You can be assured I have had an exciting week. I’ve been introduced to the EMT service and the Brownwood Hospital. Country ambulances are a little different from their city cousins. You don’t have to avoid silly deer who become fascinated with flashing lights! I must take the time to thank the team with Nancy Ragsdale, who came out to my place Thursday, in the wee hours of the morning to rescue me.

You were all wonderful, and your help was much appreciated. The hospital nurses were very professional and kind. Although I didn’t much want to be there; they made my short stay bearable. I’m not much for hospitals, so I got out as quickly as I could.

I have no doubt many of you have stories to tell. I can say this; hospitals are not quiet, restful places. Plus, there is no bed like your own! I’m on my way to recovery, but it will be a while before I am completely well. Pancreatitis is not very friendly.

I want to thank everyone for the calls and get well cards. Kay McKee, Paula Miller, Al Behrens,Maxine Robbins, and Barry Fikes came by to cheer me up. Many of you from church and school took the time to call, and see if I needed anything. I appreciate every call. Like I said last week, we are a great community.

Parents, TAKS is just around the corner, so please make sure your student is studying at home.

Of course, while I was away, my students, especially the older ones who should know better, tried to tell the sub they hadn’t been taught anything in the last six months. I was upset about that at first, but then I realized they were just trying to get out of doing work.

I have a number who think their life will get better if they chuck school and go out and get a job, I can’t seem to make them realize that the jobs are limited. There are only a few major employers in the area, and few of them are going to want to hire an undereducated kid with few job skills.

Yes, I suppose they can find a job with a small firm, but what are the chances for advancement? One of our local schools has been given a year to improve or be shut down.

That can happen to any school, if the state decides your TAKS scores are too low. I’m not sure what the answer is when combined with this I don’t give a rip attitude.

Each year we are asked to have students ready to meet certain state mandated standards. I think we came closer the year we had pre-school, but you have to have enough students to run that kind of expensive program. The state expects kindergarteners to be reading 60 words per minute when they go to 1st grade. They are supposed to know math facts and have them memorized.

That kind of standard can only be met if parents are actively involved with helping at home. There is not enough time in the school day to reach state requirements. Many schools have insisted that your child be reading before they come to K-5.

I’m going to check with Mrs. Harris and see what is mandated for her little ones. Bottom line is it takes all of us working together. I have several 7th graders who tell me they’ll quit rather than learn the stuff school wants them to learn.

Parents out there, do you agree with that? If you don’t, sit your student down, and tell them what you expect of them, and why you expect it. Please help them find a future. Richland Springs is a wonderful place, but unless you have a job nearby you can’t live here. We all know gas will go up soon.

Our new government has already said they won’t drill for more oil. Those friendly Arabs will be more than glad to sell us some; at a price! So, please, make your student understand school is important. They all know teachers say it’s important, so that they can keep their jobs! The up note on my students was the lovely cards they sent with get well soon wishes. The loving touches are what keep me going back year after year.

I guess we’re not going to get any rain again. SOB! That’s the sound of the earth crying out for rain. We are all facing drastic times with this drought. Trees are going to start dying, crops won’t grow and tanks will have to be filled by hand. We need to have a community prayer meeting to beg God for some rain.

NASCAR is on again. That roaring sound is music to the ears of many fans. I’ve been to a few car races. Music is not the word I would use to describe the sound. Roaring, thundering, ear-splitting all seem appropriate words for high-pitched cars zooming around a track at incredible rates of speed! At any rate, note the pun, my husband is happy. I will be spending the next week or two on bed rest so I am less enthusiastic about almost anything!

I hope everyone has a wonderful week. I am blessed to be able to see another day. We are all blessed to open our eyes and realize we live in this marvelous country! Please pray for our precious troops, the government that seems inclined to put us in debt to people who dislike us, and our new President.

Have a blessed week.