On...And On....And On

Mother Nature's Midlife Crisis of 2013 continues. We had probably 3" of snow at one point this morning, though it was difficult to gauge because big fat heavy snowflakes fell fast while it melted because the temp was just above freezing. It actually snowed most of the day. A few schools had to let out early or cancel altogether, because the wet heavy snow was bringing down power lines in some areas. Actually, the "official"  snow measurement as close as Higginsville (roughly 30 miles from here) was 6". Absolutely unreal. KC failed to break the official record, but that was because the current official readings are taken at the airport on the northwest side of the city - nearer downtown the snowfall was heavier.

I feel like I didn't accomplish much today, though I know the house is now clean and some laundry got done.  I think that was also as result of the weather. Facebook was interesting today. I belong to a group from my hometown/school, and a discussion thread was started yesterday on the end of the school year and memorable teachers. Of course, the beginning of the discussion focused on teachers we liked and who made a positive impact on our lives. Then one brave soul ventured the other direction, mentioning a teacher who didn't make such a positive impact on her students.

That divergence of the discussion thread brought several comments, all along the same line. It's amazing how one person bringing negativity into impressionable students' lives can leave such an impact 50+ years later! I think the positive that came out of the discussion is that several of us realized we felt the same way - which validated a lot of long-buried feelings. One of my classmates brought up an incident involving me that I had forgotten about. This discussion also brought forth impressions an older student had of both me and my classmate - as a small child you always think the "big kids" don't pay any attention to you. Impressively, she had both of us pegged pretty accurately. (Mainly, she was surprised either of us had been "targets" of this teacher, because she remembered both of us as being pretty good, quiet kids - plus, she had recognized that I was somewhat shy......a trait that not a lot of people recognized in me.)

I love the new social media. I know it's not always used for good. But reconnecting with high school and college friends has been such fun for me. As an adult, I've moved around a lot and haven't been able to keep in contact with a lot of the people who have come and gone in my life. Going back to basics has helped me remember that there have been good people in my life who are still there. Thanks, Mark Zuckerberg!

Talk to you next week.