Ann's Anntics

Who is this man? School is almost over. Fourteen days to go with my babies. It is always a melancholy feeling. RELIEF that the rut is rising to an open road, and anticipation sprinkled with sadness to see them go. I can honestly say this year that I don't want to lose a one of them. They are all wonderful kids. I don't have a bad one in the bunch...all of them are bright, inquisitive, and make me feel like they know I care. The problem is, I have not been able to reach all of them to learn what I would have liked them to learn, but I must say, one of our goals is for them to be able to change fractions to decimals to percents to decimals to fractions...and so on. At the beginning of the year, I always tell the kids it is like eggs...scrambled, boiled, fried, whatever, and egg is an egg. The value of the number doesn't change, just the way it is presented. They smile because they know they are getting a crazy teacher. They did, and I got beautiful minds. But by golly, they can change those numbers, and almost effortlessly. Their speed amazes me and their self satisfaction is obvious. It has been such a privilege to get to know them and love them for the unique people they are. I tell them to come see me in 20 years. I want to know them then.

And then to the title of tonight's post. Who is this man? Matthew... Several months ago, I saw him online with the name...Moondoggy. For those of you who are as old as me...you may remember the Gidget movies. Moondoggy was the hero. I asked him if that was his memory and he said yes. We exchanged nicities and that was it. As time passed, we had random pleasant conversations about what we were doing and our lives in general. I even told my oldest daughter about him...a friend I had made in a nearby state. We share so many life experiences including two children born in the same year. It was an interesting friendship and nothing more.

Fast forward to today. I'm not sure when things changed...but man did they change. I am so flattered, and yet mystified. Matthew is wonderful, in some ways too good to be true. He is helping me remember what my dreams were. Life had stolen my dreams. I thought they were unrealistic...and maybe they are, but he is willing to help me see. I do not know what will happen. We will meet and greet next weekend and continue our journey as friends. I am so excited to know him. He is making a difference in my life. Who knows where the journey may end...