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I met Megan when I was fresh off the divorce train. I was returning to Austin after living in the Chicago area for a year and she had just moved here from north Texas where she'd been teaching pre-k, special education. We both attended the "new and/or returning teachers meeting" at Davis Elementary where we, and perhaps two or three others, sat around a table talking about our personality profiles, goals for the year, and leadership styles with our principal. I remember thinking she seemed a kindred soul but I wasn't positive until a couple years later when we took a school-wide excursion to Port Aransas for a teacher training on the marine sciences. Amid funnel clouds, rained out field studies, and some very cranky, drenched teachers we managed to launch a sea/storm worthy friendship.
Our first conversations centered on music. We found we knew and liked many of the same indie bands of note. She, being the hipper of the two, knew a lot more than I about the names, dates, and histories of the bands of interest. Still, it was enough to ignite a budding interest in hanging out more.
Interestingly, it took a couple more years to act on our rapport. Teachers don't always get the chance to see other teachers during the work week. And at the time I was in second grade, halls away from kindergarten. But at staff parties and gatherings we would always find each other and we'd talk about art and music, guys and gals, food and film. We always had a connection but never managed to turn it into grounds for regular outings until a couple years after that.
Because of a fluke in the regular schedule, kindergarten had lunch after first grade, which meant we second grade teachers had our lunch overlap slightly with kindergarten teachers. I was so thrilled because that meant Megan and I could chat everyday at lunch time! It didn't take long before we were planning regular outings. We finally had the momentum to launch our camaraderie.
Playing games, going dancing, singing karaoke, eating ill-advised foods, talking shop, talking sh@%, and seeing an opera were all part of the routine suddenly. We bonded over our mutually failing relationships, both with fascinating characters who just couldn't seem to part with their level three Peter Pan syndrome long enough to pull on their big boy shorts. It was really tough times but I think having each other was helpful.
Before we knew it Megan needed new living arrangements. I was living alone and welcomed the idea of not living alone. BINGO! Being roomies was seriously fun if not, at times, feeling like I was on some sort of reality show about kindergarten teachers burning at both ends. All in all, it was an amazing time and I think we learned a lot from one another.
Megan is an exceptional teacher and she's taught me some powerful lessons, perhaps without realizing it. She taught me that it's okay not to have meat with every single meal. She taught me a lot about being a cool Catholic. She taught me about hard work and dedication to ideals. She taught me how to be organized and tidy. She taught me a lot about art and beauty. Mostly, Megan taught me about the art of introspection. She expresses herself in such a way as to model how one might begin a dialogue from within. I really value her commitment to reflection.
During the pre-wedding craziness Megan was the greatest right hand gal. She co-hosted two gorgeous bridal showers, helped me pick out flowers, dresses, make up, and shoes, and listened when I was feeling crazed. I felt supported during what might otherwise have been a chaotic time.
I feel like Megan and I are in this for the long haul. She's one of my all time besties, and that's a fact. LOVE YOU, MACINTOSH!!!
