Recessionista

I wore my City of Angels half marathon tee over black trousers and black flats today. Instead of faux pearls, I wore a blue lanyard, a set of school keys and my LAUSD id card around my neck.

I am a teacher recessionista.

I felt great this morning. My legs were still fresh. I saw my SRLA kids hanging out in the quad, still peppy, despite a grueling 13.1 miles.

"Nice shirt Daniel!You guys look great!"

"Where's your shirt Ms?"

I unzipped my orange jacket, "Bam! Right here!" I winked them a quick goodbye.

It's love when you start loving your job at 8 a.m. on Monday morning. I love this work. I love the daily connections that can be made with students inside and outside of the classroom. It's hard, like running is hard, but it's soul satisfying.

Still, it's hard being a teacher. Truly. It's hard to wear my lanyard, my keys, and my LAUSD id card.

It's hard being an LAUSD recessionista.

It's hard because I work so hard and still, alongside my colleagues, I have to fight for teacher and student rights. This Wednesday after-school we (UTLA) are protesting proposed cuts to our health benefits.

It's one thing to wear a t-shirt over trousers and be fashionably budget savvy. But it's not cool to worry about my health benefits. It's not cool to wonder if I'll have enough paper or ink at school to last till the end of the school year. This is the part of my job that isn't soul satisfying.

This brings me to my last love poem.

You Fit Into Me
By Margaret Atwood

You fit into me
like a hook into an eye

A fish hook
An open eye