Going, Going, Going . . .

Everyone's going somewhere, it seems.  Bill left early this morning for the St. Joe. Debbie drives to Spokane for work today.  Willie just left, dropping off Brooke and Todd, and heading to school.

He doesn't HAVE to go to school today, but he's already spent the better part of August at his classroom.  WARNING, CLICHE AHEAD:  Contrary to popular and perennial opinion, teachers do work more than six hours a day, nine months a year.

Willie's students are putting out a first-day edition of the Cedar Post, so they've been selling ads, taking pictures, writing stories and designing their first issue.

Tomorrow all teachers are required, by contract, to show up for work, and soon another school year at Lake Pend Oreille School District 84 will begin. 

Willie said to me this morning, "It's time."   To which, I reminisced about the multiple feelings associated with this time of year----nervous stomach, sleeplessness and general excitement about the beginning of another chapter with new faces, spit-shined classrooms and hallways and daunting but exhilarating challenges ahead.  

Nice to talk about as nostalgia these days rather than necessity. 

Meanwhile, Annie moves on with her European adventure, now exploring, hiking and geocaching near Bern, Switzerland, and, of course, reminding the world of the Seattle Sounders with her scarf.  

I'd like to calculate the mileage and the countries where that scarf has put in for various poses for the Sounder faithful.   

And, last night I moved on in a manner of speaking---first horseback ride in several weeks. Lily seemed pleased and ready to go as we passed by Lefty and Mojavee, who would liked to have joined us.

It was a great evening ride north on our road, including a visit with the Butler ladies, Debi and Haley.  Debi teaches with my sister Laurie, and Haley is a former student turned fabulous wedding photographer.

She's down from Alaska to shoot a wedding this weekend, featuring another of my beloved students, Bryant Jones, in Jeff Jones Square, named for his late father. 

The going, going, going will continue as we move into the fall, and I'm hoping I'll be going, going, going riding a whole lot more once my story assignment is completed.

In the meantime, going means a trip to town today for a meeting and then lunch with a couple of other favorites, Kari and Jeralyn.  

Should be a fun visit.

On a sad note, I'd like to express my condolences to the family of Ruth Hamilton.  

A beautiful, gracious and inspiring lady has left our midst and, no doubt, has rejoined her beloved Bob in a better place,  filled with an abundance of beautiful flowers to nurture.  

RIP:  Ruth. 

Happy Tuesday.