New Year's resolutions and the blog!

Last year, my resolution was to read/reread 10 Steinbeck novels.  While I must admit that worked slowly through the big re-reads, it was a lot of fun to rediscover Cannery Row, Tortilla Flat, and Sweet Thursday. The crucial discussion of euthanasia in Of Mice and Men continues to challenge our thoughts of what is right given situations outside our grasp. I liked the idea of a realistic resolution that would better me and allow me to delve back into the things I used to love before time grabbed me and made me an old man.  My resolution this year is something like that.  I am going to presumptuously move forward with the idea that I have something important to say- at least important to me.  Perhaps, the blog can shed some light on things as I see them, on those influences which shape or have shaped me, or act as a bully pulpit for commentary that I believe is important.  My resolution is to try and write something once a week.  This, no doubt, will be as tough as re reading The Grapes of Wrath!

Many of you who know me know I teach; I have been at it a long, long time.  I love my job- I always have loved my job.  I am not sure that I would have loved my job had it not been for influences that shaped my early years as a teacher.  Those years were in Ortonville, MN and were key as to who I am and how I teach today.  I hold those years fondly, and as I get older and look at retirement, the desire to reconnect to the people and place that is Ortonville becomes more and more an important draw.  A recent trip this summer upon the 30th class reunion of the first group of seniors I taught took me back to a time when all that mattered was who was going to work the home football game, what time were we leaving to get to the basketball game, could I get my speech kids ready for another season and would the town like the musical I chose to direct.  Simple things really, powerful in their simplicity.  A trip to the Matador for supper with its white battlements, dinner from the golf clubhouse, a house party by the lake with former students made for a rethinking of the memories that still thrive there. Lunch with an dear friend Joe reminded me of how far we had come and how important our jobs are.  I could write about that  place forever.  I won't.  To the people who remain there, you are a part of me always. You have given me strength, wisdom, and love, the greatest being love.

Tomorrow I return to school to start the 2011 portion of the 2010 -2011 school year.  I am anxious to see the kids who will come in with their finery from break and the experiences of the weekend tournaments, the crushes, and the movies who will in a wink of time will be writing their own blogs about growing up in Coon Rapids with maybe a nod to an old man teacher they had. Two young men started calling me coach this year instead of Mr. Roberts;  I like that. I don't really teach as much as I coach and lead.  Another Monday, another year, another resolution.  Life's pretty sweet don't you think? Only 51 to go!

KR