Friday, April 13, 2012

A happy birthday.

Thanks to all my family and friends that wished me a happy birthday today – you guys are great and made my day.

The day started with a text from my brother, sister-in-law and a friend all wishing me a happy birthday, and several wishes on Facebook.

Friggatriskaidekaphobia: the fear of Friday the 13th. I turned 13 on Friday the 13th and my brother pointed out in his text that my age this year happens to be divisible by 13.  Having survived my 13th birthday, this wasn’t the slightest bit worrisome, actually I find it amusing.  13, 30 and now a multiple of 13.

First period one of the students remembered that today was my birthday – they all wished me a happy one. 

Second period the media specialist (librarian) called me down and I got a whole bunch of presents.  Not mine, but for me.  The new video camera, computer and other equipment I ordered for the school so that we could improve the morning announcements came in.  Fun stuff.  My tech kids and I started setting things up in the room we commandeered for the project.  Presents – wheeee!

Word spreads fast in a junior high school, by third period I had the entire class singing “Happy Birthday” in the hall as I went to open up the classroom.

But fourth period gets the award for most organized.  They came in like normal, sat down, did their warm-ups while I took roll.  As I started passing out the test we were taking today a few students had questions, and I answered them.  One student in the back casually raised his hand and when I called on him all he said was “1,  2,  3…” and the whole class sang “Happy Birthday”.

Yes, it was a bit of an ego boost.  The “Happy Birthday”s in the hall,  in the lunchroom, in the other classes.

But one of the greatest things came in 7th period from a kid that has on occasion accused me of hating him because I often have to give him consequences for disrupting class.  To get the depth of the thought he put into this, I’ll need to give a little background info.

I lived in the Boston area until I was 14, when we moved to Utah.  I lost most of my Boston accent, but there are still a few words that the kids love to give me crap about the way I say them.  One is the word orange, which I pronounce more like arange.

“Happy birthday, here’s a bag of arange jelly beans.”

Then home after school and a bunch of new “Happy Birthday”s from family and friends.

Love you guys, it was a nice birthday.

6 comments:

Lisa Shafer said...

Did you get the e-mail from your fav. secretary at our school? I walked into the office to send a tee-shirt by district mail to your librarian, and the sec. said, "Oh, Rossi! I've got to e-mail him for his birthday!" Cute.

Max Sartin said...

Yes, I did. I was surprised and impressed that she remembered. She's such a sweetheart.

21 Wits said...

if only I could really sing....but I look good in a video don't you think Max?! ha, ha!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpwWp-Cqwzg

Max Sartin said...

Karen - GREAT happy birthday video! And I could tell from the way you said "dear..yoou" that you made the video just for me. Thanks!

21 Wits said...

But of (ha ha) course I did! Hope you got to make a wish on your birthday cake!

Max Sartin said...

Nah, the birthday cake deal is going to be tomorrow night. Hopefully they won't put on one candle per year or they might have the fire department over.