Welcome to my Weekend Coffee Share, hosted by Eclectic Ali. It’s a half-caff day! I am introverting because it’s better than trying to communicate with a mask, something I am growing tired of. I’ve been back to work since 8/12 and started teaching students on 8/20; while it’s been great seeing work friends and trying to joke and get to know my students, they don’t get it through the mask mumbling. I can’t wait to communicate and laugh freely, to high-five and hug without fear. But that’s not where we are.
This starts year 21 of teaching for me. It is hard sometimes to teach in a mask, and the air from my speaking makes it hotter inside the mask. Yesterday, I put on the face shield and took the mask off, staying way in the front of the room. In the back of this picture above, you see the desk shields. Students have to look around them to see what I’m writing on the board. They also have a lot to adjust to just as we teachers do.
I finished my physical therapy for the frozen shoulder. I’m not 100% (and the doc had said that would be the case), but still, the difference is amazing! I’d say I am somewhere between 80 and 90% now. Of course, I’m continuing the exercises I learned in physical therapy. This is the second time I’ve been through it, but I forgot some important details from the 1st time to the second even though it was only four months. I also was quite fearful to do too much after I’d hurt my shoulder this time, thus, getting the frozen shoulder.
So, it was good that I was pushed little by little to exercise it, and I stuck with the same PT which made it easier to trust the process and to believe it when he said I could do this. Believe me, I can do things now with my arm and shoulder that I was afraid to do for years! We talked about limits and he thinks I could do anything within reason. I can be the judge. I’ll ask the doctor about this next month, too. Should my next adventure be skateboarding, skydiving, axe-throwing?
Anyhow, for now, my adventure is teaching middle schoolers in- person during the COVID pandemic, keeping them safe from others and themselves while opening up their minds to Literature and our language. At the moment, I feel ready to head up this mountain. Actually, sky-diving sounds good right now, since I’m such a risk-taker. 🙂
I got my exercise in for today on the Gazelle exerciser on my porch and did my arm/shoulder exercises. Other than that, I am indoors, socializing on social media and actually, doing a little bit of writing! I am working on the novel in progress, Ellie the Time Traveler, and she is going to intersect with Malachi in true star-crossed lovers fashion! Love can be bittersweet…..
That’s all I’ve got for today! I am feeling pretty good, glad to be writing again and not wearing a mask for a while. I hope you all are enjoying your weekend!
pamelascanepa 