Following a rather fitful night's sleep, I awoke a bit after 4:00 Tuesday morning and tossed around until, finally, my 5:20 alarm went off. NPR and Steve Inskeep at that hour = back to reality...back to work. Hallelujah! I rolled out of bed feeling like an 80 year old woman...a vast improvement from the 90 and 100 year old I'd been imitating the past 3 days.
That was how my week began and, in fact, was the one paragraph I managed to get written following my first day back to school after that nightmarish chemo weekend. Yes, Tuesday came and I was back in the art teacher saddle again.
Let me say right up front, it would have been much more difficult if not for the great people I work with. Not that they had to do much for me...I did manage to teach my 6 classes that day, but just knowing they were next door, across the hall or an intercom call away, made me feel safe and secure and cared for, which makes such a difference. I am so blessed to have such caring co-workers, several of whom stuck their head in my class now and then to make sure I was okay and still upright. So, this 80 year old woman managed to teach 6 classes that day, and, oddly, by the end of the day, felt more like a 70 year old woman. Things were looking good!
The week continued in the same manner. Of course, I was totally exhausted by 3:00 and nodding off early each evening, but so was every other teacher in Springdale. That first full week is a killer, no matter your physical condition.
Interestingly, by the end of the day yesterday (Friday) that 70 year old woman had actually knocked quite a few more years off and was almost feeling back to normal. I think it was a combination of time away from chemo, great support from friends, and soaking up the energy that comes from my wonderful students. They may be the best medicine of all.
It was wonderful to have you back in the saddle again with us. :)
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