what fresh hell is this

I am subbing again.

For music, again.

And today is Wacky Wednesday- so the kids are more out of bounds than usual.

I am *dreading* "arts ensemble" and band...

the longest hour

I am substituting for the music teacher today. *sigh* I feel completely inadequate, as I am not musically literate. It is a serious flaw in my education.

Mostly, I am fine. When it's singing, I'm fine. When it is the lower grades practicing tempo, or beats to the measure, I'm okay.

But now, 5th hour, an "improvisational elective"- not so much.

It's loud.

There are 7 or 8 groups, working on "original compositions", simultaneously, all in this one room.

Fifty minutes never lasted so long.

Mondays with JD

I spend Mondays babysitting my grandson, JD. So much fun. He's nine months old. I'll write more later, and expand upon his *singing with me*- and right now, he is still essentially napping but every few minutes he gets on his hands and knees in his crib and rocks back and forth. He's not fussing or saying anything, just rocking. I can watch on the video monitor.

destiny

My grandmother had some antiquated ideas. They certainly seem antiquated now, and I rejected them as antiquated when I heard them oh so long ago.

Having lived through the Depression and the rationing of World War II, my grandmother always insisted on keeping her driver's license current. This, in spite of the fact that in all the years I knew her, I never saw her drive. Ever. Her husband drove. Or her son, my dad. Or, later one of her grandkids would drive.

She never drove.

But she kept her license up to date. Because, if rationing came back, we'd have another driver's license in the family.

More ration coupons for the family.

When I was in high school, she advised me-- more than once or twice.

"You're a smart girl. You could be a nurse, or a teacher. But make sure that you take typing in high school-- a good secretary can make some money too."

Nurse, teacher, secretary.

Those were the career paths she recommended again and again.

Good jobs for women, until they get married.

Of course, I wasn't especially good at following grandparents'-- or parent's -- advice.

I deliberately turned my back on those career paths.

(Especially the secretarial path.)

It's funny how things work out, though.

I've been an educator, formally and informally, off and on, for the better part of 30 years.

Over the last few years, I've been a caregiver or assisted caregivers.

And now, I'm working part time in the finance department of a school-- when I'm not substitute teaching-- I'm doing filing, research,wordsmithing and typing for others, writing checks, taking notes.

Funny how it works.