This Weightlessness, Like Sinking

From Moody Towers












To beach access point #15










I went walking by myself along a beach in Galveston. My friends were concerned because I was gone so long they thought I might have drowned. But I just picked up a rock that was smooth, flat and dark, and fit perfectly in the curve of my right index finger. I rubbed it even smoother as I watched small boys with large crab nets, large men with coolers full of beer, and people with fishing poles greedily eyeing the silver fish that would jump out of the water to tease them. I watched pelicans patrol the island and glide inches above the ocean waiting for those silly silver fish to come too close. But after a while I stopped watching and started in on that rhythm that gets me going. I rubbed my finger along that smooth edge and then let it fly above my head as I walked. Toss, wait (one-two-three seconds above my head), catch. Toss, wait, catch. Toss, wait, catch. In that time where the stone hovered between my eyes and the sun, I traveled backwards and forwards in time and space. I traveled to the asteroid belt and back, down to the heaviest parts of the ocean and up to the most weightless parts of the sky. I hovered there above my head like the stone, then came crashing down and into the sweaty palm of my present.

And then it was gone.

But I held onto that stone and then slowly brought it to my mouth and it was cool and salty on my tongue (just like you, I thought). Afterwards I brought it out and put it back in its place in the curve of my right index finger and I thought "two-toned" (just like me, you said).

Who Knew?

We got off school early today because there was a flood warning. Floods? I thought. There are floods? Well, aparantly Texas is one big swimming pool now. This makes sense because it has been raining ever since I got here, but I guess I never really connected the dots that this would lead to massive flooding. I kind of just figured it was the externalization of my inner moodiness, if that is a word. This just goes to show how completely out of the loop I am. Even if it were flooding in my own backyard, I wouldn't look up from my lesson plans.

I was supposed to be videotaped in class again today. I say 'supposed to be' because, although Anna did come in and turn on the video camera in the corner of my room, about 40 minutes into class I looked over there and realized that one of my incredibly bright students had grown tired of being on camera, so they had covered the lense with a piece of paper. Although I was outwardly angry and gave a lecture, I was secretly very grateful and kicking myself for not having thought of that plan earlier. Guess who is paying her students a dollar to cover up the video camera from now on?

My friend Jamie has also let me in on a little secret. You see, in Teach For America world you are supposed to be able to be observed at any time by anyone--fellow Corps members, Advisors, school directors, visiting teachers, local veteran teachers, etc. However, there are only 3 people allowed in the room at one time. In order to monitor this, we have three "visitor passes" that are in a pouch taped to the outside of the door. Before a visitor walks in the class, they have to grab a visitor pass. If there are no visitor passes available, that means three people are already in the room and no more are allowed in. What is so brilliant about Jamie is that he just grabs all three visitor passes and takes them inside with him when he starts teaching. Score 1 for Jamie.

Assuming that the highways are passable and my friend Shara is not sick tomorrow morning, she and I are taking off to spend a night in Austin. I have found an affordable (sketchy) hotel next to 6th street, and am really looking forward to spending some time in a place that doesn't make me want to claw my face off.

P.S. I passed my texes exam so I guess now I am legally certified to be "the instructional leader in my classroom."

I Need This

I know she wrote it for her dog, but I think I need it to come from someplace else. I need relief in the form of a smiling face. I guess relief in the form of this song will do for now.