I’ve been developing a theory about resilience.   I think it involves one of my favorite terms: delusional creativity.   People who have delusional creativity delude themselves about how much they can do.  They think they can accomplish much more than they can.  And so they do.   Many people are much more realistic about what they can and can’t do, and so only accomplish what they should be able to, but not more.  It’s good to delude yourself, but, of course, not too much.  Like everything, its a balance.  

Today, I deluded myself that I could actually get out of the house with my daughter, Ruth, and her two children and their luggage on time in order to get them to Dulles airport for a 4:30 flight back to Quito Ecuador and get me on the stage at Constitution Hall by 3pm for Yorktown’s graduation.  We were to leave at 1pm.   We left at 1:30.  I always take 66 to get to Dulles, but Ruth said we should take the beltway.  It was, indeed, much better, but as I was preparing to exit onto 66 west from the beltway, Ruth’s GPS (that we thought we’d turned off) piped up and said to continue straight.  What??!!  We scrambled to check and managed to avoid the wrong exit.  Whew!  At the airport we did a quick drop off, but when I tried to pull out I found I’d been boxed in.  It was 2:13.  I got out of the car to ask the man next to me to move a little.  Nope.  But the kind man behind me backed out so I could leave.  I headed for DC and put in an order to Kennan (part of my deluding myself—I think it really helps to ask him for help) for good traffic.

I practically flew into DC with the lightest traffic I’ve experienced in ages on 66 and arrived at Constitution Ave at 2:42.  I thanked Kennan and put in another order:  I need a parking space right by Constitution Hall.  I’ve had incredible luck with parking spaces since Kennan died and I regularly delude myself that he’s got something to do with it.  This makes me feel both happier and more secure.   As I pulled onto 18th street and scanned for a parking space, a tail light caught my eye.  Yes!!  A pickup pulled out and I pulled into his space.  One half block from the hall.  It was 2:49.  I walked up the steps into the hall and immediately found the person with my gown to wear.  I was in line ready to walk in by 2:59, or so.

Is it luck, or do I have a guardian angel?  Personally, I think I have several and that we all have guardian angels, but that is, most likely, deluding myself.  But it works for me.  What also works for me are the many real live people who have sent me wonderful words of encouragement and thoughtful support as I go through my latest life challenge with breast cancer.  I am most grateful to you.  Wonderful support from this community, friends and family…....and some delusional creativity have gotten me through a lot worse and I know I’ll be fine.   I hope the end of the school year has gone well for everyone, especially those with a graduate in the family.

Being part of a supportive community helps make one resilient, so I’ve decided that one way to look at building community is to consider that work an investment in one’s own well being.   You help yourself when you help others.  So, while many people have been admonishing me to take care of myself and not to do too much, I will, but I’ve found over the past two years that worrying about how to help other people with their problems is one of the best ways to take your mind off your own.  It’s important to take care of oneself…...but not too much.  

And sometimes you have to push yourself a bit to take care of yourself.  Yesterday Phoenix Bikes held the first annual Kennan Garvey Community Bike ride.  It was great.  I had the longest, hottest and most hilly bike ride I’ve had in some time…..and felt better today than I have in a while.  Good outdoor physical exercise helps one be resilient.  Or at least it makes you feel better.  I’m lucky to have a bike and a great place to ride it.  

I recently treated myself to a small Buddha statue which now sits contemplating my small backyard pond.  He brings an air of calmness and reminds me that sometimes the best way to take care of yourself and take your mind off your own problems is not to think much at all, but just take time to be.

I’m lucky to know I’m lucky.

Dear Friends,

We’ll be sending out a brief press release soon, but I wanted to let you know myself that my own life adventure continues. All looks good, but I am being treated for breast cancer. We caught it relatively early (as the press release says, get your regular checkups). The prognosis is very good and, overall, I continue to be lucky. In general, I’m feeling well and plan to keep going just as I have been, although I have skipped some activities lately and am likely to continue to take things at a little slower pace for a while, particularly this fall. 

Our schools got some great news last week when the County Board put out a press release saying that they would put Wakefield in the 2010 bond. As many of you know, I’ve been working for some time to keep Wakefield on a fast track in case financing works out to begin construction earlier than the originally planned start date of 2013. With the current continued economic situation, construction is down and contractors and suppliers are anxious for work. This means we are getting very favorable bids and anticipate starting Wakefield in 2011 rather than 2013. That will save about $15M and likely much more, depending on when the economy picks up. Once money loosens up and the pent up demand for projects is let out of the box, costs will soar. I very much hope voters will approve our 2010 bond request and that costs will stay low until we bid the contract for Wakefield about this time next year.

On the political end, you may be hearing about the move to change our Arlington system of government.  This would have large, and I think very negative, consequences for Arlington. A group has formed called the Coalition for Arlington Good Government (the “Arlington Way” at work). Their website has good information: http://www.arlingtoncoalition.org. If you have any questions about it for me, feel free to ask.

Finally, it was teacher appreciation week earlier this month. Our recognition ceremony for Teacher of the Year, which recognized every school’s teacher of the year as well our Arlington Teacher of the Year, was held on May 18. As always, I was extremely impressed with the quality and diversity of the many wonderful teachers we have in our schools. There were career switchers (2 former engineers and 1 former journalist among others) and there were new teachers and veterans…..all loved for their caring and professionalism because they make the positive difference for our students every day in the classroom. Great teachers make this school system what it is. Our superintendent and board chair did a little video thank you for our teachers along with some students from Drew. Check out the clip; it’s short and will make you smile.

http://www.apsva.us/1540104114240100/podcasts/browse.asp?a=399&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=65011

As always, I hope this information is of interest and helpful to you. If there is anything you particularly want to hear about, let me know.

I wish everyone a good Memorial Day weekend and end of the school year.

Libby

Easter/Passover season is a good time to catch you up on a few things.

Budget:  It’s been a long budget process as we look for ways to deal with the new economic realities.  Bottom line:  we’re a lot luckier in Arlington than most places.  It looks like our per pupil cost will be back to 2007 levels, but cuts should not be felt much in the classroom.   We are reorganizing our central staff in ways that I think recognize 21st century realities and will benefit our students and make us more efficient.  Our teachers, like teachers almost everywhere, will not see an increase in pay.  Classes will, on average, get a little bigger.  But I think we will not lose the progress our schools have made.   Arlington taxpayers, through the County Board, continue to be very supportive of our schools, and we will not need to make some cuts that had been proposed, such as in transportation for after school and sports activities.

Biggest budget surprise:  the planetarium.   Although our planetarium is woefully out of date and lap top computers can do more today to instruct students in astronomy; although the seats are also woefully out of date; although it costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep it running…..lots of people love the planetarium and don’t care.  While it may not make obvious economic or academic sense, I’m hopeful we can find a way not to close the planetarium, or at least not permanently.  My job is to represent the community’s values and clearly, the planetarium is much valued here.

Second biggest surprise:  we suddenly have about $14M more for our 2011 budget…. except we don’t really.  It’s one of those political budget tricks that get played far too often.  Every year we pay into the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) for our teachers’ retirement.  Actuaries calculate how much we need to put in each year. This is a major expense and for FY2011 staff had budgeted $33.5M.   But its hard to save for retirement when times are tight, so the Virginia legislature decided we don’t have to put so much money in.  This year.  In future years, however, we will need to make that money up and add 7% interest.  At the same time the legislature made very large cuts to retirement benefits for future employees.  This is a large liability, and I believe shortsighted.  I think the school board will wisely decide not to spend that money this year, as it would put us in an even more difficult situation in the future.  We do not anticipate future budget years being easier than this one for some time.

Savage Flowers:  Languages and traveling are such fun!   I spent a week visiting my daughter Ruth and her family in Quito, Ecuador where they are living now.  We went to Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) where some Europeans determined in about 1750 that it was 0 degrees latitude and 0 degrees longitude.  www.in-quito.com/pictures/mitad-mundo.htm   We had some wild cab rides—I think Quito is more steeply up and down than San Francisco.  We kept an eye out for beautiful snow capped volcanoes through the clouds (they only erupt every few decades or so).  And visited with friends and neighbors who tried to speak English as I tried to speak a little Spanish.  Hence a discussion of local flora led to a discussion of “savage” flowers.  ???.....  Oh! wild flowers!  We all laughed and talk about savage flowers became a running joke.   Ruth and her family are living in a wonderful place, and I look forward to lots more traveling and linguistic adventures in Ecuador.  Here are a few pictures:

Phoenix Bikes (PB):  The Kennan Garvey Memorial Fund to build a permanent home for PB is growing.  I’m on the board and its great to watch this little organization that teaches youth the skills to repair bikes and run a community bike shop.  Bike sales come closer every year to meeting their operating expenses, but PB needs a permanent home and is constantly trying to bring in more middle schoolers for a healthy and positive way to spend their free time.  I’m helping with their annual fundraising event this Thursday April 8.  It will be lots of fun, featuring a cyclist who has won several 24 hour mountain bike races—yes, they race outside and through the night.  Come!  The full details: Phoenix Bikes 3rd Annual Bike Show April 8th, 7pm-9pm 4301 Wilson Ave in Arlington, VA (a block and a half from the Ballston metro)   http://www.phoenixbikes.org/buy-tickets 

As you may know, I do posts about every 2 weeks or so to my blog, which you are welcome to visit or receive.  However, we all get way too much e-mail, so I try not to send out general updates like this one too often.  I hope this has been interesting and helpful for you.  As always, feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions you might have.

Best spring wishes,   Libby