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A Commuter's Worst Nightmare: Happened On My First Day

I recently began a new job that requires me to commute. I drive an hour every morning to work, and an hour every afternoon to go home. It is a lovely drive, with few stoplights, through a canyon along a river. In the morning I view the sunrise over a lake and I am reminded of the beauty of nature and my place in the universe.

I am really enjoying my new job. The positive atmosphere is refreshing, and the professional respect is something that I have yearned for.

Taking a new job was a decision that I did not make quickly or take lightly. Knowing that I would be an hour away from my family in an emergency was a real fear that weighed heavily on my decision. Nonetheless, I did decide to start commuting.

And then on the first day of the teaching year, my town caught on fire.

I received a phone call just as I entered my car to drive home, excited to pick up my son from his first day of first grade, ready to take all of those "first day" photos that I could not take in the morning. It was a friend on the line, she told me that she had picked up my son, that the school had lost power, there was a fire, and I may want to hurry home because of the evacuations. Worst. Fear. Coming. True.


As I drove home (like a crazy lady) I could already see the smoke over the mountains before even entering the canyon. For an hour I worried, stressed, freaked out. When I arrived home I found that my son was at a play date in a swimming pool, at a house near the river and not in fire danger. My husband was gathering our legal documents and other important papers and packing up his truck. After stuffing the truck with the items deemed worthy, we gathered along with our neighbors in the street and watched the mountains behind us burn.


The planes came and dropped retardant, the fire line held. The fire was contained within a few days. We never had a mandatory evacuation, but my husband kept the files in the truck for a few days just to be ready. My son came home, safe and sound, unaware of the stress and worry that had just passed.

My worst fear came true on the first day of school. And it was okay. Living in a small town, having great friends that help, care, and protect, makes it all okay. My son was safe, even when I wasn't there to get him. I am so grateful and thankful for the great friends that I have made in this tiny town, and I know that even if I commute it will all be okay.

So, that was my first day of teaching this school year, how was yours?

Comments

  1. As a mother and teacher, I can relate to your fear - though, fortunately, not your experience. Your family is fortunate to have you, so is your (our) new school district.

    ReplyDelete
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