Breakfast at Tiffany's and more . . .

It was dark and not even humid when I left this morning. Dark, that's typical. Not humid for the end of September in Gulf Coast Texas, not so typical. But I don't think I'd forget anything about this morning, even if it was the most typical of all things typical.

I don't like driving in the dark. Chicken Nugget and I chatted in the early morning darkness on our drive to our friend's house. Our friend AH has a son in CN's grade, and AH is a very nice friend. She loves to have CN hang out with her before school; then she'll drop her son and CN off in the morning.

After a kiss and hug from CN, I hopped back into the car and drove on into the thinning darkness. My mind was going, whirling, and I was nervous. The radio was playing, "Breakfast at Tiffany's," and I found myself singing along and thinking back. Good grief, how did I get here from there? The first time I heard this song was in college, I guess, maybe just after. I can't remember, but a flood of other memories came hurtling toward me. Memories of me before all this. Before kids, before moving away from Arkansas, before being a teacher.

What alarm! Holy cow! I'm a teacher! And what was I to be teaching this morning? As I turned onto Hwy. 90, I remembered. "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." Jonathan Edwards's famous sermon. How's that for a start to your Monday morning? Nothing like some hellfire and brimstone to get your week off right.

I switched stations. "This is the air I breathe," sang Michael W. Smith. That line . . . "and I . . . I'm lost without you . . . I'm lost without you . . . "
How true that has been in my recent life. I prayed for help for today. I prayed for help for lots of things.

Geez Louise. I have to talk about the Puritans, too, even though Edwards isn't technically a Puritan. He's more part of the Great Awakening. What's a Puritan? WHAT'S A PURITAN???? You remember. Funny shoes. Buckles on the hats. Henry VIII. Thanksgiving. OK . . . I remember now. It's going to be OK. I think.

Then it was that song . . . "Let 'em wish that they were not on the outside lookin' bored . . . " Shine, by the Newsboys. Would I shine today? Who would need some light today? Would I be OK enough to be that reflection that they needed? I didn't feel like it.

Classes were good. They were fun. I had fun getting to know the kids. I had fun pretending to be Jonathan Edwards preaching. I hope the kids learned some stuff. It was just the first day. It will get better.

I'm glad I'm a teacher. I liked it today. I'm ready for the rest of it. We'll see how to tomorrow goes before I say too many other things . . .