I am amazed at my ability to self-destruct.
I'm not talking about cutting or self-mutilating or even getting sucked into a no win relationship. I am talking about plain ol' balance and grace.
These are qualities I do not possess.
In the past week I have managed to completely wipe out at school- adding a nice shiner to the knee - and chip a tooth. Though I have been known to use hyperbole in class and tell kids I want to punch them in the face, my trip to the dentist wasn't a result of fisticuffs. Nope, it was old fashioned teeth grinding. Apparently I have some mad skills in the mandibular region as I managed to grind off a part of my left front tooth. (Perhaps reflecting an inner desire to be able to authentically sing "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth"?)
Wipe out in front of multiple students: Point against me.
Causing bodily injury and financial loss in the form of dentist bills: Point against me.
Luckily there were some kind souls at Hickman who didn't laugh too hard when I fell and helped me retrieve all the crap I was hauling into school. And some of them were teenagers I didn't have in class who were genuinely concerned. Point for Humanity.
Though I don't particularly enjoy massive amounts of dental work, at least I was able to get in quickly through some helpful scheduling by the receptionist and because my wonderful co-workers willingly volunteered to cover my class for me (shout out to George Frissell!). Point for Humanity.
Professionally and personally, this year has been trying, but I find great comfort in knowing kindness amongst friends and strangers does exist...even if I have to bruise myself in order to reaffirm this message.
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