The Little Bear Who Slept Through Christmas

Do you guys remember that story? I think the little bear decided to hibernate all winter, despite the fact he'd miss Christmas??? I dunno... I'm thinking I might just take him up on his offer... Along about this time I am reminded of a night long ago when my little son (who was then about three and is now about 28....) looked around at a huge group of people who had met at our house to play Trivial Pursuit... He got so giddy and excited and he simply erupted in a long squeal, "We're-all-here-and-we're-all-having-fun-and-we're-all-havin-a-party-and-we're....." with that he sighed very deep and began to bawl because he could think of not one more thing we were all..... I am at that point tonight. I am overwhelmed. 107 students. I feel as if I am talking at the top of my voice every minute of the day, either trying to explain, trying to encourage, trying to SHUT THEM UP (not nice, but true).... I punctuate every sentence with a coo of "shhhhhh... listen! Be busy..."...... I know teachers are notorious for burnout in January, and I am no exception.... but November also brings a kind of blurry burn that ebbs at my spirit... I used to hate November, but no more. I lost a lot of family members during this month, and I didn't enjoy thinking about that as a younger woman... Now, (insert bitter laugh) I have lost family and friends in all months... so November hasn't that betrayal as death's month any more.... (rather a questionable positive thought, eh?.)

So.... I have decided to just stop this post and get some sleep... perchance to dream.... I know many times we get snippets of songs in our heads and they won't go away... My head, however, plays snippets of English stories... and today it plays the final words to Great Gatsby... "Tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And then one fine morning—So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."