It's still me

Definitely I am still me––and have been for sixty-three years (!) today. 
I am even more me, I warrant, with less impediments to my self.

Last night I dreamed I was taking care of a darling baby, and I was laughing and having fun and loving it.
Is the baby me?
Or, maybe my new job?

In NO way to be condescending--
the students are young adults with self-awareness and their own loves and motivations (oh, yeah, very much so!)--
but as an Old Person, I do feel especially tenderly toward them, and protective.

Perhaps they sense that?
One of them who rarely speaks smiled and said, "Hi, Grandma", when I came in the room.
I was pleased. After five days, we've gotten a feel for each other, and I like that I come across that way.

In art class yesterday, making birthday cards proved to be a good idea (as I'd hoped), and I made a bookmark for a student--
Frisk, from the Undertale video game. The words are from the end:
after many trials, the character remains intact.

I checked, re boundaries & ethics, and my coworkers said it is okay to give or receive small gifts of little monetary value.  (Legally, under $5, they said.)
Also, turns out, several of my coworkers are artists or musicians.
Surprise, surprise, again, eh?

My Evolving Teaching Philosophy:
Give small gifts, . . . but don't play favorites.

I would (will) happily make anyone a bookmark, or draw a character for them, etc. if they ask or if it fits.
And I'm never in classes with this student, so I'm not singling them out--that's important--I only met them during training last week.

Anyway--everything's going well at my new job--the good stuff is very good, I'm learning lots, and some challenges are proving manageable.
All things being equal (tho' they never are), I can see staying here seven years, until I'm seventy, which was my hope. We'll see...

This morning bink is taking me out for birthday croissant before work, to the patisserie between home and school.

Today is also Primary Election Day--I will vote after work.

Have a good day, everyone. . . FORWARD!