The day was September 18. The dots in J.J. make the eyes in a happy face. Geoff can draw a beautiful birthday cake...but why? And a Christmas tree? I'm just a little confused. Perhaps these students needed me to stay longer than I did.

Everyone seemed to wish me well. Some did it with creative wording.

Other well-wishers used creative lettering.

Still others demonstrated that they remembered how to write a haiku.

Their teacher was quite pleased, remembering that not all haikus make sense. Refrigerator.

Some demonstrated a bit of drawing ability.

BTW, Emma saw this picture and said, "Why did they add extra arms to my picture?" I had to tell her that I didn't know. "And antennae?" She stared at me. "Mommy? Why did they do that?"

I don't know. Maybe it was to wish me well?

I will miss U too.

U know that, don't U?

...and it's reaching for Miss Kitty?

Why am I suddenly thinking of a movie about an outcast young man who lives in a castle until a weird woman in a pink dress rescues him and he lives in a cookie-cutter house and pokes holes in waterbeds and trims topiary to "carve" out a niche for himself and find his place in society.

What made me think of that?

La la-la la la la la la.

La la-la la-la-la.

I was truly amazed at how quickly everyone was able to wish me well in my new endeavor.

Thank you to everyone!

P.S. Do you think Olivia is aware that her drawing looks SO much like her?

This makes me think of Murrow. Edward R. Murrow.

Don't know what I'm talking about?

Google it.

And then think about how he might be related to the Salem Witch Trials...which you'll be studying soon.

Will you remember the most important lesson even though I wasn't there to reinforce it all year?

Remember: The learning happens in the struggle.

It's true in English, in math...it's true right now as I'm deciding to make a great big change.

Thanks for making this day really easy for me. Thanks for being awesome classes.

I'll never forget
how we clapped out syllables
and then we beat Jenks.

Email me. Let me know how things are going. I miss you guys already!