The Effects

Just finishing the book, Playing With Grownups, reminds me that I think every family is directly or indirectly affected by mental illness. It made me think of Glass Castles, then my own family growing up, families in my neighborhood growing up, my husbands family, families of current friends and acquaintances, and I can see evidences of the effects. As a child I think there were no resources and so little knowledge that people were just considered crazy or odd with terms floating around like '"driving me to the nut house!" I can think of dozens of people I knew who must have been self medicating with alcohol but if they were labeled anything thing it was just drunk or alchy. It is nice that research is delving into mental illness. The brain is a crazy thing in itself. It is nice to think that some day perhaps this will all be understood scientifically and socially.

Fresh Start

Is there any other job where once a year you get a clean slate and a fresh start? The joy in teaching is just that. Out go the old kids, the old procedures, the old requirements, the old you. In comes the new kids, their idiosyncrasies, new bosses, new neighbors, new ideas, goals, dreams, intentions. A whole new chance. I'm cleaner, neater, more deliberate, decisive, organized interpersonal, slower, faster, quieter, quieter. It will be interesting to see which of the new me holds out and which of the old will creep back.

ps I miss the postings of my Becky!