"Last leads"

I have no idea where that expression came from in Dutch but the "last leads" signify the end of a long, hard haul. It is often applied to pregnant women who are minutes away from dropping their load. But it can be meant to describe any long term event that is drawing to a close.

My "last leads" are in sight. Not including today I have 13½ more working days until the summer vacation. Four of those are teaching days, four are activity days with my class, 1 is a day out to Walibi World (formerly Six Flags) and 4½ are meetings in the last week of school.

In that time I have to round off two classes worth of full page report cards, I have to add comments to the report cards for my own mentor class, I have to make sure that same class participates in the activities of the activity week and I have to make it through a weeks' worth of meetings. I also have to finish off my research paper but it seems I have wiggled a few extra weeks' time out of school to do that. They really want that paper, I guess.

It is gorgeous weather today. The sun is out, the sky is blue and I am stuck inside a building that averages 32C. In half an hour I am heading out of the building with my colleague research docents to go to the final research conference. I have already decided that a seat in the back, close to the beer nuts will do me fine.

My decision to not teach next year is meant to help me see if I miss it or not. Teaching, that is. I wonder if these "last leads" will be quickly forgotten and inspire me to try again elsewhere, of if the lead will stain and inspire me to try something new.

Videbimus