Saturday, May 17, 2014

Summit




I am not a mountain climber and I don't intend to add such nonsense to my bucket list. I  prefer to breathe my oxygen without the help of a tank-toting Sherpa. My book adventures and a few mini-mountain hikes have shed some light on how difficult it might be to finish the last few steps of a grand summit so I will leave that kind of trauma to the experts.

One mountain climbing expedition I do experience on a yearly basis is the school term. The adventure usually begins at base camp in August as we equip ourselves with sturdy shoes, pencils with erasers, uncluttered desks (for a few moments), posters, pens with ink and fresh lesson plan ideas. Orientation meetings fill our time as we struggle to keep our thoughts from wandering toward an ever expanding to-do list. Frantic errands include stocking up on everything from toothpaste to toilet paper as days of leisurely shopping quickly fade into history. Conversations are lively as we chat with fellow trail trompers, some new to the experience and others who have many notches on their walking sticks.

After much preparation, the first bell rings and in the blink of an eye, the journey begins. Spirits are high and a sense of nervous expectation settles upon us. Introductions are made and a rally cry for teamwork builds as we hope to follow the best route to the top of the mountain. Some will lead the way, some will carry our packs, some will cheer us up, some will teach us grave lessons, some will stretch us and a few will leave the trail behind.

About halfway up the mountain, the gravity of our task becomes very apparent. Feet become sore, relationships start to fray and time seems to slow down. The map reveals no shortcuts and the trail begins a steeper grade. Signs warn of falling rock and slippery terrain. Now, more than ever, our resolve will be tested. Creature comforts are coveted and the little things become bigger than the mountain itself.

Forging ahead, we put one foot in front of the other until we reach the final camp. We are aware of the challenges facing us and question our ability to complete the task. Our packs get heavier and our bodies rebel in cranky resistance. The grade looks almost vertical and there are no buses heading back down the mountain.

We put our boots on, grab our sticks, look forward and trudge onward. Baby step by baby step, we inch our way to the top. After an eternity of a few days, the almost unimaginable happens. We summit. The posters are down, the broken pencils are tossed, the lesson plans are finished, the desks are cleared, lockers are emptied and goodbyes are said.

Now we celebrate.

Hello summer.



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