That Book

Today I taught my final classes for fall semester. Next week I have two great guest speakers lined up to teach for me while I'm out of town presenting my research at my first (and possibly last) research conference. (I say maybe last as I recently received two rejections - one was for a reading research conference in New Zealand so I was disappointed. I've never been to New Zealand; however, I knew if selected it would take up my entire professional development budget anyway so maybe it's a good thing I don't have to "worry" about that - cough). I cannot believe how quickly time has passed. I cannot believe how blessed I was to have had such a wonderful schedule and just 39 incredible students! I really hope they keep in touch as I know they will be awesome teachers one day and I'd love to watch them grow in their careers and to help them and work with them if they desire. I will miss them very much!

BG is very kind to their new professors for the first semester, then we have to teach three classes, instead of just two, like all of the other professors. I also won't have the small numbers like I did this fall (23 in one section and just 16 in the other) but I will have three classes of 30 students for a total of 90 students. Thankfully, it will only be one new prep for me (Language Arts Methods) as my other two classes will be the reading course I taught (and loved) this fall and I will get to have three of the same students I had this fall - yippee!!

Last night, after I read to Shayla, I said to Shayne, "I can't believe, with the dream schedule I had this fall, that I don't have at least two literacy manuscripts ready to send off to try to get published." He said, "For the first time in years, you've relaxed and had so much fun socializing." That is so true, but I vowed to him since I don't have to go back until mid-January that I will indeed "hop to it".


And although not tied into my job at all, I then shared with him that I was ready to finally start working on "that book" I keep talking about, the book I want to write as a tribute to Christi's life, a story of her journey. I shared with him what I want to do, which will be a much different take than what I've watched other parents write. I've not ever seen this approach in a "child cancer story" before. This will definitely be harder to write in many ways; however, I think it will do her life justice in a much better way. There will be no "cut and paste" of old journal entries, but instead a new story will be written. (Sooooooo, that's just one more way to put off something I really don't want to do - order her gravestone marker - off for a while yet.) I'm positive I will learn that writing a book and trying to get it published will be MUCH MUCH harder and will take MUCH MUCH longer than I imagine, but I think I will soon begin. Shayne was very supportive.

Today I also ordered my graduation cake and the corsage for my advisor (and a little one for Shayla too). I can't believe I'm now counting down the days until I graduate from Ohio State! Coming to my celebration will be most of the sweet people who provided childcare for Christi & Shayla during my quest for my Ph.D. I would NOT be graduating without their help and treating them to lunch before the ceremony is my small way to share my appreciation and gratitude with them.

Today's pictures are all from February 2003, shortly after we moved into the Ronald McDonald House of NYC. One is from the Met, the other two from inside that little room we someone lived in for about 9 months. Christi is just five years old. Five years old and diagnosed with cancer - how sick is that?! Oh, I miss that funny little one! I wish SHE would be coming to my graduation day too!