The Day Before

This morning, as a thunderstorm grumbles and rumbles its way out of Iowa over us here in Maryville, I'm getting used to the fact that a new semester begins tomorrow.  Today, Monday, August 22 is the Day Before, which is a good day most years.  It's the day when students like to drop in on me and see how my summer's gone, when I'm taking care of all of those jobs that need doing before classes start.  I'm not teaching yet, but I'm thinking a lot about teaching and enjoying the anticipation of being in the classroom again.  When I was a young teacher this was Freak Out Day and I never felt ready; now, decades later, it feels like slipping into a comfortable pair of shoes.