If September kicked my metaphorical ass (it did), this past week was the part where it punched me in the face over and over again. For real this September was not my favorite. It’s always a fraught month, but this year it just sucked. I sprained my ACJ joint and I got Covid and my husband and I fell back into old, resentful patterns and my daughter had to navigate friend drama and it all felt like a real ass kicking. Especially this past week. This past week was truly a punch in the face.
You know when you’re dreading something and then it happens and it’s EXACTLY AS BAD AS YOU WERE FEARING? Well that was this week.
My husband left on Wednesday and this afternoon I drive home from work, just to finish packing the car with all our camping gear so I can turn around and drive back past my work with my son to a two-night camping trip planned by his school. I have spent all week planning, packing, doing laundry, shopping, prepping food, cleaning the house, and otherwise trying to be ready for this camping trip, which I absolutely DO NOT want to go on. Honestly, the only thing I’m looking forward to is having the time to grade the tests my students took this.
Yesterday was a really shitty day at work, and I was wiping away tears as I pulled into the Safeway parking lot to grab some last-minute items for this weekend. As I was putting the groceries away I hit my head on my car’s trunk door and then scraped a bunch of skin off my toes while trying to move SOMEONE ELSE’S SHOPPING CART that was left partially blocking two spaces. After that I sat in my car sobbing.
Crying in a Safeway parking lot was a real low point. The turd on the top of the shit sundae that was September.
But there are some bright sports I appreciate. I’ve been trying so hard to focus on them.
- My husband did get sick before his trip. I’ve been holding my breath for 10 days, waiting to see if he caught Covid from me. But it looks like we managed to keep him well. Ditto Son, who would have been devastated to miss this weekend’s camping trip.
- The horrible cold my daughter got this week is NOT Covid! This means she can still stay with her grandparents while everyone else is away this weekend. She also got to see Mitski on Monday, which she had been looking forward to.
- The FOUR assessments my students took are all on paper, so I can grade them on the camping trip (where there is absolutely no cell-service). This means I will get the grading done this weekend AND that I’ll have a reason to avoid 48 straight hours of small talk with people I don’t really know.
- The weather is supposed to be lovely this weekend. Highs in the mid-70s and lows in the high-50s. Yes please! The park is really beautiful and I’m hoping to enjoy the time outside.
- We will be home by Sunday afternoon, which will give me a chance to unpack and decompress. My son will be high off almost 48 hours of intensive time with his friends, and my daughter will have had the weekend to recuperate at her grandparents’ house. Sunday afternoon will be lovely.
So yeah, this week has sucked. I was dreading it all month (which also sucked!) and it was just as bad as I expected and now it’s almost over. At least everyone else got to have their fun. And I guess I survived. Even if I did get metaphorically punched in the face.
Wishing you a weekend where all the papers get done easily and fast and then you hide out ‘working’ and take care of your self for a bit! also hope October is easier and live improves, while still having nice weather hanging out for running and being outdoors! And, while I am making wishes for you I will add: every and each group of students you interact with will be interested, working hard and cheerfully learning LOTS.
That you are going on the weekend trip is wonderful, I hope the parents who cannot do the same appreciate you fully!
I am so sorry you had such a shitty month, Noemi. When it rains, it pours, right? I hope that October will be a much better month for you and I am glad you could find some silver linings between all this messy stuff. Hugs from afar.