MY FAVORITE SEASON

It's been a few weeks, and I continue to struggle with not having an online computer at home. So, it's to the library (on the weekends, anyway).

Back to Work - Now, back to work, in full, at school I'm getting back into the routine of things. It seems like I've spent countless hours setting up my classroom and getting everything on the walls and such just like I want them. During this time we always go through the routine of the more mundane things like getting pictures taken for our ID badges, assigning lockers, doing morning duty - lunch duty - and after school duty and connecting computers. I guess the more interesting part of things is getting to know my new co-workers - those folks whose first year it is at Carwise. This is one of the more interesting things about the education "business" - it's not like anything else where you just go on and on and evolve - in education, we start over each school year. Everything seems new. I do like this aspect of it, though.

Fall - Well, Fall's not here yet, by any stretch - but the feeling is beginning to happen. It's not the feeling of the weather, it's rather, the feeling of the usual Fall events. The span of time from September until the end of December is my favorite time of the year. I always know it's on its way after I've watched the first Buccaneers preseason football game. I know it has arrived when I get home from my family reunion every Labor Day weekend.

PDL - Something my family calls "PDL" time is fast approaching. PDL stands for Ponce De Leon, which is a tiny town in the panhandle of Florida. US Highway 90 runs through the panhandle (as does Interstate 10 - but that's another story). Medium sized to small to tiny towns dot this roadway about every 10 miles or so, once you're west of Tallahassee. PDL is one of those towns. My father was born and raised there until he was about 10 years old. My late grandparents' family and numerous other relatives are from all around that area. For the last - at least 45 years (or maybe more) we have had a big family get together up there on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. With the exception of 1972, when our car broke down on the way up, and a couple of years in the mid 1980s - we have made this pilgrimage every year. It is one of the highlights of our year, as a family - and certainly a highlight of my year!