What happened to March?

It kind of just flew out the window, I think. I didn’t even get to comment on the bizarre weather the last two months.

Last time I wrote to you, I was celebrating my ninth birthday here at RtB, back in February. Then I woke up this morning and it was 7th of April. How’d that happen?

As I sit here with the space heater blasting my tiny frozen feet at 6:40 on a day when I should be getting ready for school, but instead I’m “enjoying” another snow day (seriously, 5 inches, hello spring), I wonder how, with eight remaining rehearsals, my high school choir will sound on our upcoming concert.

I know, first world problems and quit complaining. Still, while many would say they’d be rejoicing if they got a day off work, and teachers have it so easy and stop with the feigned frustration, the frustration really isn’t faked. It’s April, and for public schools in the US, that’s testing month. There was a big test scheduled for today, which sounds simple enough to reschedule, but when you examine the intricate ballet of assigning laptops, rearranging testing spaces, closing off certain sections of the school, changing the order of classes and generally upending the entire day so the Ohio Department of Education can administer yet another in its long line of expensive tests designed for kids to fail, well…it’s a bit of a mess, and that’s not even considering the actual material on the exams, to wit:

A teacher friend told me that some of her students had to interpret Othello and glean aspects of the character of Desdemona based on a conversation with her father, while others had to write a comparative analysis of symbolism in Shakespeare’s sonnet #54 and Edmund Waller’s “Go, Lovely Rose.” Still others were asked to analyze two arguments about whether bus or plane transportation was better. All of this on a standardized test, written supposedly to measure mastery of a standardized benchmark. And of course, when the students fail, it’ll be the teacher’s fault. Insanity.

Anyway…

To say that March crashed in like a lion is pretty accurate. Both the Thriller and I had major health issues in March. Mine are on the mend, but he still has some mountains to climb. Sister Mavis also had some surgery and complications. But we’re all doing better, so no complaints here.

I still don’t know where the lamb went.

RF, in the April blizzard

6 thoughts on “What happened to March?

  1. RD

    Reading your weather report for today caused me to sorrow for you, but thanksgiving that we were able to leave Atown on Tuesday headed for FL. I pray return to full health for you, Thriller and Mavis. What can be done to eradicate the idiocy happening with standardized testing?

    Reply
    1. Rat Fink Post author

      The answer is three words, fiend: VOTE. THEM. OUT.

      I’m glad you’re safely back down in paradise, and you missed all the snow. Have a beautiful weekend, and a blessed Holy week coming up!

      Reply
  2. Mavis

    The ONLY thing I can understand about Shakespeare’s, “Othello”, and Desdemona, is that she eloped to make her father mad. How on earth are high school students supposed to understand any of that play?!!! I can barely get through the first paragraph. I know that students today are much smarter than I, but still. Shakespeare?!! *sigh* Blows my brain up a tree.

    I’m so happy that you, Thriller and I are on the mend from our maladies! Spring will definitely be here (just not today) soon and we need to get out and enjoy it. Glad you had some time off today to mingle in Fink World! Hugs!

    Reply
    1. Rat Fink Post author

      And you officially know more about Desdemona than I do!

      I’m ready to get winter over with as well. Time to breathe the air, right? Let’s do it!!!

      Reply
  3. David

    Ms Fink it is great news to hear that you and the big guy are on the road to full recovery! From what I know you need all the strength you can muster for the home stretch of the school,year! Pray you have it!
    In the desert High Country Spring has sprung…warmer than usual temps but the typical windy days. Liz and I have a Spring tradition that we have just completed. Whenever and wherever we travel we gather native wildflower seeds and bring them home to dry, then plant. We just planted our Montana wildflowers from last year…cannot wait to see them bloom, sprouts already have broken ground.
    Ix nae on telling folks I like flowers or I’ll ?
    Peace my Fiendish Friend! <3

    Reply

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