Driving Ms.Crazy

Last night in a cabin.

After one month on the road, here is my realization. Less stuff. More Time to experience.

I.School is a say YES to life. as is. What you want is: to create your own life. Now. Like, now. Design destiny. hey, it is not as easy as it sounds. but as witness- it can be done.

Ask. Who are you? What do you want? and How are you going to do thatt?

Last night in a cabin. In Tofino BC. On my Birth day.

Funny story. Stop me if I have told this already. Sitting in a faculty meeting. In May 2018. Final days of a semester of teaching. side note- I had been to the emergent care twice that semester because of the stress, feeling like a heart attack. Anyway, I thought this is no way to end. Sitting in a meeting? Same old blah to the blah about next years data scores and the what‽ do I care? I CARE about kids. Kids. Students, you know the whole reason we are here. I care about their mental, physical- amazingness that they are. ALL of them. and I thought, “oh no, this is not how I want my story to end.” Okay. now what? Well, when I die, I sure as hell don’t want to do it in a library, with “Martha” taking attendance. “Jeff” mocking administration. (funny and true, but again, is this how I end?).

Is it never enough? Demands on public educators. It never ends. So, now what?

Plan your escape.

My escape was imagining anything. Anything but sitting in a meeting with Martha and Jeff- No offense to them, it’s just not how I want this to go down. for me, So I imagined. I imagined driving a van around the United States. Simple right?. Only, I hate to drive. and I am a terrible passenger (anxiety and such), but my imagination was better than Martha and Jeff sitting in a meeting in May when everyone present in the meeting- would like nothing more than to leave for the summer. So, instead of letting myself get all worked up- heading for another heart attack scare, I imagined.

Totally worth the time! Spaced out Ingrid imagined a life outside the sufferable conditions of conditioning.

Traveling is scary to me. So, I planned. Music, meditation, (not medication- not as dependable)- mantras, the list goes on as to the lengths I have taken to be a passenger- to someone I trust.

Driving Ms. Crazy! is my mantra, (Thanks, Mr. Newson, with all my heart)

Fast forward five years. I am sitting.

Last night in a cabin. In Tofino British Columbia. (it is quite remarkable). Furthest distance West we could go. In a van. with a plan, to see Newfound Land, Furthest East we can go. Next stop.

It pays to plan, even if it is imaginary. Cuz, I would rather have a heart attack in Tofino watching surfers, than in a Library coffin. I mean, morbid, but True as me sitting in a cabin in Tofino.

Last night in a cabin before Mr. Newson (Morgan freeman) drives Ms, Crazy, (moi!) Ingrid, creator of I.School. to our next destination.

Lesson of the day- less is more. Less stuff more Tofino.