Eric just texted messaged that he is on the plane and headed to war. As I type, tears stream down my face. I am a million emotions at once, but what is true and steadfast are God's words and promises. Six months will come and go quickly.
In the meantime, there is so much on my plate of "to dos"...
So, my hiatus from blogging has now ended since things have slightly slowed down at work and I need to do something to keep my mind off of Eric's leaving. I have so much I want to share, but I feel it a bit overwhelming to put it all in one entry.
The students finished up about two weeks ago, and the teachers have pretty much all checked out and are vacationing as well. Today, summer school began. Our building is housing all of the middle schools in addition to the multicultural programs for the division. Needless to say, the building was buzzing with children and adults all morning. We are also having many renovation projects take place at our school. You can just imagine some of the chaos. Our staffing is in great condition for next year; we've almost hired everyone for the upcoming year. The student's SOL scores came in sooner than anticipated, but I am still coding for transfer adjustments and recovery.
It is this time of the year that I am reflective most. I think this year was a bit more profound than other years for a couple of reasons. First, my oldest niece graduated from high school, which was a treat to celebrate and see. I can hardly believe she is out of grade school. She is an adult. She can drive. She's had a boyfriend...or two...Going to her commencement ceremony took me back ten years ago when I was in her shoes. I need to go back to those days since the planning and organizing of a reunion rest in my hands. I have an idea of what I want to see occur. The reunion is not until the fall, but there are many that are anxious and need the information in order to take off work or make flight arrangements. I managed to make connections with many of the students from my class using Facebook and Myspace. It is odd that I haven't seen or been in contact with most of these people since high school. It is nice to see what people are doing and where they are in their lives. However, on many levels we're still the same people.
The other excitement to this time in my life would have to be the many weddings that have occurred or will be occurring of friends that mean a lot to me. This past weekend I was in Crystal's wedding. We had such a good time, and everyone was so happy and the love could be felt. This upcoming weekend I'll be attending Joe and Jenny's wedding. It is a special experience to witness and be a part of such major events in the lives of those important to me. I'm the maid of honor for one of my sorority sisters who will be getting married in October. While there is a lot to do in preparing, I think of how special the actual day will be by performing the little things leading to the wedding.
Now, I've shared the snapshots of blessings and updated quickly on life happenings, but I have to end on the note of a testimony. A story of perhaps some disbelief or maybe one that won't seem all that important as I am making it out to be. One of my close friend's husband was really fascinated and even a bit bothered, sharing that I needed to blog the experience for awareness to others.
Weeks ago when I journeyed to St. Louis for my niece's graduation, I packed my digital camera. On the way to our destination, my mother commented that it was not wise of me to pack my camera in my luggage that I was not carrying on board with me because so many people go through our items and are untrustworthy. Of course, she freaked me out and before we left for the airport I opened my big suitcase and removed the camera, putting it with my carry on belongings. I didn't want the task of having to keep up with it because I know how I can be when it comes to travel or lugging around multiple things. I can be one tracked, very easily misplacing "stuff". The trip was an interesting one. We flew over St. Louis for almost an hour watching a light show in the sky since the airport had closed the runways. The pilot determined we'd go to Kansas City for fuel and to determine what to do with us. We got into St. Louis well after midnight and as we were getting our luggage saw Allen Iverson claiming his luggage from his Denver flight. I digress!
On our flight back, we met some interesting people on both the flight to Atlanta and then the one to Richmond. Somewhere on that journey I misplaced my digital camera. I don't know if it was before or after the flight attendant gave me his business card to express his interest when I exited the plane. And, I stop to laugh at Mom's response as we walked, "He must have liked what he saw."
The camera. Gone! I got home, was unpacking, and realized it was nowhere to be found. I ran down to the car hoping I had put it there but knew better. I went into the living room and checked around the couch and coffee table since I had crashed on the couch upon the return, but it wasn't there either. I called my mom and asked her to check her luggage and car to no avail. The first day or so I was in disbelief just thinking I could not have been so careless. I kept telling myself it was going to pop up, but my reality was I had left the camera somewhere at one of our many stops getting back to Virginia.
I broke and began calling the airports. The workers were not all that helpful. Some were quite honest with me, saying I could forget seeing that camera again. I then went online and put in a claim for the camera. I put a detailed description--case and all--and tried to provide as much information as possible. These claims only stay in the system 60 to 90 days. My chances of getting the camera back were bleak. I had come to terms with the fact that the camera was gone, but I was very upset that I didn't have any of the pictures from Tarayra's graduation. I was frustrated as the last days of school came and I could not use my camera to capture some of the great moments of our kiddos as they transitioned from being middle schoolers to official high schoolers. I didn't have the camera for when Bryant flew in to Norfolk or other things occurring.
Then one day last week there was a message left on my voicemail saying my camera had been recovered and that I needed to call to make arrangements for getting it back. I could not believe it. I was so excited. The worker shared that the camera had come up in Atlanta's airport, one of the largest airports in the nation. I suppose I took for granted in some ways (up until the other night) how amazing it is that the camera was turned in.
There are articles about the number of items that end up in lost and found in airports that never get claimed. Further, people are dishonest, stealing items for themselves or selling them.
I am not sure why favor would shower itself on me. And I don't want to make it out to sound like I have some important connection to God that others do not have. I realize there are those in our nation dealing with flooding, poverty, war, etc. So, for me to talk on this SMALL level about his blessings...
My point? Well, if you ever lose or misplace anything in travel, it just may be worth trying to track and claim it through the lost and found processes made available with different airports. I was quite fortunate to get my item back and am so glad it here--pictures and all!
Welp, that is the snapshot into the blessings. Now, it is time to turn in for the night.
Happy 91st Birthday, Lena Horne!!!
