September 26’

September, as the end of summer and the end of the fiscal year, feels like the close of a chapter. Yet much like the evening, I can’t help but feel excited about what the new day may bring.

I’m kicking off a collaborative project with a middle school teacher in Arkansas as a way to continue teaching while in school and to put what I learn into practice. I’m taking a curriculum class at night and thriving in the 9–5 employee grind, and school has become the frilly lace trim around an already tight schedule.

I hope to move into September with gratitude. I am thankful for an employer who supports me pursuing school, grateful for a car that continues to run despite its ever‑climbing mileage, and thankful for a husband and family who tolerate my tendency to overfill my calendar.

The ceramics project is exciting. Much of the artwork I’ve done with students has been one‑off tours, short workshops, or the occasional three‑hour skills‑based class. I’m thrilled to engage with students and their curriculum. They are spending the first portion of the fall exploring animal stories, practicing objective summaries, and deciphering metaphors and personification. It will be a lot of planning, but I’m kind of giddy picturing my Honda hauling the slabs back and forth across county and state lines.

The in‑between has always attracted me: airports, bus stops, highways. I love living close to state boundaries, able to visit Tulsa or Kansas City or Bentonville or Springfield on a whim and a refilled gas tank.

I may not have time for visits this month. A dear friend has her wedding, and I need to save up for another in December. There is so much joy at the close of this chapter. I’ll check back in next month with more. Oh, and before I forget to mention, the middle school teacher is my mom. I’m not sure when we will ever get the chance again to collaborate professionally. What a gift!