what would happen if...

I ask myself that question maybe too often--it sometimes gets me in trouble. My husband, who always seems to have answers, wonders how at 57 my curiosity and mouth get me into problems I often cannot fix. I have an easy answer: if is a small question. 

Who knows where it will lead? I guess that's where the real problem lies. He seems to know where questions will lead. I have to find out for myself. 

I start with such a small question and ask it again. And then again. Before I know what has transpired, I've questioned myself into a corner. And just as quickly I can't get out.  

Part of the reason that I can answer questions is that I keep asking. I like to know "Why?" "What if..." "How?" 

And the questions don't quit coming. No matter how much trouble they get me into. No matter the answers. Even when the answers are not what I want or hope or dream. 

If there's one thing that I hope I instilled in my students, it is that they ask questions, push themselves to know more, inquire about everything in their lives.


What do you hope the children of today learn on their way to adulthood?

Retired! the cake (pt 1)

I'm really not as excited as the picture card says. I'm supposed to be, I guess, but it's just not happening. Of course, on my very last day I worked until four o'clock. It's alright, I don't need to go back.  I hope.

A couple of my sisters and I planned to meet for supper to celebrate. They began inviting a few more family members and ended up with 26 or so people! That's how we do things in this family...start small and let it grow.


Everybody jumps on the fun train. Sisters and brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews, sons and daughters-in-law, grandies and great-grandie. Just a big mix of family...which is why it was perfect.

Well, almost everything was perfect.  Angie declined making a cake because her house is being remodeled. So Sid ordered one. She went to the place, wrote down what she wanted and got this in return. "Ahhhh, Retirement Congrat Mary"

Sid's explanation for the error is that there's one less teacher in the world. The outcome is that people can't spell and certainly don't know grammar. She was quite embarrassed, but I think it's adorable and a great story.  

Sid could be an English teacher herself. She held several jobs during her husband's military career, most of those involved writing, planning, proofreading and such. She's got a touch of perfectionism in her veins, so the drive to the restaurant must have been pure torture. 

It's entirely possible that they (Angie felt a bit ashamed having declined earlier) were more obsessed by the blunder than I would be. That's one reason I'm still tickled by the whole event--to work so hard and have to face (of all people) a retired English teacher with a mispelled cake. Not "ahhh" but "arggg."

What have you done when you've discovered a grammatical error in a place of business?