Today was my first day back with students. The eighth time. I cannot believe I’ve been teaching for 8 years, and I remember when I was teaching in Casa Grande and wanted to run home to Pittsburgh. I thought for sure after two years I’d leave, take my wife and move home. That never happened. Other than the weather, I love it here. I have wonderful friends (Dan, Madeline, Ryan, Laura, Liza and everyone).

So today was the first day back, and I even began a brand new Creative Writing course. It’s interesting to teach an elective since there are kids who don’t really want to be there. Then there are kids really excited to be there. It will be a good class, and I started a creative writing blog for the class elsewhere. I don’t know if I will publicize it here since it’s being used for my class. I need to protect the kiddies.

Every year I worry about the first day, and this is the first time I really felt totally comfortable with it. The kids even laughed (occasionally) at my stupid jokes about Dante licking the inside of Claire’s throat and George, the killer turtle.

Several students were despondent that I was not their AP teacher this morning during zero hour. If Shirley and I could’ve picked and chose our rosters that would be one thing, but we couldn’t. One student was able to switch back, and that’s fine with me. Even one of my bosses said "I know you’d teach anyone, but sometimes you gotta let someone else do it…". Yes, I always like to think I would teach as many as would fit. But I remember last year I had 120 AP kids and essays upon essays sitting on Claire’s stroller that I’d push around campus while people looked at my funnily.  It’s ok. I will be fine, and so will they.

As for Monsoon season, it’s here. The wind chime clang against each other as the wind howls and whips the Ash leaves around my dirt yard. I love it. And yes, Donna’s right, Pittsburgh could’ve only been better if had rained every single day.