As we approach the 9/11 anniversary and my lesson plans again turn to themes of patriotism and remembrance, it was good to be able to once again have a Healing Field to visit. The National Exchange Club, of which Eric is a member, has done this field twice in Waterloo now. There are about 1,000 flags, all tied with yellow ribbons, set up in a memorial park in downtown Waterloo. My 8th graders helped to put the flags out the last time we did this (about three years ago I think), and one of those flags stands in my classroom now as a fabulous hands on teaching tool. I noticed today that while my flag from a few years ago has the name of just one fallen soldier on it, those flying now have three or four. The Healing Field concept is a beautiful one, and I'd urge you to go and see one if you're nearby a town that's doing it. They're year round now, not just around Patriot Day. It's really an awesome sight. The kids obviously loved it, and it was a great (finally not hot) day for us to visit.
Beyond our weekend activities, life is going pretty smoothly in the Rottinghaus house.
- School is going well (helps that I have a student teacher that ROCKS, even if he doesn't think so).
- Eric's busy busy busy, and
- Kile cries when I pick him up from preschool because he doesn't want to leave.
- I spent my Labor Day weekend helping my sister complete the move in at her new place in Chicago, and I ALMOST miss living in a city. Almost.
- Cara's boyfriend's sister seemed to have little difficulty with her first chemo treatment last week, so thanks for all of the extra prayers. I know she was appreciative.
- The Cardinals are hanging in there, which is good for us if only because it makes Eric a lot easier to live with... and it makes me highly knowledgeable in tormenting my Cub-loving co-workers. (I know, I'm a horrible tease, but I only do it when the Cubs are doing well, it's no fun to pick on 'em when they're down, which hasn't been very much recently!)
- My next surgery will likely be in mid-November as my band-aid owie of last May has finally healed itself. We've decided we don't need any more expansions (actually I think Dr. B. just doesn't want to mess with me anymore) so my next appointment won't be until before the surgery itself.
- And Cavanaugh (Cav, Vanna, Cavie depending on the mood and who it is talking to her) is growing in leaps and bounds, 2 inches since her birthday in late April, and I'm pretty sure all of that was since the beginning of August. She's talking all of the time and starting to string little sentences together most of the time. And yes. She's still a diva.
Too much info in there to string together neatly, so I apologize for the lack of fluency. It happens!
Carpe diem. -- Trela
