I relish in mere humanity. I love things that are distinctly human. Tonight I read an article about Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin. I had never heard of him before. This article was linked to his Facebook profile. Upon reading his profile, as often happens when on Facebook, I started stalking others. I started with Mark Zuckerburg, the Facebook founder I had actually heard of. From then, I looked at his new wife, Pricilla’s page. She was a 4th and 5th grade science teacher. I then went on to read Mark’s sister’s profiles. And the thing I found most interesting, is that all these people-they’re human. Obviously they are living and breathing, but it’s not just that. They’re normal. And that’s the thing about humanity. We’re all normal. Yet we search for things to set us apart. Yes, the Zuckerburg’s are probably twenty times smarter than I, most attending Ivy League schools like Princeton and Harvard. They’re mega rich. But one sister commented on how she was now the last unmarried Zuckerburg. How normal of her to think that, to post that on Facebook. 

I like to think that I understand people. I like to watch people and guess their life story. I’m not mean to the strangers that serve me, because I imagine the life they live. I imagine they have families at home, depending on them to bring home some money to pay rent. I imagine their dog died this morning, and they’re having a hard time getting through the day. 

I imagine their brother died a month ago from a drug overdose and their still telling everyone they aren’t sure how it could have happened, even though they, and everyone else knows their brother has been a drug addict for years now. 

I imagine he has a ring in his pocket and will propose that night to his girlfriend of four years. 

Who am I to ruin their day?

Yeah, things are going slow. I stood in line for over fifteen minutes at the Wal-Mart bakery trying to order a cake for my best friend’s shower. I know many people would have yelled and thrown a fit when they were finally waited on. But what’s the point? Ruin their day and work yourself up to? Nah. 

I just imagine the life they might lead. I imagine the good and the bad. Not wanting to make the bad worse or make the good less good. 

I smile and say thank you. And sometimes I have to pretend their mom is dying of cancer in order to keep the smile on my face. 

You see, all that, it’s distinctly human. We all have a story. 

I posted on Facebook tonight, “If I never get married or have kids, the thing I think I’ll be saddest to miss is the registering for presents.” It’s a thought that certainly went through my head today as I searched for a gift for my two best friends. One marrying the love of her life, one having a sweet baby boy with the love of hers. 

Truthfully, the saddest thing about the possibility of never getting married or having children, is missing out on sharing a story with another human being. 

I hope teaching is a place where I can share my life with my students in a profound way. 

1. I have a job. 

2. I still think my cooperating teacher is awful. I wrote other mean things, but decided to go the slightly more professional route. 

3. I graduate in less than three weeks. 18 days, actually. 

The thing I’m most looking forward to is not having to see my cooperating teacher everyday. I don’t want to be like her. I don’t want to think like her. I don’t want to be around her. I need a long break from her. Weekends just don’t cut it anymore. She will be gone Thursday. If I can just make it until then!

icantteachthis:

Haha! Yes.

Two things:

1. I wear glasses everyday. I don’t have contacts. But the sun has been really bright, and I see better with sunglasses at recess duty. So I take my glasses off in preparation for my sunglasses. One of my students looks at me and says with genuine surprise, “You look pretty without glasses.” I say thank you as the kids begin giggling. 

I can’t figure out if that was a compliment or not. I always wear glasses. ha. Maybe it’s time to try contacts again.

2. I learned a lesson today. Never comment on the complexion of a newborn baby if you don’t know both parents. Even though all the children have blonde hair, blue eyes, the father of the next child could be black. Ooops.