Reign of Terror

 

I have read a lot about the French Revolution. I woke up this morning, feeling like we're in for Part 2 of the Reign of Terror. Just change the locale. Watching the slow motion car crash, that is our political system is so frustrating. Hurry up, and start indicting the insurrection collaborators in congress. Watching lawmakers, who basically have committed treason, stroll around, continuing to spew their nonsense is exasperating. It's not like half of them are even legislating. They are obstructing, blocking progress, and enabling corruption.  If you are going to defy a subpoena from a congressional committee, then how about some quality Bastille time? Hurry up, and draft free and fair voting legislation. We're all tired of hearing about how our voting rights are going to be impacted. Do something.

I spent the past week, hoping to not get covid. I was yell-talking to my class through double masks. Isn't it hard enough to explain how to convert mixed numbers into improper fractions? There are large amounts of students out sick. I am sending work home, and teaching, and trying to keep everyone healthy. It is a lot of pressure. A lot. The other day, on the playground, a kindergartener just looked at my face, and came up and hugged me. We're in the trenches, and we're all feeling it. My goal is to NOT have to write ten days worth of sub plans. 

Students are stressed. Kids come in my room to talk after school, during lunch, and during my prep period. I spent the entire week talking with individual students about seizures, divorce, ghosting, covid, depression, family financial problems, counseling, pets dying, and more. After arriving home Friday evening, I just sat in my living room with the lights out, head in hands.

My dad is starting to experience much memory loss. This might be the heaviest worry for me. It is constantly at the back of my mind at all times. My sister and her husband are trying so hard to care for him. I love them so much, and am so grateful.

In the meantime, I took a rapid test, because my throat was sore. The results were negative. But, I'm waiting on the definitive results of yesterday's swab test. And, I'm thinking about how I wasn't asked to provide work for a community gallery show that I've been a part of for eight years. Ouch. Not many people will be visiting galleries during this omicron surge, so I guess that it's not really a huge loss.

With a full heart, and an even fuller head, I'm going out to the clay shed. This is my way of sharpening my pitchfork, to continue to fight on day after day, during these hard times. I can't control anything else in my life right now. But, I can exert some control over the clay. Maybe.