Friday, March 16, 2018

Surprise Endings

16 of 31 - SOLSC 2018


The Slice of Life March Challenge is hosted by Two Writing Teachers and part of the Slice of Life Story Challenge that takes place each Tuesday throughout the year and everyday in March. It is a supportive (and awesome!) community of those trying their hand at writing and encouraging others in their writing. Join us!


Stepping out into the cool darkness the first thing I do is look up and smile. The dome of night is puncture by bright, twinkling stars. Orion hangs over the pool as I start out on my walk. Joshua Molina and Hrishikesh Hirway fill my ears with their banter while discussing The West Wing. The early morning air is perfect. I start with a light sweatshirt, but tie it around my waist as my body temperature rises. As I round the far side of the compound call to prayer sneaks through the pauses in the podcast. Surprisingly, tears come to my eyes. "I will miss this," I think to myself. 

I pause my thinking to acknowledge that this is part of the ending. Realizing what is happening in these moments - giving them their moment - and being thankful for what we have had. Three months from now I will be in Seattle, and not returning to Yanbu. You see, our school is closing. We are trying to do it well. There are lots of expected sticking points. It's the surprise endings that get me.

4 comments:

  1. Wow. Where are you guys going? We have so much to catch up on. I thought you were taking on a K-12 role but I didn't know at a new school too.

    Savor each moment. We say three things we will miss/ are grateful for in Malaysia each day to try and be present.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautifully written. It is the things we don’t anticipate that are the trickiest to negotiate

    ReplyDelete
  3. Endings/transitions are hard! It is good to give yourself time to properly say goodbye to where you are now, even when those moments catch you by surprise. Wishing you lots more happy memories before you go.

    ReplyDelete
  4. So sorry to hear your school is closing. I have seen your passion for teaching and for your students in your posts these past few weeks.

    ReplyDelete