2021 Gratitude List

A glance between the lines of this year’s Gratitude List will indicate that the last 12 months have not been easy. Here are the small and large kindnesses eased those difficult days, and the people who carried me through.

Thank-you.

• autumn bike rides
• dry laundry
• duck dinner
• big dan’s big heart
• big dan’s big truck
• big dan’s big mask
• minor inconveniences
• carpooling
• referrals
• multiple preps
• ATMs
• multiple accounts
• surviving without my phone for a day
• a three-hour nap, so needed
• maybe my window isn’t leaking after all
• J, who is such a friend
• not crying in front of the kids
• going to bed early
• at least they’re not wearing uniforms
• pharmaceuticals
• roch star admin
• staff support
• the eggs that sank
• finding a little tea in my mug at the end of the day
• the courage to postpone things
• not having to walk in the rain
• when fall is warm and pretty
• clothes that almost dried outside
• $5 lasagnas
• someday, I will be done report cards
• and then I will do something other than report cards
• tomorrow there’s real prep
• for prep
• and I prepped
• and I did not mark
• I did normal music teacher things
• it was so great
• adding water makes things last longer
• feeling socially at ease at work
• double naps
• quarters and cabbage rolls
• finishing nagging errands
• they weren’t as awful as usual
• the sun is up when I drive to work
• my kitchen door closes
• I have a new audiobook
• no concert stress
• real pasta bolognese
• docile classes
• the times when she shows
• a hip for holding bins
• privilege: freedom
• all the people who don’t return my calls
• when the bubbles burst
• my house is en route to the foot doctor
• it will not always be like this
• the nice ones
• they don’t see the tears behind the visor
• wise words from JG
• licence
• 4-hour naps
• flu shot success
• remembering the laundry
• a day of rest
• yoga time
• parent positive
• covid negative
• the victories that will eventually outweigh the defeats
• R liked my purple hair
• 4 of my 7 classes went well
• I didn’t get into too much trouble
• I will change her mind
• my room will be mine
• the days when I breathe
• (days 8 and 9)
• optimism
• wheels changed
• pretty snow
• my book club misses me
• my roooom
• I feel teacherly again
• breakthroughs with students
• EAs who arrive and help
• positive parent contacts
• a full tank of gas
• lamps
• small breakthroughs with 9-year-olds
• contrition > hope
• having made oatmeal
• a few seconds of song
• 6 tables
• social distancing bluffs called
• having a library across the street from the dentist
• extra tea
• found a contraband whiteboard
• lunch with kids
• N is being cared for
• yoga and sleep
• pasta and pesto
• this is not how it will always be
• not being afraid to use the yellow office referral slips
• things that are coming along
• guitar tips
• the French fête: 1 hour of other
• whiteboard in place
• smiling poppies
• the square foot show
• being good at writing emails about tricky things
• getting my boot back
• but mostly the poppies
• microwaves that don’t beep
• M’s phone number
• C’s gift card
• N’s cookies
• J’s lunch duty
• E’s hug
• S’s prayers
• Christmas presents
• unions
• contracts
• forms and policies
• tests
• plan Bs
• “no school” is so close we can almost taste it
• not hurrying
• extra prep
• holidays!
• generous return policies
• still holidays
• people who know things
• a plague that can be diagnosed, treated, and prevented
• there are worse things than isolation
• there is always something to do
• French on demand
• special deliveries
• unlimited zoom
• beautiful snow that needn’t be shovelled
• such an amazing family
• comfort and joy
• marking milestones
• enough to eat
• getting better at things
• turkey soup
• pacing in the driveway
• clean sheets
• not having a guitar lesson
• hugging my mom
• pockets
• progress
• walks with Joc
• getting files done
• swapping classes
• a short little walk
• good mammograms
• well-timed appointments
• Georgia
• two more weeks of excellent mental health
• nice hair
• pocket gravy
• chill
• not driving tomorrow
• teletravail
• early bedtime
• French Lit fun
• not having to look at them
• it’s just so much easier now
• workshops worth attending
• puzzle brain
• sitcoms
• homework that isn’t schoolwork
• Day 10s that are less worse than usual
• yoga, bacon, and chocolate
• memories of other places
• decent internet
• steady work
• split screen
• finally shedding the headache
• egg on toast
• bralessness
• plowing through the marking
• not driving to Woodstock in the snow
• not supply teaching
• not unemployed
• I got them done by 4:03
• and someone else was after me
• I had a month with mom
• in peace and calm and safety
• I’ve been other places
• morning good humour
• someday I will go somewhere again
• I like my little apartment
• good naps (efficace)
• routine
• automation
• corn chowder and netflix
• messenger tactics
• Dr H
• new clinics
• nurse navigators
• acts of nature
• appointment dates
• Wortley walking
• a warm bed
• proper snow
• furnacy air
• little paths by the river
• understanding parents
• when I am happy
• when the days are tolerable
• when I have interesting things to listen to in my car
• when I am ready for the next day
• the classes I teach well
• having enough prep time on day 8
• Schmitt’s Creek
• surplus
• long weekends long yoga classes
• muscles that have done something
• another act of nature
• nice, obedient people
• naps and films
• walking away from weird people
• a pleasant walk to the store
• sleep escape
• ETFO
• upswings
• prep time
• energy
• confidence
• mornings are usually fine
• people who care
• people who tell the truth
• a walk in the sun
• rest
• finding this book in my bed
• incident-free photocopying
• not taking it personally
• when I cook delicious things
• I didn’t get in trouble for anything
• reasonable parents
• A and goosebumps
• days always end
• Star Wars
• Game of Thrones
• pesto avocado ham sandwiches
• other teachers who’ve also had it
• spring
• Inky
• sleep
• the sun still shines
• STAR WARS
• finishing my audiobook just on time
• unions
• detentions
• B colouring
• people who care
• options
• sick days
• bike season
• French Lit
• buying art
• urban bike trails
• the 5th clinic might be the one
• laundry on the line
• supports
• my French is fine
• the prayers of others do exist
• a successful tween lunch
• think sheets
• delivery
• the French BS
• church enough
• there are always eggs
• R, who asked me if I’ve found my style
• sun enough to bike down the road
• food for dinner
• things that work
• having pencil and paper on hand for noting threats and profanities
• Easter miracles
• managers of people
• water
• Ridout Street
• tender chicken
• conversation
• my tax scheme worked
• muscles
• Easter zoom
• JK loves me
• AK too
• poetry
• therapy
• the absent ones
• Japan
• Grade 1/2
• She’s just lazy
• finding the string
• being up
• the still-absent ones
• daffodils
• audiobooks
• movies
• (distraction)
• a portable drying rack
• fresh-smelling sheets
• enough to eat
• fixing the hammock strap
• sun on cheeks
• bird poop is washable
• now I have a clean screen
• my laundry almost dried
• online school at last
• honest car people
• just down the road
• pharmacies and covid tests
• not going to work
• discount pizza
• buds
• hills
• the perfect apartment
• seeing so many of my favourite people in one day
• movies
• fun
• escape
• finding the honey
• bouquets
• good supply teachers
• not commuting
• living the online life
• renting
• crossword puzzles
• togetherness
• humour
• time together
• safety
• no cancer
• TLDSB saved the day
• with the long-lost TPA
• and multiple addresses and employers are a great help when scheduling vaccines
• yoga
• sure
• advocates
• movie night
• having my bike
• pep talks
• being here
• moving the body moves the mind
• tiktok pasta and rhubarb betty
• du bien caché
• well-placed caffeine
• patio weather
• interview offers
• more interview offers
• HOPE
• Pfizered
• good for me for trying
• seeing the upside
• and lilacs
• prep time migraine naps
• potatoes
• went for a walk
• mowing = exercise
• SCOOPS
• it’s not me
• feeling okay
• the new book nook
• biking is a bit like travelling
• not being devastated
• fajitas
• long, long naps
• downtime
• ideas
• having my bike
• JB
• meals
• sun
• patio
• bike
• ever-so-briefly caught up
• kind parents
• new every morning
• meals waiting
• French poetry
• shoulder stretches
• a documented childhood
• having $225 to enlighten myself with
• marinated steak dinner with the fam
• getting close to finishing things
• and seeing the end approach
• sunburn
• 8 hours outdoors
• likely just fibroadenomas
• good answers
• a walk in the park
• an interesting bike route
• knowing a tiny bit about Grade 1
• illumination
• friends who get me
• caring less
• soup chicken soup
• pleasant temps, no clouds
• fortuitous phone calls
• a surgery date
• a new bike path = adventure
• not hauling around a cart of ukes
• DoFo finally did something good
• Little M’s hat/gloves/boots/bench
• the moment of entering the forest
• CMHA’s many angels
• yard sales
• fresh asparagus
• grilled asparagus
• French poetry
• finding out that I’ve already marked things
• the world’s appreciative people
• mom is double-dosed
• professional judgement
• getting lots done
• no more marking
• no more report cards
• no more Grade 8
• a relatively painless seed-planting
• A DAY OFF in a newish place
• browsing, and not online
• seeing the lump come out
• tylenol
• French sonnets
• second doses
• double-pfizered
• nursing care
• unexpected sunshine
• sports bras
• things that challenge me
• and also things that don’t
• optimism
• deer
• help
• being done things
• HealthZone NPLC
• Dr R
• Dr P
• yard sale fun
• yummy pasta salad
• ice cream with the fam
• 2 days headache free
• flattery
• yoga
• not having dietary restrictions
• a hair wizard
• a kinder world than some experience
• perfect temperatures
• hotspots
• fajitas
• weight gain, and loss, is a luxury
• a full night’s sleep
• pleasant biking conditions
• clean teeth
• fun with Micah
• semi-spontaneous gatherings
• abundant food
• bought the book
• and a melon
• reacquaintances
• healthy fatigue
• discovering tai chi
• TRAVELING AGAIN
• sunning on the dock
• kayaking
• feeling at home all over the place
• Italian food with J
• white wine sangria
• sequiny jeans that fit just right
• the precipice
• being on hold for 2 hours was all it took to book
• got some answers
• hypnohope
• free pdfs
• carpool plans
• homes
• willpower
• garden veggies
• the books were on the shelf
• all the many books
• meandering downtown
• bike riding muscles
• figuring things out
• bike + yoga + HT = good vibes
• dangling with C & J
• loaded baked potatoes
• C playing board games
• first swim of the season
• walking and shopping fun
• annotated bibliographies are fun
• trip plans are all in place
• audiobooks on the bike trail
• and a shortcut to the Greenway
• too many choices
• voyaging again
• finding my way
• not buying everything
• an excellent sleep
• rainshoes
• pleasant libraries
• being at ease in a restaurant with others
• not getting washed out to sea
• going to a beach with friends and having fun
• new friends that I like
• new red boots
• shopping with girlfriends
• skipping class to write a paper
• a ride to Archambault
• solid shoes and a nap
• confidence
• options, optimism, agency
• fun with the fam
• perfect water and air temps
• fluffy cake
• Micah with a hose
• it’s still summer
• noodle soup
• all the kind people
• figuring out the math
• courage for the little things
• all the things that fit in the car
• se maquiller des mots
• fight or flight explains it all
• getting most of the printing and laminating done
• getting the bins put away
• the little wee bits of collaboration
• perogies
• the room, at least, looks ready
• the 25-year-old labels in the basement
• the SPCC photocopier
• help with all the stuff
• being ready for Day 1
• a darling class
• getting the emergency folder done
• catching up
• surviving the staff social
• making a pedagogical decision
• getting some thinking done
• not having to do DRA/BAS/whatever
• found the printer I wanted on clearance
• was fit enough to get through drumfit
• found some extra apples
• starting to breathe
• most of them are happy
• I actually did have carrots in my bag
• getting into the GB+ workshop
• finally getting an appointment
• 25 degrees and sunny
• just the right amount of cardio
• biking at my own pace
• seeing human beings
• I have submitted things
• windshield wipers
• honey from the wasp
• 7 absences
• no bathroom train
• not fearing
• when the wifi quits
• starting to feel on top of things
• I can play H&S videos on my phone and take them everywhere I go
• My 1st self-planned math lesson was fairly successful
• It’s still sandal weather
• leaving work at 5pm instead of 6pm
• doing optional things in the evening
• having extra time
• if all else fails, we can always just colour
• my class is effortlessly quiet, always
• warm autumn days on the patio
• I see leisure in my future
• the guèpe was cool about the call
• I found my missing file eventually
• the tally mark lesson was okay
• the lasagna is restaurant quality
• outdoor recess
• tomorrow will not be today
• today was not yesterday
• I own a printer
• drumfit
• good enough is good enough
• in the morning, I can plan, or even improvise
• difficult phone calls do get easier
• my audiobook is in
• colleagues who get it
• somehow, the kids are learning
• I like my job
• finished the Learning Skills comments in only 9 hours
• all that was accomplished