Real heroes

The events of December 14th are still pretty raw for most of us.  20 children shot dead in their classrooms.  No rhyme or reason.  Just a mentally ill man with access to firearms.  

On Sunday, our pastor urged us to be the community that tells the Sandy Hook community that we grieve with them.  Here is the letter I intend to send:

Dear Staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School,

No words can provide the comfort in the unspeakable and horrific tragedy that  you experienced on December 14th.  As a teacher and a mom, my heart breaks for your staff, your parents, your community.  I keep asking "Why?"  I know that I am not alone.  The entire country is asking that same question. 

I know that I cannot say anything that will make this all better.  But I wanted you to know that there are communities out there who are grieving with you, who are watching and thanking God for the heroes who risked and gave their lives to save the children who could be saved:

Your principal, Dawn Hochsprung.
Your school psychologist Mary Sherlach
Victoria Soto
The special education teacher, Anne Marie Murphy
Lauren Rousseau
Rachel D'Avino

And those heroes who survived. 

As a teacher, I wonder if I could have been that brave, if I could've risked my life to save the life of a child.  We teachers vow to do what's best for kids.  We vow to guide and teach and help.  Yet, your teachers and staff did so much more, beyond training, beyond anything that they had ever anticipated or prepared for.  

I want you to know that your community has touched other communities.  As I struggle to make sense of it for myself and my own children and my students, I want you to know that you all are in our thoughts and prayers.   God bless you all.

Sincerely,
Stephanie Calabria
MD teacher and mother

Heaven and Hell

There's a Willie Nelson song that goes, "Well, some days it's Heaven and some days it's Hell and some days I just don't know..." 

Sing it, Willie!

Well, today I pretty much knew.  It was Hell. 

That's gotta hurt.

But the good thing about life (and country songs) is that there just might be a 2nd verse, or at very least a refrain. 

Smells Like Teen Spirit...Well, Teen Stench Anyways

The teens have been smelling bad lately...I mean, like PU.  Ick.

No, they haven't given up showering.  They have both joined high school sports teams.  Yes, both are involved in winter sports. 
The oldest is my wrestler.  He's been part of the team since freshman year.  This year, as a senior, he was named by his coach in the local paper as "key returner."  But his "key" return was nearly sidetracked this week by the worst of the worst for wrestlers....RINGWORM~

Who knew those little buggers could be so cute?

Yes, I know.  Ick!  Gross!  Blech!  A gross addition to the already gross smell that enters my car every time I pick him up.  But the ringworm has been taken care of, and he will have his first match tomorrow.  I am super pumped. 

My daughter is running indoor track this year.  And you know what?  She suddenly stinks too.  And she gets in the same car. 

Could someone get me a nice nose plug for Christmas?  Please???

So, for the next 3 months, I will run my children from practice, to matches and meets, and generally put up with the smell.  And you know what?  I'm ok with that because it makes them happy, and they make me proud.  So what if I have no sense of smell by the end of winter sports season?  Nose hairs grow back, don't they? 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTWKbfoikeg