Yes - sad, but true.  There are about four hours left of my summer vacation from teaching.  I never actually had a vacation, but I didn't teach for a few months.  Instead, I worked full-time at a daycare with infants so that I could pre-buy oil for the brutal winter months ahead.  I'm sitting here in front of my computer in candle light.  The crickets virtually cover the sound of rain outside the window.  I'm attempting to relax for an evening before the storm of fourth grade hits my world with force tomorrow morning.  I'm also nostalgically reflecting on the past few months of chaos that was my summer.  I'm feeling that it was one of the best summers yet.

Although, I worked full-time, I felt it necessary and irresistable to cram in as much living as possible.  I went out and bought a planner to keep track of the shows that I was going to make time for - no matter how little sleep I would get before I had to go to work in the morning.  Thank God for weekends...although, at times, weekends were just a crammed.  One weekend in particular, I had tickets to go to the NASCAR races at Loudan,  both Saturday and Sunday.  This meant long days because my cousin and I didn't have a hotel room - we planned to drive each day.  As if this wasn't enough to keep me busy and entertained, I arranged to meet the girls in Tilton as soon as the Busch race was over so that I could make it to a Todd show in Somerville, just outside of Boston.  We got back after 2 am, and I had to be up around 6 to get ready and drive back to Loudan.  Four hours of sleep is one of the more lengthy rests that I had this summer.  There were several mornings that I'd get home around 4am, and have to leave for work by 7am.  There wasn't a show that I felt was not worth this crazy schedule that I was keeping. 

 Even as I've been attending in-services and parent nights at school during the past week, I have managed to attend a few more shows and even host one in my living room.  Todd Martin came up to the NEK of Vermont and rocked my little living room to the core!  My guests were pleased, and I was in a somewhat euphoric state.  I don't think there would have been a better way to send off my summer.

So, now I have to extinguish my candles, turn on a light and make plans for this week in fourth grade.  However, I have found that I refuse to extinguish the bright lights that made my summer shine.  I'm keeping my planner as cautiously full as I can, and trying to arrange a bright fall.  Hence, I've learned by experience a few of the numerous ways to live life to the fullest.  You can find me continuing to apply these lessons as my summer ends and my fall begins.