No Matter, There

…I’ve really missed blogging. Usually, I blog when I’ve had a chance to reflect on what I’m doing, or what I’ve read. It means that I’ve existed in a universe where reading, doing, and reflection can all be carried on. My next post will be just such a post, on how my middle school students have surprised me with their choices already this year, and I’m already enjoying beginning to write it.

So, where have I been existing (a la STNG’s Sisko or Monk and the Captain’s wife–props if you get the references)?

Lately, I’ve been attempting to keep up with a spate of “shifts.” Life hasn’t had it’s normal ebb and flow of movement, reformation, and movement, like the progress of the tides. It hasn’t even had the long-heralded, suddenly breaking, deafening collapse followed by echoing silence in which to take stock, as an avalanche might. Concurrent, juxtaposed, opposed, unexpected, and unprecedented changes have made living through this past summer more like riding a wild bull during an earthquake, in a streambed as the dam breaks and the world’s most spectacular Aurora Borealis carries on overhead. It had to be endured, held onto, ridden out, swum with, and appreciated. I have been in the nexus of so much movement.

Things aren’t ever going to get back to normal. That normal is gone. But, I’m finally getting some breathing room. For now, a few things have been temporarily shored up. The school opened for a new year with a new Head of School (Interim), a newly-developed (by volunteer talent) school webpage to coordinate, expanded classroom time (yes!) with several of my groupings–and, on a personal front, new gray hair, new urgency to getting my parenting affairs in order (for example, everyone in my family here except for my autistic son will fly to Scotland on a plane this November–I really need to set up some provisions for him before we go, just in case something happens to the rest of us; my youngest son is bright and working way above his grade level, and I need to find a place for him to continue his education when he moves beyond this current school and its flexible groupings–that time is coming faster than it seems it should), my eldest boy has become a “joint author” and game designer before finishing college, even; and I’ve become a grandmother thanks to a new grandson in Scotland!

So, I am glad to finally say: I’ve got my curriculum organized, my tickets to fly to the UK and an apartment rented in Edinburgh for November break, and I’ve caught up reading the hundreds of posts waiting for me in my daily reading aggregator. Yes! I think, barring more unusual developments, I will be reflecting and blogging once again. At least, until progress reports are due…

Sigh. ;^)

Hope your summer life has proceeded more in a tidal rhythm, rather than in my epic adventure fashion.

Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/zieak/508973242/

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