Joy, Sadness, Great Expectations, and a little Politics

To describe our lives over the last couple weeks as an "emotional roller coaster" might qualify as the understatement of the year.
Every June, for as long as either of us can remember, the end of yet another school year would bring a range of feelings from "phew" to pride in the accomplishments each and every kid made during the year, to sadness in recognition of the fact that we'd not have those smiling faces as an integral part of our daily lives, to joy in the expectation of a summer together as a family.
This June, though, is indeed singular in virtually every aspect.
Our impending departure on a 5 week odyssey in Ecuador, now a mere 4 days away, is, of course a source excitement and expectation. It seems impossible to believe that we made lodging and air travel reservations months ago and have spent countless hours "researching" everything from the geography to local customs to the food.
The one big regret we have is that despite our "best intentions" to become at least somewhat familiar with the language it has become apparent that doing so requires something more than just thinking about it. At least our record of success with New Year's resolutions remains a perfect 100% - or 0% depending on your point of view. We did, however, pick up a few words along the way and one in particular seems to fit not only this situation but what we hope be will the tenor of our lives once we land in Ecuador on a permanent basis.
The word is "manana".
At first blush, you are probably saying "manana = tomorrow" - everyone knows that. What does that have to do with the "tenor" of your future lives?
Well, at least in Ecuador, "manana" doesn't actually mean "tomorrow" - the definition is more like "not today". Might be tomorrow, might be next week, might be......
A common thread among the musings of many who have expatriated to Ecuador deals with the "manana" phenomenon. The cliff notes version is that it represents a very basic, distinct, and major cultural difference between the Ecuadorians in general and those accustomed to life in the good ole USA.
Essentially it boils down to the fact that most Ecuadorians are loathe to disappoint and don't want to say anything that they think might. So "manana" (sometime the future) is a state of mind - not a point in time.
For two, decidedly "A" type personalities, becoming acclimated to the manana culture will likely be a bit of a chore. Indeed, many of those who know us are betting the ranch on it not happening - we'll see.
So looking forward to our trip has indeed been a source of excitement but has also been much more subdued than it might otherwise have been due to a number of "issues" that have occurred over the past few months.
The untimely death (is it ever "timely"?) of Marilyn's principal and close friend Ms. Dorothy McDonald was a devastating blow both on a personal level and to the community as a whole. Dorothy was, in the eyes of everyone who had ever come in contact with her, the epitome of the "Perfect Educator". She embodied all that is right with education and had a unique ability to bring out the best in all those she came in contact with. Parents, Teachers, co-workers, and Kids alike literally worshiped the ground she walked on and all were thankful, and better people, for having been in her presence. To this day, and in the light of subsequent "issues" which faced the Clarksville community many will ask "What would Dorothy do?" when faced with difficult decisions.
And the flood of "difficult decisions" had only begun.
On the heels of her loss the District embarked on the annual ritual of "selling" the School Budget to an increasingly antagonistic electorate.
Ours is, by comparison to other districts and as defined by the state Education Department, an "affluent" district. The District includes portions of two very distinct towns. The largest segment (~95%) a fairly typical, "upscale", "bedroom", "affluent" town, the population of which includes a significant percentage of State, Federal, and other governmental and public employees.
The second segment consists of a relatively small portion of a neighboring town and is decidedly more rural in nature and, on average, of lesser means. For as long as anyone can remember there has existed an uneasy truce between the towns residents and despite protestations to the contrary, frequent comments of disdain hurled at the "hillbilly" kids by their more "uppity" classmates.
During the "good" economic years an onslaught of  "McMansion" neighborhoods brought with it an increase in enrollment and subsequent overcrowding of existing facilities. Decisions were made regarding a new Elementary facility and additions to existing structures based on enrollment projections and Board of Education policies regarding school size and neighborhood proximity. In hindsight, many question the wisdom of the decisions made and certainly no one foresaw the economic calamity which hit the nation as a whole.
In an attempt to "close" a projected budget gap (and to present a budget that the community would vote in favor of) various cost cutting measures were advanced - one of which was the closing of Clarksville Elementary.
I'll not burden you with the specifics but suffice it to say the debate was mean, bitter, ugly, pitted town against town - neighbor against neighbor, and exacerbated an already "snob vs hillbilly" mentality that infected not only the lives of adults who should know better but those of their (our) kids as well.
True to its legacy (and to Dorothy's), Clarksville remained a monument of "learning" to the bitter end. The Community united and mounted a response that far outweighed its overwhelmingly small percentage of the electorate. The group which was comprised of parents, teachers, and community members with no direct relationship with the school but concerned none the less, dug into the "facts" and challenged many of those presented by advocates of closure.
In the end, justice "didn't" prevail.
Tuesday was the last day for the kids of Clarksville, Thursday was my last day.
Today, Marilyn locked the door behind her for the very last time with the knowledge that she can say that she did "what Dorothy would do".
That is a legacy of which one can be proud - unlike the legacy those who advocated, voted for, and ultimately prevailed, will have to live with the rest of their lives.
To see the kids of Clarksville demonstrating what a "class act" is all about, right click here
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To read the article, right click here
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