CONTROL

It's local election time around here which stirs up all the things.  Local election time used to be cool, but now it's not.  In particular our school board election used to be exciting, now it's terrifying.  What was once an amicable race has turned into political chaos.  It doesn't seem to be focused on the good of the students, teachers, tax payers but focused on control. When I started teaching in a public high school 5 years ago, it was a huge eye opener. Some of the things kids deal with are harder than things I have ever dealt with in my 56 years of life.  What I wish would happen is that all of the board members would spend one full week in my school, all day for 5 days. I wish they would spend time in all levels of classes, from AP to resource.  I wish they would sit with some of my students and listen to their stories.  I wish they would know them like I do and see the repercussions from decisions being made.   I wish they would experience the sadness when they hear their struggles and the joy when they get to be part of their successes.  I wish they would see that we are diverse and come from many places, and that we don't all fit in the same few boxes.  The different points of view, backgrounds, stories of others is part of learning and growing and what makes the world beautiful.  I hope our community can embrace it instead of trying to control it.  The only thing that should be controlled is your own behavior and actions.  You cannot control other people's actions, you can only control your reactions. 

Pavlova!

 I recently went on a food adventure with one of my lifelong friends.  Kelli and I both LOVE baking shows, especially The Great British Baking Show.  She's crushing on Noel, and I'm crushing on Paul Hollywood. After last season, we decided we needed to experience the deliciousness of a Pavlova.  I had never had one, and I don't think she had either.  I contemplated, very briefly, attempting to make one but quickly decided against it; so the search was on.  We discovered a restaurant just a hop, skip and jump away and off we went.  The Aussie Grind serves an aussie style breakfast or lunch.   We planned our trip, so we could choose between the two depending on the time of day; although I'm not one to be conformed to certain types of food at certain times of the day.  Breakfast and lunch are both served all day.  It is a quaint little place, and we were greeted by the friendliest hostess who was, in fact, Australian....BONUS POINTS!  We decided to split an entree and a few desserts, including the Pavlova.  They also have many delicious beverages, including boozy ones, to choose from.  Kelli gave me full reign of the menu, so I ordered the Avo Mash for us to share.  It came with two pieces of avocado toast served on hippie loaf with cherry tomatoes, charred corn, pickled onion, danish feta, baby arugula, and beet whipped cream cheese.  We each got to choose how we wanted our egg cooked that topped it.  After the first bite, I knew that I would be visiting this place again.  Kelli and I both decided that this might have been the best avocado toast that had ever graced our taste buds.  For dessert, of course we ordered the Pav Smash which is made of smashed pavlova, fresh whipped cream, fresh berries and chocolate drizzle; and we also shared an Affogato.  Now y'all know I have a huge sweet tooth and how I feel about coffee, so this Affogato was the icing on the cake or pavlova!  .  I have thought about that meal several times, because the food was amazing, but also because of the conversations shared with one of my dearest friends.  Kelli told me that one of her goals for 2023 was to say "yes", and that is one of mine as well.  Apparently I'm middle aged now, who knew, and I am going to enjoy as much of what's left of my life as I possibly can.   I plan to do things I've been wanting to do for my whole life as well as things I enjoy doing regularly.  I'm going to France this summer, getting the good concert tickets, wearing what I want, caring for my mind and body.  With that being said, I am saying "no" to some things as well...overcommitting to things I don't want to do, relationships that need to end, a cluttered space and a cluttered mind.  The more I've thought about our conversations that day, the more I've realized that it has been a very very long time since I have chosen me, for the pure sake of choosing me.  The time is now, because some of the truest words ever spoken are "We aren't promised tomorrow".