Old?

When I first started working in education I worked with a 4th grade teacher who was most likely over 30 years my senior. She had experience and was my mentor. As a matter of fact and out of respect I would have never called her "old." One day, a student asked her a question, common to unflinchingly candid students of his ilk: "How old are you?" She returned with deadpan off-handedness that she was 100 years old. Most students took this in stride and either accepted it or ignored it. We moved on. Or so I thought. A few minutes later, the same kid's hand rose and you could see his seriousness painted on his face.
"Excuse me, Mrs. S . . ."
"Yes?"
"Um, I don't really think you're 100 years old."
"Oh? You don't?"
I thought he caught on that she was not that old and just had to call her on it.
"No, I don't. You see, my brother had you a few years ago, and he told me you said then that you were 100 years old..."
Ok, she was busted, right?
"...and that was 4 years ago, so that makes you at least ..."
Wrong. I almost snorted when I heard this. Good thing the teacher had a sense of humor.
Now yesterday, I was picking up my students up from recess and we got into a discussion about who was the fastest in the 5th grade and I added that it would be me if teachers were included. That was followed by a lot of laughter with many kids saying that it wouldn't even be a contest and that I should just be happy I could walk. Huh?
After some trash talking on both sides, when pressed as to why they thought they could beat me in a foot race, one boy expressed that it was because I was old and since he was young and full of energy that he could beat me with no problem. I asked all of the kids who thought that they could beat me in a race and almost all of them emphatically thought they could.
A few of them were quite sure of it.
Today, I raced this group of students and let's just say that it wasn't much of a contest.
And they are not calling me old anymore.

Soccer Dad

Last year, my daughter started playing on a soccer team. I was so proud of her. Both kids have attended my games, and I thought it was cool that she was starting to play now. At first she was a bit shy and did not understand the idea of team play, but she quickly learned the rules and developed her skills. Her team eventually went on to win every game (although officially no score was counted - I did!).
This season, my son is starting on his first team and therefore both kids will be playing. After work today, I will repeat the proud moment I had last year shopping for cleats, shin guards and clothes for my daughter, this time for my son.

Needed a vacation from my vacation

Wow, I haven't written anything for over a month! I think I needed a vacation from my vacation. My trip was absolutely amazing and a success for the goals that I had set, so it has been a busy time catching up on life in general. School has started up again and with the new crop of 5th graders comes a whole new set of raw material!
As far as the novel I am working on (and the 'purpose' of my UK leg of the trip), I have a better understanding for what I was looking for -- enough that I have to go and edit some of my material to make it more historically accurate. It is exciting to know what may have actually been, historically speaking, but sometimes it is hard to let go of something you wrote - even if it is not accurate. The laborious task of editing has begun. Wish me luck.