Fall Is In The Air

The weather here in Chicago has done an abrupt turnaround. Two days ago it was in the 90s and muggy. Today … it is very breezy and cool, and despite bundling up in a fleece jacket and fuzzy slippers, I had to move inside with my breakfast and the morning paper. Fall is apparently here.

With fall, of course, comes the opening of school. For my school, that’s tomorrow. This is the first September in 14 years that I won’t be stepping into my fourth-grade science classroom and introducing eager young minds to the mysteries of science and the methods of scientific thought. My treatments continue into November, and I am on medical leave for the fall quarter.

Many people have wondered, often with some concern, how I am feeling about this change in pattern. Me too. I am not always in touch with or honest about my emotions. In truth, right now I feel kind of blank about it. I think people expect me to feel a big gap – left out, purposeless, without context – but honestly, school feels like it’s in some alternate universe right now. I miss my friends there, and I really like knowing what is going on, but since I haven’t the energy or concentration to teach I don’t seem to feel it as a loss. I cannot fathom mastering the names of 115 new students, much less structuring new lessons each day and teaching them to multiple classes.

I’m setting my sights on more modest accomplishments. I have 11 days of “rest and recovery” before chemo starts up again. With the advent of cool weather, I hope to whip the garden into some semblance of shape –­ many plants desperately need deadheading – and maybe, possibly, conceivably, give the deck the washing it so badly needs. I will probably make more bread-and-butter pickles, and maybe dry some tomatoes and peaches in the dehydrator. It is really good to have these small-scale projects. More properly, it feels good to have the ambition to contemplate them. More on that in a future post, perhaps.

*********************

David and I would like your ideas for a weekend getaway. Ideally, within a 2-hour drive from Chicago. Or a 1.5-hour flight. Goal is someplace that is psychologically distant from current life, with engaging but not too demanding surroundings and activities. Specific recommendations (hotels/restaurants/B&Bs/activities) gratefully accepted. Leave ideas in the comments section (click on "No. of comments", below) or email us. Thanks!