Depending on When You Met Me

In response to a prompt on Ethical ELA this morning,

Here is my much-too-long story on how things would be different

depending on when you met me!

https://www.ethicalela.com/depending-on-when-you-met-me/

Depending on when you met me

I might have been living in a trailer,

Sleeping with my sister, next to my brother's crib.

I might have been living across the street

From missiles poised to intercept Communism.

Or I might have been settled in

Selma learning, first hand, about

Prejudice, cruelty, and racism.

Depending on when you met me

I might have been protesting on a quad

Long hair blowing in the wind.

I might have been traversing the Beltway

Pretending to be a teacher, 30 first graders.

Or I might have been rejected after another

Interview with no reason.

I might have been a mom of little ones,

Struggling to manage laundry, dishes, the lawn

As well as all those students who depended on me.

I might have been the mom of bigger ones

Trying in vain to attend cold baseball games,

Baking while watching track meets, and 

As well as drowning, in IEPs, lesson plans,

While writing curriculum maps.

Or I might have been juggling writing a dissertation

During college football season while care-giving

Parents and teaching both elementary students and 

Graduate students.

I might have been retired from some of my jobs,

Recovering from loss of a partner, plans, dreams.

I might have been

In a new state, new city, new home,

Guiding, supporting and cheer-leading a new crop

Of those pretending to be teachers.

I might have at the gym swimming or exercising

Embracing new friends

Thinking of protesting, again,

In shorter, grayer, hair!