Taking my own advice

Yes, I admit - I sometimes say I am going to do things and then don't do them for some reasons. This time I really am going to do what I say I am going to - I am really spending some time this summer watching the flowers grow. That is, after I finish planting them. I visited my friend Bev and got some great advice and suggestions. I am wondering if this means that when my flowers die, can I blame her?? I just hope my usual pattern doesn't rear its ugly head and I become obsessed with success as I am beginning to feel stress with the fact that my hydrangeas buds won't open up. This hobby is kinda like most, golf is one that I can think of - I am going to resist having to go out and buy the newest remedy. And then there is something that is eating my daisies, and leaves on some other pretty flower that I bought. But I am working hard to enjoy the beautiful flowers that were added to my deck this summer as gifts from some very dear people - Rebecca, Gene and Kristi, music teachers, Sebi and mom, mystery flower person, Matt S. and fam, etc.
The other thing that I am taking my own advice about - getting rid of the clutter. Watch out if you have stuff stored at my house - slowly but surely I am making my way through all the nooks and cranies and "weeding" them out. (see the correlation to the flower watching?) So far I have decided that I don't need manuals for appliances we no longer own - the old toaster oven is a good example. And what do I do with the 40, yes 40, AA batteries that were cluttering up my junk drawers?
I am working on a decision as to whether to have a tag sale or just keep filling up our giant trash bin every week all summer until the clutter is reduced. I say reduced because my game of "will I use this/want this?" sometimes gets bogged down - oh, "what pretty sparkly things!" and then I found $10!

What's worse?

Packing or unpacking? Trying to find a place at home for all the stuff that was in my office and in my little apartment is very frustrating. Some stuff has just got to go. This will also force me into the summer job that I have put off for so long - playing the game "Do I Really Need/Want this?" I have lots of music books, momentos, cards, gifts that absolutely have to have a place. I mean, how could I possibly get rid of the beautiful painting of DHS that was presented to me on the last day? And the framed stuff from my office? Dave Brubeck has to have a place of honor! And I am thinking of somehow framing a collage of all the cards I received - some of them are masterpieces!
So what is worse - I guess not having this problem would be the worst of all!

Retirement flowers and lovely vase

Just a quick note

It is unfair to give a retired teacher jury duty two days after the last day on the job! I am not yet in the correct frame of mind to free an accused felon!

What it is all about

Yesterday was graduation - for the seniors and for me! Although I am not yet a senior citizen, my work at DHS is done and it feels a bit like someone has adopted my children and sent me to another happy place. I kinda don't mind all the work type stuff that is over, but I hope the human connections are not. Jane M - you have been a joy to work with - always smiling, upbeat (and some downbeats too!), interesting and my go-to person for all things important - you have the pulse of the school at your fingertips and I loved tapping into that. I will continue to inquire about the latest cool website and the gossip. I will follow your blog and try your recipes too! Thank you for being you.
And to all the band geeks (aka the coolest kids in the world - cwiw) - you know who you are - KC, JW, KO, LW, DT, SC, ZH, M and MC, AK, MS, T and CS, CW (okay, that could be me, but not!) AN, WT, JC, C and DL, BP and KB - you have now been elevated to leadership status and must carry the DHS Band legacy along. Keep practicing in the face of complacency and don't let the other guys win! It has been a great few years with you and I respect your enthusiasm and talent. Thanks for the great send off, but this isn't good-bye - it is "I'll see you again soon!" Keep me posted on all the good stuff that happens to you - and any of the other stuff too! Love you guys. (no crying, KO, serious is over-rated.)

Masters degree in ???

Okay, now back to that equipment --- I know that all of my music colleagues will agree with me - there should be at least one masters course, if not an entire degree for music ed majors on the joys of equipment - moving it, setting it up, breaking it down, schlepping it EVERYWHERE - the chairs, the stands, the microphones,cords, pianos, the risers, the percussion (marching and concert!), music folders, amplifiers, etc., etc. It never ends - we are usually the first and (by far) the last people at an event. And believe me when I say you have to be in pretty good shape to be a music ensemble teacher cuz when you're alone and it needs to be done, you have no choice but to do it! Now, admittedly, I have had some expert advice in this last job in the technical area - Mr. A is the resident "techie" of the music department - he has more wires and microphones than anyone I know, and has been a great help in that area. But honestly, I don't know of any English teacher that has to move as much equipment and have an expansive knowledge of technical auxilliary stuff! And don't get me started on instrument repair, reeds, mouthpieces, trip planning, uniforms, bake sales and parent helpers (those are for future entries!) Let's just say that I am a little afraid of my physical condition deteriorating in retirement. I shudder at how many minutes and speed on the treadmill will equal the physical portion of the DHS band director job! Well, I think you get the picture - now off to the gym!

Band Family

Okay, so the whining about the equipment is just going to have to wait.

I will try to put into words what I will miss the most about teaching high school band. I don't think there is any other teaching position, besides my colleagues in the orchestra and choral world, where you have the privilege of having the same students for 4 years. You've heard me talk about the band family - I have not only had students for 4 years, but I have had as many as 4 students from the same family - developing a relationship that spans 11 years. Now you may say that is a double-edged sword. But it has been my experience that if you are dealing with a "band family", a bond is developed that surpasses minor concerns along the way. This makes a job a part of your life like no other. I have a deep respect and regard for those kinds of relationships that go much further than a mere 11 years at one job, or for that matter, a career of 36 years. Thanks to the families of Sebi, Juan, Agustin; Kyle-Rose, Cara, Kevin,Casey; Emily, Maggie, Mike, Matt; Malcolm, Matt, Sara, Hayley; Kyle, Cameron, Kincade - spanning from 6-10 years, and the many, many families that I have had two siblings, twins, cousins, etc. too numerous to mention, but truly memorable. This is not to mention the lasting friendships I still maintain with former band students and parents - thanks Scott, Dan, Daryl, Carol, Susan, Malcolm, Willie, my dear adopted son, Mark, and all the others who are and will be in my heart - you know who you are! The support that I have received by all my band families, most particularly in the last 11 years, has been tremendous - my sincere, deep and profoundly humbling thank you.

Packing, etc.

Well, now that my impending retirement is a week away, I guess I am going to have to find a new way to annoy people - you can all subscribe to and follow my blog! Since this seems to be what all the cool people are doing, I want to be in the in-crowd. Many of you may think that I forge new ground, but really I am a joiner, really.
I may or may not have suggested on various occasions to my soon-to-be former students that I am considering writing a book about my experiences as a high school band director, if a couple of them would be my publisher. Perhaps this blog will serve as a pilot for that book. In any case, I will try and tell the good and the bad, and the funny and perhaps not-so-funny experiences. Hopefully the stuff that I come up with will be entertaining to some, at least. I will try to not incriminate myself or give real names to any of my "victims"!

Entry #1 - From time to time, I will mention things on two lists - #1 list is what I'll miss, and #2, then, obviously, will be what I won't miss. Today, since it is end of the year cleanup, I will definitely NOT miss giving or correcting exams, writing junior reviews, and trying to calm the savage beasts (aka high school kids nearing the end of school year), preparing for graduation. Can you really enjoy 100 hs kids playing instruments in the same room at the same time in 80 degrees weather? Just stay cool - it will all be over soon!
Next post will definitely have something to do with my masters degree - Moving Equipment 101!