On A More Serious Note

I have an interview for a teaching position on Wednesday. I’m excited, because I genuinely love kids and I know teachers have a unique ability to change lives. I also recognize that getting this particular teaching position is the only way we will be able to afford to send Micah to private school, because free tuition is part of the deal.
It has made me think about being a parent, and pragmatism, and sacrifice. It’s made me think about how much I love writing full time, and how I’ll miss it. There’s a beautiful poem, “kitchenette building” by Gwendolyn Brooks:

We are things of dry hours and involuntary plan,
Grayed in, and gray. “Dream” makes a giddy sound, not strong
Like “rent,” “feeding a wife,” and “satisfying a man.”

But could a dream send up through onion fumes
In white and violet, fight with fried potatoes
And yesterday’s garbage ripening in the hall,
Flutter, or sing an aria down these rooms

Even if we were willing to let it in,
Had time to warm it, keep it very clean,
Anticipate a message, let it begin?

We wonder. But not well! Not for a minute!
Since number five is out of the bathroom now,
We think of lukewarm water, hope to get in it.

Don’t worry. I’ll be back to my snide self tomorrow.