Tinkerings

I have spent the day at the opening pre-conference sessions for the TN Association of Middle Schools (TAMS) state conference.  I have to be honest.  These two sessions were not among the best I’ve attended.  (Sorry TAMS committee, but we all make mistakes from time to time).

I spent part of the day grumbling to myself about why I was here, and how I could have been doing something more constructive with my time.  Yes, there were one or two brief ideas I took away from the sessions, but that isn’t much to show for 7 hours.

What I did find, however, was a totally different side to some of the teachers from my school.  I haven’t laughed this much in a long, long time.  I mean, I already liked these people.  It wasn’t that.  But, for the first time in six years, we were able to get out of the “fellow teacher” mode, let our hair down, and simply have a great time.

It started at breakfast, wound its way through lunch, and carried on into dinner.  The laughter was contagious.  Others in our group (there are 30 of us here) would look at us like we had 3 heads or something.  We didn’t care.  We were in a zone.  We were connecting.

At some point, probably near lunchtime, it hit me.  This was why I was at these sessions.  I needed to learn nore about the people I work with.  I needed to see some people in a new perspective.  And most of all (for me, anyway) I needed to let go, let loose, and crack up.

So, to those who stood with me today, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  This may just be the best day I’ve ever had at Lake Forest.  You are the best.