The Evolution of Time

There have been a few times in my life when I've felt like a fish out of water. Maybe it's more apt to say a fish out of my own pond. I spent some time this evening with a group of people I used to see regularly. I was an active participant in this group. Tonight I was a spectator and it wasn't an entirely comfortable role. It made me realize that the three years I've been away from this community and these people have really changed me. My role in the group has also changed and I'm having a hard time redefining it. Of course I don't live here anymore. I'm just visiting. Maybe I don't need to redefine my role.

Spring

The calendar says it's spring. And my favorite flowers agree. I love daffodils. I just wish the weather would cooperate. Over the last few days western Oregon has had rain, sun, hail and snow. This is not the way I wanted to spend my spring break.

Do a Little....

Strange title, I know. Yesterday our advisor activity at school focused on doing good for others. We have a very animated discussion about how teenagers kind of have a bad reputation for being selfish. Of course those of us who work with teenagers know they can be the kindest or cruelest people, depending on their momentary mood.

I encourage volunteerism. I think it's important for people to give back to their communities, and to do it without an external need for recognition. That doesn't mean I don't believe that "Thank You" can't go a long ways, or is too much to ask. My volunteer work is wrapped up in my job (teachers do a lot of volunteer work!)and the Red Cross. But I also know how difficult it is to schedule that volunteer work with the hectic lives many of us lead. This afternoon I got an email about a quick and easy way to help a variety of causes: Breast Cancer, Hunger, Literacy, Child Health, Rainforests, Animal Rescue. It's simple. Go to the Click to Give website and click every day. It's really worth a few minutes of your time.

St. Patrick's Day

I love St. Patrick's Day. It's the perfect non-holiday, holiday. Sounds weird, I know. But there's no obligation for St. Pat's Day beyond wearin a bit o' the green. I can completely get behind that idea. But on a more serious note, I do believe in good thoughts and prayers. Here's one for all of you.

John Adams

I've just spent a couple of hours watching the first installments of the HBO miniseries "John Adams" based on the book by David McCullough. All I can say is "wow". In school most of us are taught about Washington, Jefferson, Hancock and Hamilton. But very little is said about John Adams. It's as if Adams was insignificant. In actuality he was brilliant, but that brilliance was also handicapped by his inability to temper his words. And I think that's where the real "wow" factor comes in. The woman behind the man, Abigail Adams, is someone I find very intriguing. She had such intellect and education. Very rare for a woman of the 18th century. I find that incredibly admirable.

Privacy: Where to Draw the Line

The issue of privacy has come up in my life several times in the last few weeks. I admit to being naturally wary of how much information about me is out there in cyberspace. When I post, I try to use my words carefully, and incriminate no one.

Part of my wariness comes from my profession. Actions can come back to haunt you. A perfect case in point is the now former mayor of Arlington, Oregon, who posted some revealing photos to her Myspace page, and then left that page open to the public. Notice I referred to her as the "former" mayor. Last week in a special election, she was recalled. As a teacher I see what my students post to their pages, and sometimes I'm shocked, appalled, amazed, that they would want every detail right out there in the public for anyone to view. I guess that from their point of view, many feel everyone who is someone in their world already knows all the details.

On the other side of the argument are the people I know who have privatized their blogs, Myspace pages, etc. Some have done it to protect the privacy of their children. Others want a safe place to unload without prying eyes over looking every comment. I understand that completely.

My position remains much the same it always has. I leave things open to prove I'm not hiding things, yet I try really hard not to identify names and locations of the people I sometimes write about. The only real exception is to the comments page of my Myspace page. I decided giving my students carte blanche was not a good idea for any of us. After all, I'm supposed to be the adult, right?