Fire, Sun, Friendship, Money, Food

I started out my day feeling so lovely, and I don't know why. The sunshine? The fact that school is almost over? Anxious to go see John and Anne and Alicia on Friday? My new laptop sitting on my lap while I sipped my morning kefir smoothie? Coffee brewing? Whatever. For some reason, I felt a glow surround me.

Work started out like any other day. In English my favorite student said he had checked out this website that I recommended for him - www.isnickelbacktheworstbandever.com. (Sorry, Tonya, but it's freaking hilarious.) We sat in our circle reading Our Town, which isn't the greatest thing ever, but still not bad. It was very relaxing as that's all we did all hour. Then Science came, and I had to help two kids with the major nasty FINAL EXAM that they are not really capable of doing. That was kind of rough. I ate lunch (chickpea salad sandwich on pita bread with spinach and sprouts and an orange yummy yummy) and headed for study hall armed with two books that I am lending to my fave student this summer. These are pretty special to me, but I'm sure he will take good care of them. I also had my bottle of Sobe water (Yumberry Pomegranate). For some reason, I had my cell phone in my pocket. I usually keep it in my purse in the back room where we take breaks. A few minutes after I sat down, the fire alarm went off. I said, "Oh, shit," thinking it was a drill. It turned out it was not. There actually was a fire in the school.

A number of positive things about this experience:

-I had my cell phone with me. People heard about this on the news only minutes later and were calling me to see if I was all right. OK, that makes it sound like I was getting tons of calls. Todd and my mom called me. Tonya texted me all the way from Texas. Facebook spreads stories like...well, like fire.

-I brought the books with me. I had no idea there was a real fire, but I'll be damned if I was going to leave them just sit around. I was able to give them to Fave Student and have a nice conversation with him as we walked.

-I had my Sobe water with me. It was warm outside, and I was thirsty.

-We were let out of school early. Nobody could go into the building and get their keys for several hours, but I live in town, so I walked home.

-Nobody was hurt.

-Lots and lots of sunshine.

-There is no school tomorrow because the whole place reeks of smoke. I am not sure how much damage there is. I am not sure if we will go back on Friday or not. Or if kids will have to finish their finals, give their final speeches, take tests.

-My editor called my cell phone right away wanting me to get the story. I wrote the article as soon as I got home and it's already on the paper's web site. It was quite possibly the easiest money I have ever made.

So here we are. The sun is still shining. Strawberry fruit rolls are drying in the dehydrator, making the house smell like strawberries. I made a successful batch of water kefir that I am going to make lemonade out of. I have tomorrow free to clean the house and get ready for my weekend vacay. I'm tired out. It has been a weird day. But not at all boring.