It Will Take Me a While to Unwind from the Frenzy of @CWPFairfield Summer Programs, But Today at 3 p.m., I Can Say That's a Wrap for Another Year

Yesterday, our literacy crew of English language learners arrived to the chapter on women in basketball, Gene Luen Yang's shoutout to a history not often shared across collegiate storytelling. Dragon Hoops does a phenomenal job of showcasing and celebrating the contribution of women athletes and with so many ballers in Ubuntu Program who are also EALs, I thought this might be the perfect fit for this particular summer. That is why I invited Rhiannon Berry, a student I had in Syracuse, but also a lifetime professional friend, to speak to the kids. I knew she played college basketball and, because she now teaches English, she'd likely hit all the human parts of being a student-athlete that writers think about.

SHE NAILED IT. I told my mom she should be invited into every classroom across the United States to motivate kids to not only be readers and writers, but to push healthy, smart choices. She's competitive and that's why I love here. The drive and fierceness in how she operates has been what I've admired since Day 1. She's always been my favorite Woman Warrior and she found a phenomenal partner in Eric who matches her in all the right ways. What a joy to work with her again.

I had a goal to finish the book, but we're likely to almost finish the book, as we numerous other tasks to take care of on the last day...including bracelet making, which I have no idea how to do and need to learn quickly from my graduate students. 

Half of the summer program went home with me in my vehicle yesterday and the rest will return this afternoon. Miraculously, the humidity is suppose to drop, the sun is to come out, and the highs are in the low 70s...which is perfect. I'll likely enter my house, crash on a couch, and not wake up until sometime on Saturday. I'm also afraid of getting sick, as that likes to happen when I finally don't have to be 24/7 any more. I want to be sure to take it easy, so I can simply look back on the past five weeks with fondness. 

Here we go...I-95...I won't miss your early a.m. commute. Taking a break for a while.

Howdy, August. If I was still teaching in Kentucky, I'd already be back to school.