Mnemosyne, Muse of Memory

This is the side view of a beautiful Art Deco building.  I went to Boonton on Wednesday, July 21 and found a beautiful, old town set on a hillside.  There were no clouds in the sky and you couldn't see anything else on the horizon, so it seemed to be located in the Poconos.  I drove around and saw some schools.  they were of the WPA era, but nicely kept up.  The grounds were lovely with big trees and well manicured shrubs.  The main part of the high school is all Art Deco.

I went to the interview 15 minutes early as has been my practice lately.  I waited 45 minutes in a small office before being seen.  In the interview was the outgoing Super, the new Super and the HS DOG (Director of Guidance).  Dr. Block, the old Super was impeccably dressed complete with a silk in his jacket pocket and his monogram on the left cuff of his shirt.  He dominated the questioning.  I felt comfortable with them and related my experiences as a teacher, then as an administrator.  Later I found that there were only 25 applicants on time, 4 were interviewed including me, and two would be recommended to the board on Monday night.

I left the interview feeling OK about the situation and came home.  They promised to let me know either way by 4:00.  Rose, the secretary, called me at three and said I should report to the board at six on Monday evening.  I was finally a finalist.  Now I have the opportunity to make another first impression and sell myself to the board.  I hope the search for a new job is finally over.  It is about 50 minutes from home on easy roads.  We will see what God wants.

I am not sure at this point.  I get up, I do the dishes and pots I forgot to do the night before, I straighten up, then make myself a pot of tea; usually black tea in the morning.  What am I to do?  Time has stood still.  The sun moves across the sky, but I am waiting for phone calls and letters.  I send out resumes and emails, and some come back with an interview.  Today was different. 
 
I had an interview scheduled for 1:30 P. M. and the secretary called me at 9:30 A. M. to ask for references.  My heart lept because that meant that they were serious about me.  I absently gave them my last two bosses.  A few hours later I got a call from the secretary saying the interview was postponed because not everyone could make the meeting.  That felt suspicious.  I called The Saddle Brook Super, Dr. Groveman and he said he did receive a call and had reservations about the size of the job in Middletown Township, but gave me good reviews.  I then tried to call Vicki Pede, the CSA at Harmony, but she was not in.  I had the secretary, Debbie Thornton, take a message.  Finally, Vicki called me at 4:00 when the business of the day died down.  She was not contacted by Middletown and sounded sincere in her concern.  I filled her in on my latest prospects.

I added some of my Principal collegues in Bergen County that I worked with.  I also wrote them and asked them to send me a letter of reference.  Will Middletown call back?  Do I want them to?  More importantly, is that where God wants me? 

I thought I would be getting some work completed on the house this week right after I had an interview in Middletown Township for the Director of Special Services.  I didn't think the interview went well but when I returned home I got a call for an interview at a private school in Philladelphia, Boonton HS, and a second interview at Middletown!  Amazing. 
 
I realized that my attitude needed to improve, so I read The Traveler's Gift by Andy Anderson.  I also read all the state required codes for special education and intervention services on the web. 
 
Truth is, I am not getting much done on the house, but the job interviews are coming faster because they are running out of time.  We'll see what happens.