My oldest daughter, Lindsey, had a very interesting end to her senior year of high school. This spring she played her third season of varsity lacrosse. The team was meshing beautifully and working well together, but many injuries, illnesses and concussions plagued the team throughout the season. Excitedly, the girls entered the playoffs. In the first 17 seconds of the first game, Lindsey got possession of the ball. She turned and fell. Pop! The athletic trainer's years of experience led him to believe (correctly) that her ACL and meniscus were torn.
You can only imagine the rush of emotions that followed. While her leg didn't really hurt (but her knee was very swollen), Lindsey's heart was broken. In her mind, she had let her team down.
The girls took their grief over Lindsey's injury and turned it into a force. They played their hearts out. We spent the evening in the trainer's office, and then we heard the news. The team had won the game!!!
Lindsey commented later that week that she was awestruck by all the positive texts, tweets and hugs she received from her teammates and friends. #DoItForLRay was their hashtag. Lindsey and I talked about how she found out, through a terrible event, how much her friends cared about her. We decided that people need to hear caring thoughts, especially when things are going right.
The next few weeks went by in a blur: senior picnic, senior breakfast, prom, a trip to the beach, and graduation. All with a wrapped knee, and a smile on her face, once she decided to make the most of the situation.
Three days ago she had surgery to fix her knee. The texts, snapachats, and visitors are helping keep her spirits high. It's not the summer before college that Lindsey imagined, but I think she will look back and treasure the time spent with her friends.
June 17, 2014
June 3, 2014
A note to my students
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| Read more Slice of Life posts at Two Writing Teachers |
Dear reading students,
This has been an EXCELLENT year, don’t you agree??
I am so proud of ALL of you. Every one of you made progress with your reading, writing and thinking.
You have all grown smarter -- your brains are sponges that continue to grow with all your learning.
I hope I have helped you to be excited about books, reading and learning.
I know I have learned many things from all of you.
I learned that I need to give really good directions.
I learned that I need to show you examples of work.
I learned ways to help you remember to read every day.
Thank you for being respectful, funny and kind students. I have smiled and laughed many times this year.
It’s so much fun to be a teacher.
It’s truly the best job in the world.
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