I have been blessed to host my youngest sister, Frankie, this week.\u00a0 Frankie is a principal this year, and she was given permission to attend a fabulous conference at McCormick Place in Chicago.\u00a0 I have forgotten the appropriate term (I’m sure she will help me out when she reads this), but the subject was how to make sure the classroom teacher reaches all the student’s levels of ability with each lesson.<\/p>\n
Slightly off track here….I was astonished to learn that many schools no longer use text books!\u00a0 I was aware that text books are available on computers, but schools have gone a step further, and do not use any form of text book!\u00a0 Teaching has changed remarkably from when I was in a classroom, and it looks like it’s about to change a lot more!<\/p>\n
At any rate, Frankie went to the first day of the conference on Wednesday, and then came here for the night.\u00a0 She lives in the Eastern time zone, we are in the Central time zone, so that was working against her, on top of a full day at the conference and two long drives.\u00a0 We chatted over dinner, and then sent her off to bed.<\/p>\n
Thursday, Friday and Saturday she took an early train into Chicago, and a cab to McCormick Place.\u00a0 Dear Husband took her to the train on the first two days, leaving before 6:00 a.m., and I drove her to the train on Saturday.\u00a0 I dropped her off at the “Kiss and Go,” and she wanted to know where the kiss was.\u00a0 I blew her smooches, since I was belted into the car seat.<\/p>\n
Now, when we go to Frankie’s house, she goes all out!\u00a0 The house is gorgeous, beautifully decorated and cleaned to a shine.\u00a0 The menu is always fabulous, and she has us dine at a lovely table.\u00a0 We have always felt like royalty when we visit.<\/p>\n
Frankie comes to MY house, and there are banker’s boxes sitting all over the place.\u00a0 She has to make her own coffee, and helped me to put the sheets on the bed in the guest bedroom.\u00a0 In other words….she’s not treated like royalty, but more like my kid sister.\u00a0 I HAVE to do better!<\/p>\n
We did try to cook for her.\u00a0 With all that was going on we managed to give her dinner.\u00a0 Broiled Salmon with roasted potatoes and onions, roasted asparagus and Caesar salad on Wednesday, Minestrone on Thursday, and a Barefoot Contessa dinner: Penne with Braised Short Ribs, and a crunchy salad from Cook’s Illustrated on Friday.\u00a0 We even managed some variety for breakfast.\u00a0 While it was fun to try new things, and to share old favorites with her, it’s nothing like what she does for her guests.<\/p>\n
The best part of the week, of course, was the chance to see Frankie, and hear what she was learning, and just be with her.\u00a0 We are at points in our lives when it isn’t as easy to spend time with each other, so I value any time that I have.<\/p>\n
After breakfast this morning there was a rush to the car.\u00a0 I was standing just inside the garage while Frankie loaded up her car.\u00a0 We both heard a cardinal call “birdie, birdie, birdie, BIR-DIE!” and we called back.\u00a0 I said something about the fact that the sun was rising and sang, “the sun’ll come out, tomorrow..”\u00a0 Frankie said that she stores up phrases in her mind, and today’s was something about\u00a0 “singing up the sun.”\u00a0 I got TWO hugs, and then she was off.<\/p>\n
I hope the morning is memorable. Frankie will hear Sandra Day O’Connor and Maya Angelou speak before she goes home. What a wonderful cap to an interesting conference.\u00a0 I’m so glad these people made it possible for me to spend time with my sis!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I have been blessed to host my youngest sister, Frankie, this week.\u00a0 Frankie is a principal this year, and she was given permission to attend a fabulous conference at McCormick Place in Chicago.\u00a0 I have forgotten the appropriate term (I’m … Continue reading