I was cleaning my file drawer, ran across the forms you gave me three years ago

and thought of you, and of me, and of two different lives,

but really not so different in too many ways.

I actually graduated this month from college (Masters), except for an incomplete,

which I will remove January 14 by turning in a paper and taking a final

in the Professional Ethics class.

I finished a poorly supervised school counseling internship,

while teaching last semester as Reading Specialist in grades l-4.

Last year there was terrific, I was well liked and respected by my principal,

and I was free to organize and arrange the reading program according

to what I thought best.

The district did a shuffle, and we got a new principal, cloned from my husband,

this year, and about August, I realized that I had a knife to my back

and he was laying a paper trail to not renew my contract.

I pleaded with my counselor to tell me I was paranoid, but he investigated

a bit and said, "I'm sorry, you’re not paranoid, you really are under the ax."

Now I've learned an awful lot about personalities,

DISC and Hartman’s color code, enough to know I was in a situation of personality clash

nearly over my head, and really, no matter what I improved or changed,

he would see no changes and give no complements.

Fortunately I had joined the education association and

leaned heavily on the regional representative.

Christmas miracles still happen, and a coach at the junior high resigned,

and the 7th grade English teacher took the coaching job leaving the

English classroom open. I took the intra district job form to my principal

and asked him to sign about 3 minutes after he had announced it on the P.A.

He very willingly signed it, and as he did I said,

“this will be so good for both of us, now we can stay friends."

He looked so startled, then laughed out loud.

I had already talked to the junior high principal about the possibility

for next school year, and he had been my internship supervisor,

and with my old principal more than willing to let me go,

I think I have an above average chance.

But just in case I had the reg. rep. for AEA put his finger into the process too.

At lease it gave my ulcers a respite for Christmas break.

I'm still working on attitudes within, through bibliotherapy,

scriptures and counseling toward that end.

I wish I had a magic wand, I am now so far beyond what I ever even recognized

in me in l981 that it seems I would feel contentment and not work at it anymore,

but as I push back the walls I see more, and I want more of it,

and I am more content to do without the physical things,

and less content to remain static. (this job didn't happen)