Labor Day is tomorrow, and guess where I'll be.  I won't be picnicking.  I'll be working. 

I'm not complaining at all.  Last year I was ready for school at this point, but not this year.  I have a few more things to do so that I can sleep Monday night.

Tuesday is the first day of school -- and I want to be completely, totally ready. 

The problem is that I never feel really ready.  Even last year, when I was overprepared days before the first day, I still stressed about it.  I knew I was ready, but panicky thoughts ran through my mind about little things that might not be ready enough.

This year I had a computer problem similar to one I ran into last year, except the timing was worse this year. My computerized lesson book that I was careful to save and backup (to save a repeat of last year) has disappeared.  Oh, it says it's on my computer, but it's not there.  I try to open it and an old file comes up -- without the first week of school's lesson plans that I got done a while ago. Phooey!

As I was banging my head on the piles of paper on my school desk last night, I realized that every year I go through something similar. I have this ideal picture in my head, then start gettting ready for the new school year.  Something unexpected always happens.  (hmmm.  How can it be unexpected if it always happens!?) Then, I panic and try to fix it for hours.  I finally give up and go another route, which creates lots of angst and extra work.  Labor pains! 

What really makes this seem like labor pains is that I always forget when the next year rolls around.  Sheesh! You'd think I'd remember that my computer will crash, or my printer will break, or a new student will enroll on the first day of school.

I guess the good thing is that my expected unexpected thing has already happened this year.

So, the first day of school should be a breeze. 

If I'm ready.