Chewbacca, Hulk Hogan and Troy

Oh Mardi Gras. How out of control you always are. This year was no exception. I mean, at what other time would you see one parade which included all the following components: A) the guy who played Chewbacca threw beads at you, B) a hot air balloon basket with an engine, on wheels, being pushed by a police car because the engine died, C) being thrown beads with shot glasses hanging from them, D) amazing high school bands who are more musically talented than most adults I know, E) insert 8 million other crazy things here.

Mardi Gras music is amazing- lots of random second line groups playing brass bands. You can't not dance. Even if you don't like dancing. You just do. Plus, the more you dance, the better quality beads you will get, so it pays off. Another perk is the celebrity parade masters- this years the biggies were Hulk Hogan, Kevin Costner and Salt'N'Pepa. I screamed for SNP, and thus have some generic-looking but close to my heart purple beads hanging in my living room.

The best treat of all during the Mardi Gras season was a chance meeting with Troy, one of my kids from my first year in Houston. He was one of our favorites, and we had no idea his family was even back in town. He was several teacher's favorites, so I took him around my neighborhood to say hi to all kinds of people, who were thrilled to see him. A first year corps member teaches him, so we are working together to get him into high school, and make sure he stays on the right path. So exciting to be back in touch with him again! He was equally thrilled to see all of us- unlike two other former students, who avoided Robin and I when we said hi to them at a Mardi Gras parade. Eh, you can't win 'em all. Troy is great, and I was almost moved to tears to hear him talk about how much we, and our school, changed his life.

15 Days until state testing- send my students all your best, super-smart wishes!
Sarah