Roasted pig, anyone?

We went to a farm, surrounded by alders, cedars, dripping salmon berries and sly creeping blackberries.  The blue-grey campfire smoke rose up behind the house, evidence of a freshly un-buried pig with an ashy potato in his mouth.  The field was mowed and the tents set up for an extended party for some friends of ours.  I sat around the fire for hours, listening and chatting and sharing about life.

Meeting new people is something i love.  I love finding out what other people find interesting, how they find meaning in their lives, what makes them laugh.  I also like talking about my passions. Telling people that i teach 6th grade always brings one of several reactions.  "Oh, duuuude, how can you put up with them?  Caddy bitches, those middle school girls."  Or, "Awesome!  That sounds like SO-MUCH-FUN!"

All valuable responses.  i like talking about how adolescence isn't a choice.  It isn't like these kids wake up and say to themselves, "I love feeling incredibly awkward.  I love wondering if people are constantly noticing my breast buds through my t-shirt, and is this t-shirt still cool enough?"  Of course this is one of the most emotionally painful times in our lives.  i would say even more painful than the first broken heart because it is as if one's own self is constantly trying to betray one's own heart and self-esteem.  So sure, there is a fair amount of caddy, harmful drama that MUST be processed.  We like to talk about it, to discuss how to respond to the slap-in-the-face comments like, "I can't believe you actually are still wearing Vans.  This year, we're all wearing Cons."

But also, there is so much FUN.  I love the easy laughter, when it comes full-bellied and at no one's expense.  I love the pranks on the art teacher.  I love the wonder that happens when new learning hits home.  It is what brings me to tears, at the end of the day, when i am in awe of my young co-workers.