Kar’s Korner….time for reflection, venting, and fun!

So, my day begins.  I’m still a little bitter about the fact that I woke up in amidst a hot flash a few hours prior and immediately stormed the house in a sweaty panic looking for an extra fan to cool my hot self back to sleep.  Thank you, sister, for your prompt attention to this matter.

On the other hand, I am pretty satisfied with my night’s sleep because it was one of those that erroneously seemed to last much longer than it truly was.  Then I kinda got startled as I opened my bedroom door and noted that the TV was still blasting and realized our windows were wide open with the blinds pulled back revealing everything to the world.  I then realized my sister’s friend had opted to crash in the middle of our family room as my sister’s room resembled more of a hot sauna or steambath than comfortable sleeeping accommodations.

As I rushed and got ready for work, I was feeling pretty proud of my 12 minute timing and was ready to head out the door with my lunch, dinner, and snacks packed for the day along with a bag to go to the gym right after tutoring.  Totally on it for a Monday, if I do say so myself.  I jumped in RegEnDev ready for the week which includes building a bike for my upcoming triathlon, having my mom visit during work Wednesday,  two days of sub coverage to get stuff done for the impending testing that’s right around the corner, and a weekend FCA reunion in Santa Barbara.  So, really, a pretty stellar week up ahead.  You know you’re jealous.

So, I continue along my merry way.  I remember seeing several of the same students I see everyday at the bus stop and wonder if they’re beginning to recognize me as well…or if I’m too sporadic in my departure times to really even be noted.  I go through one stop sign, then another.  And that’s when I hear it.  We all know the dreaded sound.  Sirens.  And not just any sirens.  Sirens that are clearly after you.  So I obligingly pull over and here’s the conversation that followed after I manually rolled down Reg’s window (thankfully the sticky sticker has given way enough that this is a possibility; not so a few days ago):

Officer: “So, do you know why I pulled you over?”   

Me:  “Yeah, I just ran a stop sign”

Officer: “Two actually.  And the second one I was right behind you.”

Me: “Oh, yeah.  Oops.”  Must have been when I was looking for my make up brush to scoop up some of the make up that spilled on my middle console and that I still use daily for the sake of saving money.  Don’t think this interaction is gonna help any in the save money department.

Officer: “Are you in a hurry to go to work?  Where do you work?”

Me: “Yeah, I guess.  I’m a teacher at Gompers Middle School in Watts.”  Yeah, I admit it…trying to get mercy points here.  I mean something’s gotta give, right?!  It’s Monday morning!

Officer: “Woah, that might be more dangerous than my job…license and registration?”

Me: Actually, after the recent news and local street closings due to your fellow officers being shot and the shooters subsequently found hiding in my neighbor’s jacuzzi, I find it hard to believe you really think my job is more dangerous. “Actually, I just bought my car and interestingly enough, my registration got in the mail Saturday and I didn’t bring it with me.  I do have my license.  Although, the address is wrong.  I did go to the DMV and tell them about the address change” Too much information, I know.  What I didn’t say was that I updated my address two years ago at my previous address change, in which they never sent me a new license.  Really doesn’t seem like my problem though.  Disorganization serves noone good.

So, that’s how it got started.  But, the big revelation came next.  As he was writing my ticket, I found myself enjoying my time just sitting.  I had the opportunity to apply makeup without having to worry about driving at the same time, which I found to be much safer, less stressful, and led to a more even application.  I also was able to sing along to Matt Redman and really started thanking God for the reminder to just sit and savor time with him.  And that’s subsequently when I realized I am absolutely too busy.  To be praising God for a traffic violation solely for the opportunity to sit is pretty sick.  I need a change of life pace.  And soon.  All of this peace lasted about three to five minutes until I realized I was blocking a driveway in which two cars were waiting to leave.  I tried moving to let them out…but, you guessed it…cops aren’t too fond of that.  He loudly proclaimed they could wait and I sat where I was.  Embarrassing.

But, he did apologize for yelling at me afterwards and “just gave me a citation for running the one stop sign since that’s what he was put there to do since they’re having problems with it lately”.  Well, no wonder.  It’s a pointless stop sign.  And I probably run it three times daily.  So, really, I can’t be too mad.  The nice officer “just advised me on the second stop sign” rather than citing me twice for the same violation one block apart from each other.  What a saint!

Any other interesting citations amongst my blogging friends?

Lately, I feel that I really need to take a time out to think about all the things my mind and heart are trying to learn from my students.  Does that make any sense?  I will try to explain but feel myself about to get caught up in random ramblings rather than anything of importance or clarity….we shall see!

So, this weekend was jam-packed of students.  I’m talking jam-packed (I’m trying to think of a good analogy here but nothing’s coming to mind).  I, and two other dear co-workers/friends, took ten students to Shakey’s pizza on Friday afternoon for passing all of their classes with above a 2.0 and S’s and E’s in work habits and cooperation!  This was an on-going promise throughout the semester and I didn’t realize half of my students would qualify (some couldn’t make the trip)!  I was so impressed and we had a great time (I even swindled the guy down to under $100 for the whole party…persistence pays off!)  As I went to drop my group of students off, I made sure to leave them literally at their door in the hands of their parents.  I mean, really, am I gonna throw a teenager on the streets in South Central at 7pm?!  I think not.  Anyways, one student had a really big problem with this.  She didn’t want me walking her to the door because “her mom is chunty”…whatever that means (watch, it’s probably something really inappropriate I’ve just written forever on this post…).  Luckily, I found a parking spot not too far away from her house and was able to lock the remaining two students in the car and walk her up.  It turns out that her and her mom are living in a one bedroom trailer that someone might hitch to the end of their truck to take on a camping trip.  And it is placed, without wheels, in the front yard of someone else’s home.  No wonder she didn’t want me to walk up while the other students would watch.  My heart broke a little leaving here there and realizing I would have never known her circumstances otherwise because she presents herself so differently at school.  As I re-read that, I am not even sure what I am trying to say.  But maybe you know what I mean?

Saturday I picked up a student at 8am to go to a track clinic put on by Malachi Davis at Santa Monica High School.  This is my now-famous student, Ladejeisha.  She has never been formally trained in her running before but loves running and truly has the athletic build of a runner (she’s somehow now convinced me to form a ‘running’ club afterschool on Wednesdays…she knows how to get things done!).  I was so proud of her being thrown in the midst of high school runners and doing just fine.  I even left her there to go work out, get ready, and pick up three students from last year.  We drove out to get her (and all of the gear she got there!)…she told me how she had been trying to read the signs along the school’s wall and had met a bunch of the other athletes.  The five of us then drove to Pasadena to watch a step show put on by a Historically Black College Expo that was going on.  And it lasted 3 1/2 hours.  Seriously.  By then, it was 7:30 and I still wanted to take them to dinner at a decent place.  So, after a trip to Island’s, it was 10pm before I got them home!  Ooops! 

Then comes Sunday morning…I get up at 6:30 to pick up my mentee, Rosalyn.  She was chosen to lead her Leadership group’s presentation of their Business Plan for a student store on their school’s campus.  I was truly impressed, inspired, and in awe of their performance.  They were the only group of all 9th graders and Rosalyn was even told by a seasoned judge that, “she was the best speaker he had ever heard and she needed to hone that skill”.  I mean, seriously, this girl is going places!  If she wants to.  I am proud to be a part of her life.  They ended up “losing” that day…meaning they didn’t bring home the $1,000 prize.  The grand prize, along with three others, went to Santa Monica High School.  Which is a little frustrating on my part knowing all of the resources that are there.  However, like I told Rosalyn, you don’t want to win just because of where you live.  Watching their reactions was an interesting experience as well.  I was proud they kept on their front and were able to clap for the recipients, but I could see the tears stinging their eyes.  Rosalyn let loose afterwards, but at least it was around her group rather an in public.  It’s all about the when and where, folks!  That day wrapped up around 5pm.  See what I mean about jam-packed?

Today, a student stayed in during 3rd period to discuss his father with me.  His dad is elderly and Leo is the only one at home with him. Leo’s dad has been having a lot of problems with his eyes and Leo has spent the last five days at home taking care of his dad, bringing him to eye appointments (via bus and taxi), and trying to organize further appointments.  He is 13 years old and is reading at the 3rd grade level and is put in a position where he is essentially the sole care-provider for his aging father.  Leo just kept saying, “I’m just so tired. I’m just so tired”.  He is having to cook, clean, bring his laundry to his mom’s house since his dad’s place doesn’t have facilities, coordinate times with the “care taker” he has at times…but who doesn’t always have transportation herself.  I just can’t imagine being in this position as a 7th grader.  I remember seeing my dad on crutches when I was younger and hiding behind a couch just staring at him because it was so weird to see my dad: someone who was supposed to be invincible and protect me, be in a debilitating position.  But, something tells me this is just the beginning of it for Leo.  And my heart goes out to him.  And the rest of my students and all of the people in this world today who have the weight of the world upon their shoulders and are just trying to make it by.  God bless them.  Truly and immensely.  I don’t know if I could do it, but I sure am glad that each one of them are because I am learning more every day through their example.