I just have some thoughts...

My heart hurts for my kids this morning.

One of our students was shot and killed yesterday afternoon. Literally less than an hour after leaving school. 3 hours prior he had sat in one of my friends classes. I don't know the student...

but I do.

I know him in the faces of everyone of my students who are living the same life.

I received the e-mail about the shooting last night around 11. I was sad about it - but I was tired and selfish and thinking about my own stuff. It wasn't until this morning, when I saw one of my students run into the bathroom and collapse on the floor in sobs that my heart was really heavy.

Or when I saw a line of students who would normally be running up and down the hallway, flashing gang signs, causing a ruckus and generally being loud and obnoxious...but today they were standing quietly in a line.

Or when I saw this huge black kid...who looked to be about 17...the victims age...hugging a teacher and trying to cover his face and the tears streaming down it.

Even right now there is a child sitting in my room crying. We have counseling services set up in the library but she doesn't want to go.

My kids are KIDS. They shouldn't know pain like this. I know kids die. But it shouldn't be the way this student died...the news said:

The 17-year-old Antioch High School student was wounded and then dumped on Hobson Pike just across the county line in Davidson County, Ashe said.

Dumped is the word that stands out in my mind.

I don't know if it is gang related, but a different news source said that two groups of people were meeting...my guess is it was gang.

But yet - in spite of this...it won't be enough to rid my kids of the gang life they are so deeply entangled with...as FRESHMAN.

If things don't change it won't be long before this story becomes the story of one of my students. As tough as they are...and as hard as they want to be - they are kids. Kids who have been let down by society. Kids who have not been given a fair shot. Kids who end up dead on the side of the road because they didn't have the support they needed.

As incredulous as it seems, my prayer is that through his death, at least one child will choose a better life for him/herself.

My first class...

So my first class EVER is leaving. I am in the last 30 minutes with them. I'm not REMOTELY sad. I mean seriously. Not even a little.

Does that make me a terrible person?

STRESS...

I just booked my ticket to Bolivia.

It was the most stressful half hour of my life.

Most of the stress was COMPLETELY my fault.

#1. I waited a WAY LONG TIME to book my ticket - you see, despite what I was told I was CONVINCED that it wouldn't be more expensive. SYKE! (how do you even spell that?)

#2. I just COULDN'T decide when to come back. This is precisely why I waited so long to book in the first place.

I have had this theory that if I would just book a flight I would make everything else work around it...(obviously since the flights are so dadgum expensive).

I was back and forth between the 11th and the 20th. A group is coming in on the 11th and leaving on the 20th. I decided on the 11th. I'm really sad I won't be there with the group. I really enojoyed watching other people fall in love with Bolivia last time. If I think about it I will just get sadder. I want to be there with the group. But the flip of the coin is I HAVE A TON OF WORK TO DO when I get back.

I need to finish my portfolio for school, I have several PD days I need to attend, and I am going to want to spend time with my family and friends.

Now that I am typing it I feel like I should have stayed until the 20th. But - you know what?
If I get there and still decide I need to stay longer...I'll just change the flight. It'll just be a little more money.

What's money?

I think money is dumb and we should move to a barter society.

Ex: Bolivia - I'll come down and explore and love your country and write a book and convince all my friends to come visit if you will just let me come down for free. Deal? Deal!

That's how the world should work.

Anyways...Check back starting June 9th for Bolivia updates!!!!

I'm done...

AND SO ARE MY KIDS.

Sorry for the absence. 1 - I don't have a computer right now...and probably won't for a while.
2 - I've been busy 3 - S left for Colorado FOREVER (or 11 weeks...but that's almost forever right?) 4 - My kids at school have been CRAZY...They are so done w/ school...Not really, but they think they are. Which is worse.

INSANELY WORSE.

And, I swear they are just getting stupider. If anyone ever finds this blog I am going to get fired.

I need to double block my facebook...and make sure I never put my blog address on there. Except I probably will when I go to Bolivia.

Anyways.

Here is an example of how my kids have LOST THEIR MINDS. I swear...sometimes I think they are kindergartners in 9th grade bodies.

Me: Class- this is a test. Do not talk. This is a test. This is the test I gave you study guides for last week. Class this is a test.
Student: Ms. Singleton...you already gave me this.
Me: No I gave you the STUDY GUIDE for it
Student: No, I have a thing that looks just like it but w/out the multiple choice.
Me: I know that was the study guide this is the test.
Student: So when is the test.
Me: RIGHT NOW.
Student: You mean I have to take a test right now?

Does anyone even read this anymore? If there is anyone out there...comment so I don't think I'm talking to myself. I'll be more faithful when I'm in Bo-Town. I swear!

Nashville Floods: Bell Rd. & Blue Hole Rd..mov

This video is a street I pass to go to work!!!

Crazy flooding!

Pray for the many people who have lost so much. We have had power and water throughout, and no water damage. Most people have not been as fortunate.