The Last Few Days Before Another School Year Begins

I have been back on island for ten days now. In some ways it feels like I never even left. I am happy that I came back early, though. In the days before school begins I have kept busy giving my apartment a thorough cleaning. By that I mean taking everything out of the cupboards and closets and getting all the dust, cobwebs, and dead insects cleaned out. I even borrowed a ladder in order to take the overhead light covers off and clean them of dead bugs. Don't you just hate looking up at light fixtures and seeing shadows of dead things in them? Well I do. Now my sister, Becky will tell you that I am not one who particularly likes cleaning at that level, but she would be proud that I cleaned the light fixtures. Anyway the apartment is now very clean and organized. I should celebrate by having company over for dinner.

Working in the apartment isn't the only thing I have been busy doing. I have a project I am working on now. I am hoping to create a little flower garden on my balcony. Last May a kind lady gave me some flower seeds from her flower garden. Zinnias, marigolds, bachelor buttons,

and some other kind of seed that I can't remember just now. I stored them up for the summer and this past week I finally got around to planting them. I am hoping they will sprout and flower. I think it will make a lovely flower garden on the balcony. If things bloom as I hope, then later I would like to try to grow some fresh herbs. The hardest part is being patient while the growing process takes place.

Tomorrow teacher inservice week begins and the week after that students start school. Like I said I am glad that I returned to Saipan early if for any reason to avoid feeling rushed getting ready for school. That happened last year and I felt like I was always trying to catch up. This year I feel different, though. I am struggling with wanting to be back home in Indiana. I really miss my family and friends and especially my sister. I feel like I left my heart and my head back there. I know I will do my job and I will give 100% doing it, but I can't seem to get rid of this heaviness on my heart. Maybe my garden project will help.