This year, I am unapologetically a countdown teacher. There is the weekly countdown to the weekend (three more wake-ups!) and the monthly countdown to the next break (thirteen more wake-ups!).
When I taught high school for the first time, back in the early 2000s, I didn’t understand countdowns. I thought they were a sign of a jaded teacher who needed to find a job they would like better.
Now that I’m teaching high school again in the early 2020s, I find countdowns surprisingly hopeful–a kind of daily discipline that reminds me that I can do hard things and there is always something to look forward to. Far from reinforcing grumbliness about my job, the daily countdown gives me a spark of positive energy. My mood is immediately lightened when I remember that I’ve already made it through one more wake-up. I’ve got this! I can handle whatever the day throws at me!
Just 13 more wake-ups until my spring break begins. Here are 13 things I’m looking forward to:
- Sleep. I never sleep in, but at least over break I can usually get another hour or two from 6-8 a.m. if I’m awake at 2 a.m. with insomnia, as I often am.
- Walks. My mom and I will try to take a daily walk through our neighborhoods, looking for signs of spring.
- Reading. Slicing is doing a number on my reading life, but I have a goal to finish 3 books over break.
- Letters. If I get behind and owe you a letter, I’ll definitely catch up over spring break.
- Ice. I won’t have to take a single sip of room temperature water for an entire week!
- Libraries. I’ll have time to take a drive to the Main branch, where parking is a bear but the reward is a vast Art Deco building with an eclectic collection (best to go hoping to be surprised rather than with a specific list) that I will have nearly to myself.
- Spring. I discovered last year that spring in Detroit is showy and long-lasting. I think the earliest blooms of spring will still be about a week out over my spring break, but perhaps spring will come a bit early.
- Art. The Detroit Institute of Arts has an exhibit on Artemisia Gentileschi and other women artists of the Italian Renaissance that’s a must-see for me.
- Introversion. Teaching is a very extroverted job. I’ll spend my week unapologetically introverting to recharge.
- Cooking. I might even try a new recipe or two.
- Hoodies. I’ve entirely given up hard pants, but I do save the hoodies for home. And I intend to live in them over my break.
- Commenting. I always try to leave more than three comments on fellow slicers’ posts, but on the busiest weekdays, I might only manage five. I’m looking forward to leisurely commenting on as many slicing as I can read!
- Cats. Whatever I do, I can be guaranteed a cat companion. My husband keeps me posted on their antics (which may only involve extremely cute napping since they’re a sleepy bunch) while I’m at work. But at home, I can see for myself. I can visit Marshmallow, a recent feral rescue who’s been adopted by my mom, as often as I’d like. And whenever Chipotle needs lap time, I’m there for him.
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My theme for Slice of Life 2022 is finding inspiration in the writing of others. Each day I plan to find my slice in someone else’s words or forms. Today’s slice idea was borrowed from Ready for the Sunshine.
the dirigible plum 
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