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January 31

 It is 4 a.m. and I am up getting ready to return to Charlotte.  This is an early rise for most days but a number of us stayed up to 1 a.m. last night talking in the lobby.  It was like a group of long lost friends afraid to go to bed knowing that these will be our last face-to-face conversations for a long time.  As I make it blurry eyed to the breakfast table others are making their way down.  There is anxiety in the air since the snow and ice that has blanketed much of the country means delays.  But soon the conversation turns to the festivities of the night before.

Last night was a coat and tie dinner affair.  Everyone showed up in their finest attire and people were taking pictures of new dear friends.  Celebration and jocularity was the theme for the night.  Unfortunately someone suggested that during a picture of the “guys” that someone needed to do a split in front.  So, some extremely limber old guy did just that.  WOW!  It surprised everyone.  I do not want to mention names but…I personally know no muscle or ligaments were pulled. 

It was a great evening of being with some of the best teachers across the nation.  The funny thing is, as I type this I still do not know why I am among this group.  There are so many great teachers in my school district that any one of them could have been named District Teacher of the Year.  Then thinking back to being at the Winter Workshop last year with all of those outstanding teachers… I am sooooo humbled to be asked to represent the state of South Carolina.  I always grapple with how to express my appreciation for this opportunity to represent so many excellent teachers.  I feel so inarticulate at such times but I do know my place, a humble servant to all the teachers that make a difference.

Well, back to the gala… they presented the four finalists for National Teacher of the Year.  You could pick four at random in this group of teachers and could not go wrong.  They picked four jewels of teachers from a display case of precious gems…less one rock head from South Carolina.  The final keynote speaker was Tony Mullin.  He set the tone for the evening with a fantastic speech to the class of 2010.  As the celebration ended we all stood around talking and almost had to be forcibly removed from the dining hall. 

Several of us retired to the lobby to talk and made plans to stay in touch.  The night quickly passed and it was late and many of us have an early flight….

Back at the airport… I look for a different flight but the only option is stand by and I am not about to take a standby for a guaranteed seat in this weather.  I cannot wait to get home and hug all the lovely ladies that await me there.  As I arrive at the airport the snow and ice has made long term parking a mess.  I have to break thru the ice and  I carefully navigate the parking lot.  I am almost home and call to see what is needed at the grocery store.  You see we live on one of the highest hills in the county with one of the steepest driveways.  If the weather man says there is a possibility of snow then we move our vehicles to the bottom of the hill.  Knowing this I make the call. 

“Yeah you are almost home…get milk!”   That’s it?  Apparently we are well stocked except for milk.  I pull up the hill in our neighborhood and slide in the ice and snow to the bottom of Mount Coburn.  I see some oxygen tanks at the bottom and two little girls waiting to help me carry my luggage up an icy hill.  I must be loved. 

“Did you get the milk!?”…well I do have a special purpose!  I am glad to be home. 

 

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