embossed

don’t tell sarah, but i’m dragging her out later for frozen yogurt whether or not she’s swamped with work. hee.

sometimes it’s weird being friends with my boss. most of the time i don’t think about it. i do think twice about whining overmuch about my job in this journal, but that can be attributed to general, low-grade paranoia about saying something that could get me “in trouble” although i have no idea what that would be. so i tread softly and carry a big eraser.

the times it is weird is when we discuss work-related topics and i’m necessarily thinking like an employee while she’s necessarily thinking like a supervisor. and it’s not a bad weird, then, just a “heh, that’s why we talk like that” weird.

we had a great discussion today at lunch over soup about education and “tracking” and gifted students and standardized testing. it’s very easy for me to talk with her about my own opinions because (a) she’s a good listener and (b) she doesn’t get all bent out of shape when i disagree with her. this is such a wonderful thing, i can’t even begin to express it. if you too embody this trait — the ability to disagree without getting involved emotionally — celebrate it! right now! go out and disagree with someone and be proud!

there are few feelings comparable to that of having a solid chat with a friend over piping-hot curried butternut squash soup on a friday, lifting your tray and feeling a good soreness of various arm-muscles, sensing the sun, at least a moment ago, glide cheerfully over your face, looking down to see a splotch of soup on your thumb and a thousand tiny dewdrops on your arm, and nothing, not anything wrong with the whole moment.

you know, there are people i’ve lost, there are things i’m not proud of; i’m no better at all this than anyone else. but something tells me if i work on it, i can improve, and if the universe’s pause-button was hit right at this moment i’d be forever frozen working toward good. and that is nothing short of grand.

now, for that yogurt.