Finally Home

Got in last night about 8pm, which means 12 hours on the road including a side trip to try to find the Maker's Mark distillery (Kentucky sucks at putting attraction signs at the proper exits - we were 10 miles too far - should have gotten off a couple exits earlier, but this exit, and oddly, the one 20 miles farther on the interstate, had the sign. So trying to drive unmarked back roads). Had a long visit with my 90 year old grandfather, from about 1pm to 8pm on Friday, even though the plan was to be on the road by 7. Blame my aunt who wanted us to get a chance to visit with my uncle and one cousin and his fiancee. I get credit for not going to her house first, though, which gave us lots of time with Grandpap. I have a scary memory for places. Once we were within 10 miles, things looked familiar and I homed right in. My great-grandparents house is now a blacktop parking lot, my grandparents old house has new siding, but not much else is different. Some of the ancient (meaning 80 years or more) pictures still have the same buildings right outside my grandfather's doublewide.

Driving makes me tired, but I slept for crap last night, finally at home in my own bed. No clue why. It was hot, but I think the reality of going back to the classroom was spooking me. I feel better now, but tomorrow morning is probably going to be hell. And the countdown to TCAP is in full swing. Nothing but test prep for the next month or so, then the kids will act as though they are already out of school. Still working on leveling my attitude, which most other teachers have no problem with. Been talking it over with the wife and we both agree I read too much into things, tend to run on bad assumptions, and worst, I can't settle into a middle ground - I over-react. Well, like GI Joe says "knowing is half the battle."