Every month since I've been here, there's been something that kept me busy and I needed that. I didn't get the full summer that I usually do, so I didn't get the opportunity to recharge like I would have liked. Add to that a community of loved ones that have missed me and wouldn't let me rest (there's some good to that) and you have one busy life. In August, it was the start of a school year and a new/old romance. In September it was preparation for the crossing (more on that later). In October it was crossing and homecoming. Now in November I can finally kick back with this week-long Thanksgiving break.
The beginning of the school year has gone really well. Extremely well. My principal looks at me as "the golden child". I really can do no wrong in her eyes (as of right now). Part of that has been my recent commitment to really be excellent. I don't know if it was the depression I felt while in New York, but I had forgotten what it really felt like to teach. To spend my nights in my bed with curriculum maps surrounding me while I searched the Internet for fascinating ways to teach the mundane. To collaborate with other educators so that I could really understand what direction to take my students in. To rush into work everyday because I loved to be there. That had been lost somewhere. I got it back though. It may also just be that my principal is really good at saying, do you! And that's what I've done with no paramaters placed on me. For God's sake, she came in to do an informal observation and I was throwing paper planes! But she loved the lesson so much that she bragged on me for weeks! I'm also part of a community filled with coworkers that are far more awesome than I could have imagined. They keep me laughing all day long, and are also good to bounce ideas off of. I had this in NY as well, but we were all so disgruntled with the school itself that we couldn't even begin to collaborate in effective ways.
During August, I also reacquainted myself with someone from my past. He's a great guy. I have no qualms with him, but isn't there a proverb that tells you to never go back to something you left behind? Yeah. It ended and I wasn't sad to see it go. But during that time, I also realized how much I just enjoy dating. I'm an only child. I genuinely enjoy myself. I could entertain me for hours. And laugh and cry and feel and emote and...all with no one watching. So it's very difficult for me to be in a relationship with someone that is not as independent as I am. That was one of the things I loved about my daughter's father. He could care less what I was doing most days because he was so caught up in his own self. So right now I'm happy about dating and meeting these really strong independent individuals because it gives me space to be me.
If you have been reading long enough, you know a couple things about me: 1) I'm part of an African rites of passage group and 2) homecoming is like my 2nd birthday. This year, both of those things became really important during the same time. First we had crossing, which is where a group of people whom have been "journeying" together for a period of time emerge after studying five principles together. There's a huge celebration and it's a really good time.
It is also very overwhelming. Immediately after that, we had homecoming. Anyone whom has ever been to a Spelman/Morehouse née SpelHouse homecoming knows that this is serious business. This year I had entirely too much fun at tailgating. Complete with shots taken off my cleavage and...I've already said too much. Anyhow. Just know I had a really good time.
I even took my nephew out there. What's that? How dare you do inappropriate things with your nephew out there? Yeah...let me show you a picture of my nephew.
Oh, you didn't even know I had siblings? Yes. While I am my mother's only child, I am my daddy's baby. So this beautimous thing is my brother's son. And this is my brother.
Another reason I love being in Atlanta is that it gives me the opportunity for more family time. I've seen my brother four times since July, and I see my nephew at least once a month. I'm actually honored that he finds me "cool" enough to want to spend time with me. I might outparty him!
*update*
So I started this entry almost a month ago. How fitting that my life has become so "full" that I really haven't had the time to finish this. Anyhow, since that week so much has happened. I mean...really...I don't even know where to begin.
My mom came for Thanksgiving. It was good, and it was a lot. My mother and I have a lot of healing we need to do. Nothing deep. But I'm currently working on a scrapbook to give her to see if that can jumpstart things. We already did some work towards that this summer when she came and when she left I felt like we were in a really good place. Nothing has really changed. I just need to stop feeling so heavily judged by her. I'm a natural free spirit. I love the wild and crazy life I lead. Mom is more reserved and finds me a little careless as opposed to carefree. We've just got to find some middle ground. We're getting there.
I got a lot of partying in Thanksgiving week. The Wednesday before I spent the whole day cooking and decided to relax by going out the club with my girls and my nephew. I partied so hard that night that my friend AD couldn't get a picture of me being still. I am literally a blur in almost every picture we took that night because I danced so hard.
The next day at Thanksgiving I had some friends over. That was a lot of fun. We played games and ate well. I even had a rather unexpected visitor: a guy I like. Maybe there will be more about that later. ;-)
Anyhow, I did some more partying that weekend around some different spots.
And just had a glorious time. Maybe next month I'll be able to get you caught up with what happened THIS month! Bwa ha ha ha! Anyhow, for daily updates, follow me at @hella_fine_1908 on twitter, or find me under the name Hella Fine on facebook.
YOU, my friend, live a rich and full life---it's good to see you surrounded by people who love you and dare NOT judge you---i long to live in a circle like that--BUT God knows best---remain blessed, Love!
Posted by: EssenseVibez | 17 December 2011 at 06:35 AM
you lead a blessed and fruitful life more people should take a page out of your book.
Posted by: Melanie | 20 December 2011 at 03:38 PM