down for late work. Oftentimes, I am in the minority. I was a bit concerned about how to answer the question. But as anyone who knows me knows, I couldn’t sell a philosophy that wasn’t true to me. “Students should be held accountable, but in such a way that they can get the work done. Before school. After school. Whatever. We should not be okay with students not doing the work and getting zeros.” It was music to my ears when she told me they had a ‘no zero’ policy. I am sure in a school of 1600 students that cannot be easy. Upon the end of the interview, she asked if I would be nearby. The principal would be returning and she really wanted to meet me. (I interviewed with the 8^th grade principal.)

I had made an impression on this woman in my e-mails. What got her attention was my ‘impressive resume.’ What kept her attention was my response to her thoughts of having a screening phone interview before I bought airline tickets. I responded, ‘After we talk on the phone, I have no doubt you will want to meet me. Therefore, I am heading your way.’ She brought that up when we met. And then she told me about how she got lost and was late for the interview for her first job. (Did I mention I was 30 minutes late?) It was comforting to know she would not hold that against me.

Tony called telling me he was offered the job in New Hampshire. I am so excited for him! Yet, in the back of my mind I began questioning if and when I would be offered a job. He has had 2 interviews. I have had many more. People are interested, but no contract has been offered. I began to question myself. For about two minutes. I knew I had done the right thing and I brought myself back to that place of peace that it will all work out.

It was time for the long car trip back to Georgia. The top went down, shorts went on, the music was turned up. All-in-all a good day.