Today is a snow day for many of the Georgia schools and the hocus pocus that led up to this wonderful occurrence was almost epidemic, what with the flushing of ice cubes down toilets and wearing PJs inside out and backwards for good blizzard karma. Some prayed to the snow gods and others promised the Real God better behavior if they could just have this One Day.
And if you think I’m talking about kids here, you're wrong. I’m talking about the teachers.
Teaching school isn’t a glamorous job. After all, we work with children and working with children, while often fun and entertaining, isn’t something that you hear about on E!. I can’t imagine Lindsey Lohan doing it or even George Clooney (although I wish he would and that he would do it at my school). The pay is okay and the holidays are a bonus, but the days are pretty grueling, starting out early and ending just when you think you are going to pass out.
But every once in a while we get a Snow Day and a Snow Day trumps martini lunches and expense account dinners every time. But we teachers must do some work first to earn our Snow Day. The afternoon before, as the weather prognosticators are wooing us with their predictions, we must high five each other and say things like, "Hope I don't see you tomorrow!" and "Call me when you find out for sure even if we are three feet deep in snow." Then, as afternoon moves toward evening, we have to get on Facebook and do some minor bitching about our system and our superintendent and how we are always the last to have school called off. My favorite post from last night was this by an unnamed teacher who happens to teach across the hall from me:
"2 bits, 4 bits, 6 bits a bucket..... If we don't get a snow day, APS can suck it!!!!"
We finally heard the good news around nine pm and the raucous rejoicing could be heard all over greater Atlanta, some of which actually emanated from the kids.
And so, I haven't changed out of my pajamas today, although they are now on right-side-out and frontwards. I slept late and took a nap and, so far, my electricity and cable are intact (knock wood). There's a chance we will have to make up this day some time in the future, but I'll worry about that later.
Wait! The news people are starting to to announce closures for tomorrow so I need to get back to Facebook.
On a sad note, I did get an email from a retired teacher friend, who said that, although she enjoys not having to work anymore, she sure does miss having a Snow Day.
12 comments:
So there is an advantage in snow. I still have the sense of "a gift of time" if something happens to stop me in my tracks. Enjoy your snow day.
There is something about when the weather takes a turn in our favor that suggests divine intervention and a tingle of Grace! Enjoy your day!
Shoot. I was going to tell you that snow days (and the photocopy machine) are what I miss about teaching, but your retired friend beat me to it. There's just nothing like an unexpected day off. But in 1998, when Maine was hit by a sudden, fierce ice storm which began our first day back after Christmas break, we were kept out of school for over two weeks. That showed me it IS possible to have too much of a good thing. Still, I hope you get a snow day tomorrow, too. nd Please send some of that snow to Maine.
Ah yes, a wonderful precious Snow Day, I do miss them as a retired teacher. There was nothing so wonderful as turning off the alarm and turning over to sleep some more. Your're right - the teachers were right there with the students, hoping, planning and praying for that wonderful gift. Sounds like you are using it in exactly the right manner. Enjoy.
You'll be singing from a different hymn sheet when you've had the stuff lying around for a week or more.
So when can we expect a snow picture from you? Preferable one with you in it, in your pyjies, wrong way round, singing the hallelujah chorus.
Friko, we just found out we are out tomorrow too and I have to admit I'm not quite as excited as I was yesterday. I'll try to get a lovely picture out a some point.
Great post, I'm emailing a link to my sister who teaches 4th grade, she'll love it. Snow has pretty much passed them by so far.
Isn't it wonderful to get a freebe day that is all yours? Our area gets so few snows that it doesn't take much to close the schools. Even if the main roads are open, the side roads aren't. Just enjoy and wear out those jammies.
Unlucky for me--I worked in a district by the lake that rarely called a snow day, but I lived in a mountain town that got tons of snow. A snow day or me was a drive to work without the hassle of following a school bus.
Enjoy it anyway. Snow days in a ski town means the workers get up extra early and follow the plows to work because nothing stops the skier tourist!
Thank God for retirement!
I saw your photo and deduced this was a Barbie Doll. Who else could look so good up to her neck in artificial snow. Besides, she has two kinds of boots as well as two glasses, so who is under the snow I wonder? And, just how do you explain the chandelier?
So, Atlanta got snow. We are in the same zone climate wise and only dread sets in here with the announcement of snow. You teachers are weird.
PS my family is full of teachers, including my daughter and one of my sons.
Snow days can be a great time to kick back and enjoy. Hope yours is so!
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