The Calculus of Spring

I used to cycle the central coast of California every year as a youth group leader. Climbing long, grueling hills, I learned not to focus on the top of the hill (which, on a curving road, was impossible to see for 90% of the climb anyway), but rather to choose some object 100 yards ahead, make that my goal, reach it, then choose another. You know: that "divide and conquer" thing that Alexander the Great was always on about. Focusing on the end crushes hope when you're miles away from your goal.

So I try very hard not to begin counting down days until the end of school right after Christmas Vacation, as some other teachers do: it just leads to frustration. Better, in my mind, to keep one's head down and only look forward enough to find the next holiday. After New Year's is February, with all those delightful federal holidays (thank-you, Misters Washington, Lincoln, and King). After that, the blessed Easter Vacation, a different calendar week each year, but very, very needed, and what I consider the North Star of school holidays: whether it arrives in March or April, it is the one most desperately needed. Well, at least for me. Easter Vacation makes it possible to slog on until Memorial Day, which is quite a stretch. After that, it's all downhill rushing through the first half of June.

Well, I'm in pretty good mental shape at the moment, so I'll dare to look down the road. Let's see:
Thirty-six school days left (my, that doesn't sound like a lot: I have novels to get through with my classes).
Fifty-three calendar days.

Oh, yeah, I'm feeling that.

Almost at the top: keep pedaling…