🎶So, so you think you can tell, heaven from hell, blue skies from pain🎶📸

🎶Like when I close my eyes and don’t even care if anyone sees me dancing.🎶📸

When your boy comes down from his room after having played quietly for an hour, standing in front of you, naked from his bath, saying, “I want broom and dustpan, please,” it’s a moment of conflicting emotions.

On the one hand, you’re thrilled with the clear language and request for tools that don’t often get asked for.

On the other hand, you suddenly know how Brad Pitt felt when he asked Morgan Freeman, “WHAT’S IN THE BOX?????” (Yes, it’s an old allusion. Google it, if you need to.)

Suffice it to say, as your boy takes your free hand that isn’t holding the broom and dustpan, and leads you upstairs, there’s a growing sense of despair. You just know you should have gone up sooner to check on the quiet … .

I walk in and find the culprit. All this time, I assumed the boy had done whatever the deed was.

But no. It was another little monster …

As we shove open the door that’s blocked by basically every blanket in the house, I notice that his room smells a bit nicer than normal. A bit sweeter. Not unlike a chocolate chip cookie.

Then it dawns on me. The container of cookies was missing from the kitchen during dinner.

And there they were.

And the culprit was caught … Covered in cookie powder. With all the cookies crumbled to powder and mixed into the blankets and carpet.

Cause Cookie is a messy eater.

But this is what we call progress in our house. While the boy loves turning poptarts to powder at school lunch, his new teacher has taught him to clean up after himself by asking for, you guessed it, the broom and the dustpan, please.

Ah the joy of childhood, and the bittersweet chocolate of growing up and learning to clean the messes that monsters make.

🎶 Do you remember The 21st night of September? Love was changing the minds of pretenders, While chasing the clouds away.🎶📸

🎶 Well darkness has a hunger that’s insatiable And lightness has a call that’s hard to hear🎶📸

🎶And then he’ll settled down, in some quiet little town and forget about everything. 🎶📸

🎶 I was either standing in the shadow or blocking your light Though I kept on trying I could not make it right for you girl There’s just not enough love in the world. 🎶📸

🎶 There’s a battle ahead. Many battles are lost, but you’ll never see the end of the road while you’re traveling with me. 🎶📸

🎶 But on a midnight watch I realized why twice you ran away.🎶📸

🎶 When the rain washes you clean, you’ll know. 🎶

🎶I never did believe in miracles, but I’ve a feeling it’s time to try.🎶

Grissom Tigers ‘22 and ‘24.

🎶 Won’t you be the new one? Burn to shine. I take the blue ones every time. Walk me down your broken line. All you have to do is cry.🎶

🎶 Oh there’s an emptiness inside her And she’d do anything to fill it in. And though it’s red blood bleeding from her now, it’s more like cold blue ice in her heart🎶

Many visitors tonight.

🎶 Is this the age of the thunder and rage Can you feel the ground move ‘round your feet🎶

🎶 You see everything/ You see every part/ You see all my light/ And you love my dark/ You dig everything/ Of which I’m ashamed/ There’s not anything to which you can’t relate/ And you’re still here🎶

🎶 Life doesn’t discriminate Between the sinners and the saints It take and it takes and it takes And we keep living anyway We rise and we fall and we break We fall and we make our mistakes And if there’s a reason I’m still alive When do many have died Then I’m willin’ to wait for it.🎶

🎶 Why do you write like you’re running out of time? Write day and night like you’re running out of time? Everyday you fight like you’re running out of time. Keep on fighting in the meantime (Non-stop!)🎶

🎶Ooh Child, Things are going to get easier. Ooh Child, Things are going to get brighter.🎶

🎶 So put me on a highway, and show me the sign🎶

Two face-to-face classes down. Two virtual classes to go on our first day back.

To all my sisters and brothers busting their asses to make this work despite minimal pay, micromanaging admin, frustrated students, and angry parents: Thank You.

You are ensuring our future.

If the boy can wear a mask, anyone can.

🎶Now everybody’s taking about this new decade, Like you say the magic numbers then just say goodbye to the stupid mistakes you made. Oh my memory, serves me far too well.🎶

🎶 Never will regret this I never will, never will regret this🎶