It is as good a time as any

On Tuesday, I will turn 48.  At this stage of my life, I was convinced that I would have accomplished certain things. So, today, I mentally took out the list and reviewed its contents.

1.  Have a family:  I have two wonderful sons.  One is still in college going to school on the lifetime achievement plan and the other is a gifted underachiever.  The little one has inspired me so much in my studies to learn where and how the system of education failed to help him.  I am married.  Took two times, but I think I got this one right.  Check.

2.  Have a career that I enjoy:  I have one that I love.  I can proudly say that I teach in an inner-city school.  Our population is 90% minority.  Those children have renewed my faith in people.  While each day is not perfect, where else in the world could a teacher in high school be called Momma Smith by 25 kids in an hour.  One even called her dad and said, "Hey Dad, found someone who has more kids than yo momma (she had 26).  It's Mrs. Smith.  She has a 126."  That touched my heart.  Harry Korn on Harry's Law said to her office that the neighborhood got in her heart.  It is dangerous.  It is troubled.  But it deserved to have people who want to be there and who can take the good times and bad.  So, I will put a check by that one.

3.  Have a Master's Degree:  Well, when my mom passed away last year, I was on track to have completed my education by the end of summer.  I took some time off last year to grieve and get my family back in order.  I am currently one class from graduation.  So, just for fun; I will put a check by that one too.

4.  Lastly, I wanted to feel good about where I was in life:  Until today, I have been feeling a little out of sorts with the direction my life took.  I was on my way to law school when I decided to teach one year.  Twenty-five years and about 6000 students later, I am still teaching.  Did I make the right choice?  Who knows?  I think I did.

As this birthday morning dawns, I am going to be going to school to give the "high stakes" testing my students are forced to take thanks to NCLB.  I won't be sad or depressed because I am getting older.  There is only one alternative to aging...death.  I am so not ready for that yet.

Looking back is healthy.  In fact, we should all evaluate where we are and what we are doing for others often.  The most pressing question for me now is, what should I add to the list?