It's been quite a day.
Up at 6.30am (usually 8am).
Off to school with Kerry and Theo at 7.45am.
Dawn Chorus practice of "Gilbert" (tune by Van Morrison, lyrics by van Waardenberg - the tune of Gloria) at 8 am.
Dawn chorus perform at staff briefing at 8.30am (ish), to rapturous applause and much laughter.
Gilbert is our principal's name, and he is travelling to the UK next term, amongst other things to catch Van Morrison live in Cardiff.
Go well!
8.50 period 1 - spent chasing up various students and meeting staff.
9.40 period 2 - meeting my Year 12 class, who all decide they want to perform to me!
10.30 - beautiful fresh coffee and muffins at B Block with Eileen and the Tech Department.
11.20ish - meet with Year 13 class - big hugs and tears at lesson end.
11.40 catch up with various staff - the school day is WAY too short to meet everyone!
12.50 meet with members of Super 12 (my special performance group) and other seniors - give them the "low down" on my current state.
A "wet" lunchtime due to the tears being shed by all.
1.25 walk up to staff room, collect 3 baskets of wondrous and wonderful gifts from staff and students (food, wine, cards, books, CDs and DVDs and candles and "readings" of poems and photographs), out in front of school, sing with students and pray and final big, warm hugs and tears...and Lois picks me up and off to Orvieto we go.
Sophie back from camp at 5pm with scars from trolley crash at school camp.
7pm wine cheese and crackers with friends...and much laughter!
It is now nearly 11pm...what a wonderful, full day!
Such a perfect day ...to all those who shared time and hugs and laughs and presence with me today, "I'm glad I spent it with you"....
And thanks to Lois for organising the evening!
Good night everyone.
See you tomorrow!
Gerald.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Good to hear you got to school and did your performance - any chance of hearing it on Sunday? Your place sounds a great place to be!
ReplyDeleteHi there,
ReplyDeleteone more track to go till I put together the CD from me. Just need to wrangle my fingers round a few more brazilian chords. Even so I ad to slow the song down - but maybe that's how it's meant to be...
Look forward to seeing you!
Joke, wish I had a copy of the words! Think I left them at school!
ReplyDeleteRichard, feeling is mutual! I was given, amongst my many gifts yesterday, a CD called "Terra" by a fadista called Mariza - you probably already own it - if not, this is a treat in store for you! Also, a dvd of Lou Reed's "Berlin" performed live in 2006.
There is not enough time!!!!!!
G.
Wow, what a testimony of how you've influenced so many lives in school. So great to hear that you're being loved and honoured in so many ways Gerald. The kids must miss you heaps. Its heartwarming as a fellow teacher to know that they do have a regard for us even when it doesn't seem so in the day to day things.
ReplyDeletehey that title is a line from a coldplay song right?
ReplyDeleteYes! They did a cover of Lou Reed's song.
ReplyDeleteyes, but i was thinking of strawberry swing:
ReplyDeleteChorus
Cold, cold water bring me 'round
Now my feet won't touch the ground
Cold, cold water what ya say?
When it's such…
It's such a perfect day
It's such a perfect day
which one were you referring to, gerald?
ReplyDeleteprobably lou reed :-(
Sorry if this is disappointing, Alex, but, yes, the Lou Reed song, which is again referred to in quotation marks towards the end of the blog.
ReplyDeleteBoth the Coldplay Song and the Lou Reed song are wonderful - however, the Reed one has stood the test of time (last 35 years) particularly well. It was used as an ad for a phone company in the UK back in the 90s. Its influence is perennial.
Thank you for the farewell hug & the short prayer time together. It was particularly special for Sonya - she hasn't faced up to her mortality yet. Being a teen, and feeling invincible, I guess.
ReplyDeleteAs for me - looking forward to seeing you again, Gerald. Wherever :-)
Shalom
Jillian Wilson
Thanks, Jillian. I hope Sonia will continue to bring joy to her Father and those around her with her music - and I pray the same for John Henry. Yes, we will meet again!
ReplyDeleteG.