Awww, Shucks! I Got the Package of Lifesavers, Again! Throwback to Every Holiday Classroom Event, K-6th. Queue the Charlie Brown Christmas

I'm not sure what launched the conversation, but a few weeks ago I said something in the order of, "Oh, me? I always ended up with the package of Lifesavers someone's mom got from a local drugstore." We were discussing holiday swaps, and I was reminiscing about gift exchanges back in the day where we didn't move between classrooms, and everyone was instructed to bring a $5 gift to class for the holiday exchange. It is true, I always got the Lifesavers, and Kaitlyn Marie Kelly remembered. Somehow, somewhere, she found a box...the storybook kind, and sadly they didn't have the butter rum flavor that was always a favorite, but I will cherish the rainbow sort.

This, of course, prompted me to the 5th grade Christmas concert where I tried out to sing a solo. I didn't get it, so I tried out to play Frosty the Snowman. I didn't get that either. Even so, Mrs. Shakow, the music teacher, called me down to her office and gave me a candle. It was an angel singing to the Great Whatever. "I just wanted you to know that I was thinking of you," she said. "But the other auditioners were sons of school faculty and staff. Someday you'll understand school politics." Well, that touched my heart and I always loved my special gift and the recognition that she knew I could take the truth (actually, it's probably because I can't carry a tune and she was simply glad to get me out of her way). It was all good, though, because I did win a spelling bee in that elementary school by spelling leprechaun and bureaucracy correctly. Crandall for the win.

I spent the majority of yesterday editing an article with Susie Q in Florida, and doing a few quick trips to potentially find gifts for under the Christmas trees. 

I'm hoping, depending how this morning goes, that I'll pack up the car and head to Syracuse in time to take Papa Butch to Chubbies, so he doesn't have to gas his riding lawn mower. I did fill the tank of the Hulk. I have loose ends to tie with work before I leave, "Where on Earth did my one student disappear to?" I sure hope that health is on her side - she is in my prayers, as is her family. Only crickets from her on email. 

I've download 4 books to Audible, and I know I'm likely only to get through one, but I'm optimistic I might listen to more while visiting loved ones. 

And I have Lifesavers for the ride, and a gift card to Dunkin Donuts - I might even splurge on an egg sandwich on the way home to visit the folks.

...which will sit in my stomach for 3 days...

maybe I'll just get a coffee...

...which will make me have to pee...