Sad Day

R.I.P. Howard Zinn -- one of my heroes. His death is an enormous loss to the world.

Ah, Kindergartners

I've been back in school for 3 days, and the cuteness is pretty darned cute. A quote from yesterday: "Ms. Grindrod, I'm going to the bathroom. I have to go poop, so I might be gone for a while, just in case you're wondering." I guess she was afraid I'd suspect her of playing in the bathroom, which is one of my pet peeves.

Same child returned from lunch today with a speck-sized hangnail and quickly escalated to a wail of "It's bleeeeeding! I need a baaaaaand-aid!" "Yes, I can see that it's gushing blood," I replied. "We may have to call the custodian to mop up." My sarcasm was lost on her, as she agreed with me. I was to drop everything and get a band-aid -- which I did.

On the way to the cafeteria for lunch, another child earnestly suggested that everyone should have to genuflect before eating their lunch. (She didn't actually say "genuflect"; she just gave a demonstration.) I tactfully told her that I didn't think a requirement like that would go over to well in [public] school.

Later on she couldn't find her library book and was becoming quite upset. When we finally found it, she told me "I think the Lord helped us find it!" (Kind of reminds me of my mom. She'd say, "Which of you spilled cocoa on the counter and didn't wipe it up?" We'd all brush her off: "I don't know. It wasn't me …" and exasperated, she'd snap "I suppose the dear Lord did it!")

Ah, it's good to be back!