As one focal point ends, another one begins. The 2009-10 school year in New York City begins in 4 days. Wednesday will be my 9th year as a 5th grade teacher. The other day, I thought back to my first group of students (who I might add are college freshmen. Geez, where'd the time go?), and wondered how many of their educational careers were affected by my first-year mistakes. I concluded the answer to be "Very few, if any at all". This isn't because I was so great, but because it was only one year of their lives. I pray that somewhere along the way they received that uber-teacher who atoned for my screw-ups. Believe me, there were many.
Suffice to say, I'll be shifting my gears from triathlon to lesson plans. Due to a bike malfunction, my season ended last Wednesday, much earlier than planned. I was in full training mode for my Sept. 20th tri when the bike breakdown occured. As I was riding through Elmhurst, Queens, on my way to the Flushing Meadows Aquatic Center, my right pedal plopped right off. Yep, right off the crankset. Distance-wise, I was stuck in a tough place: too far from home to walk, and too far from the pool to walk. I spent 90 minutes rescrewing the pedal with my hand (not successful), pliers (a waste of time) and a wrench (effective, but not secure enough to last a mile). A detailed inspection of my damages revealed that the grooves in which my pedals were supposed to screw into had been grounded into a groove-less metal hole. I decided to count my losses and give my bike away on the spot. It was either that or re-enact the opening scene to "The Incredible Hulk" T.V. show where David Banner lost his cool changing his tire in the rain. Walking home, I found a guy who repairs and re-sells bikes and sold him mine for $20. I'm guessing I should've gotten at least $100 for it (I had a $300 hybrid), but that's how much I wanted it out of my hands. In the meantime, I'll spend the next 6 months swimming, running, and spin-biking. I'll also be doing research on a new, top-shelf road bike. If there's anyone out there who can guide me to a decent bike store within the 5 boroughs, your help would be appreciated. Pardon me for sounding a bit delusional, but now I know how pro-athletes feel when their season ends early and they're forced to wait an extended period of time to get back to their sport.
Get ready for some good teaching stories...
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