kitchen woes

There I was, standing at my kitchen sink, still a little teary from my last round with God about broken dreams and hearts, when I heard this suspicious dripping... and there it was - EASY to locate - water pouring out from under my sink - oh look ! My kitchen pipes seem to be falling apart.

Now - I am SMART enough and well-equipped enough to know HOW to handle this - but PLEASE LORD! throw me a bone! as if it's not enough that I am STILL single at 40, HOME repairs - again - not that a man would do this for me, even if there WERE one, but the timing... the pain... the WISH that I at least could call Pedro the Maintenance supervisor back at my old apartments....

This is the faulty piece of PVC, with the worn out something that is like a washer, maybe? The very young, barely able to shave, married male child at Lowes assured me replacing this woudl fix the problem. I was more than happy but still a little wary - especially since he couldn't find the right parts - but after searching high and low we DID locate the replacements, and for $2.08 I set off with my new purchases...



here it is, all fixed - and WORKING! Please ignore how filthy the rest of the pipes look - I don't know HOW they get like that.

Christmas in New Mexico

So I spent the past few days in New Mexico with my family. That's where my brother and his family live. We went on the train ride from Durango up about two hours and then back. It was a great day and I thought I would attach a few pictures.

It was great to see my family. We had a gift-opening session, but without the pressure of dinner, and timing and not many days together - which seems to be the best way to do it. If my parents lived nearby me, I think that would be amazing. I would love to be able to see them frequently. They are terrific people.

I hope you are all well. I am okay. Not great, but it IS January - my least favorite time of year, and we DO have a TON of ice, and I haven't worked in two weeks, and if I don't work I don't get paid, so all things considered, I am just fine.

Josh

A little over a week ago a very precious boy died. He and this other boy, Colby, were the closest thing to how I think I may love a son of my own. I had the privilege of having this little boy in class for two years. He was in my Evangelism class. He died in a canoe accidcent on a river last Friday. He was 19. I know he's fine - but that doesn't erase the pain. Again, I think of that CS Lewis quote: " The pain now is part of the joy then."

It seems that everyone has spoken of his ever present smile - his laughter, his joy, his big big heart. How true. Yet, his big, big heart had it's share of hurt, too. I remember clearly when he found out that his father had an affair ... and was leaving his mother. He was so terribly hurt.

I remember when he shared the pain of unrequited love with me - a boy who loved so deeply - the object of his love too engrossed in her own world to see the hope and future of his. They were so young - perhaps, in the future...

I also remember Josh drawing pictures on school paper and leaving them on my office door. Or bringing my wildflowers he picked in the field on the way over to visit, his all encompassing hugs. His "I LOVE you Miss Sharp" s, his first forsya into "leading" Praise and Worship in our class -

There are no "good" answers - I do know this: he lived more life in his life than many many people who are three times his age. And THAT is no exaggerration. I have NEVER been one to think of a person who has died and wonder if they can speak to us, etc. As a matter of fact, I have always thought that was a bit "odd and foolish and misguided." However, on more than one occassion recently, as I have been thinking about painful things in my current "life space" and thought of Josh and even found myself thinking, "Josh, what do you think?" And I see his smile and hear him say, "It will all work out, Miss Sharp. Don't worry." Not that he has taken the place of Jesus in my life, but for some reason I have found it easier to identify with him, as of late. I'm sure it sounds off the mark - don't worry, I'm not starting my own cult. I just miss him.

The Working Girl

Ahhh... working at Sheehan again today. Accompanied/taught at the Middle School yesterday. So, there's this really STUPID boy in the 8th grade at Centennial Middle School, and I'm not being unkind when I say that.

I'm warming them up, I have already taught them for an entire week and have been going in once a week for the past three weeks - they know who I am, they know where I've taught, blah, blah, blah. HOWEVER - some of the "children" don't like me ( and I lose SO much sleep over this) because I am strict. So, this boy, Matthew, is writing a note while we're warming up. The TRUE Teacher Sohailah takes the note - the pathetically KIND Sohailah says, 'Put that away" ( I know, I'm still in shock that I even gave him that option). But DOES he? NO! Which is why I can call him stupid with a clear conscience. So, I say, 5 minutes later, "Give that to me." He quickly tries to scribble it out - I look at him and say,''I'm sure that will work," and take the note. The girls are looking at me like,"He's pathetic" And the boys are looking at me in sheer panic. The note says, " This is so gay. I like it better when Ms. Rife (no discipline, waiting to retire teacher) is in charge. She's not even a REAL Choir teacher." (oh - that's the part that was scratched out) ha ha ha ha ha ...

Now folks, that hurt....

And then I was talking to a few of the Sixth grade boys and they had REALLY nice voices, but this school is historic for not retaining any boys in Choir. So, I was trying to encourage them to stay in until High School, and I actually resorted to the most pathetic comment I could think of. I said, ( I KNOW - it's so sad) " The best reason to be in Choir is becaus eit's where all teh pretty girls are." And THEY replied, with GREAT enthusiasm, "EXACTLY! That's why we're here!"

Life in these United State

True conversation heard at Sheehan Pipeline:

Linda (our unemployment/union lady): “well, he needs to take his proof of residency and status down to the Social Security office. Yes, birth certificate, whatever he has.”
Other person: blah blah blah
Linda: “Yes, he can just have it sent up from New Mexico.”
Other person: blah blah blah
Linda: “No, New Mexico is part of the United States, so it shouldn’t be a problem”