LIVE from NEW YORK.......

To continue where I left off on my previous post...

The next half day of filming went just as beautifully as the first. I remain so impressed by Joni and Ben, producer and cameraman, and our students and my colleagues. The remainder of that week and the first three days of the next were a whirlwind of senior goodbyes, card writing, grading, exams, treats, final grades, classroom straightening, AP testing, etc. I floated around on a little tiny cloud that felt very paradoxical because I was so happy, yet also so sad at the same time (end of the year goodbyes). The local news came and interviewed, I had interviews with newspaper reporters, it was just a blur of activity.

Then came graduation... that yearly event that breaks my heart into a million tiny pieces. This year was quadruply hard because of the goodbye to my Connections group. The thought of those kids who walked into my classroom as scared, anxious, excited, bold, cocky, sweet kids on the first day of their freshman year then spent every Tuesday and Thursday with me for the next four years .... the thought of them leaving, the sight of them in caps and gowns, the last hugs and nods for me as they crossed the stage... somehow it made me burst with pride while also want to weep.

But we did it. We sent the class of 2014, that enigmatic class that blazed its own trail from the moment they arrived (sometimes to the detriment of those around them and sometimes with us cheering them on), hurtling headlong into the future. I thought I was coming out ok. Then after saying goodbye to Emma and Kelsey for our trip, staying up late to pack, and finally getting in bed sometime around midnight, the emotion hit and I sobbed for the next hour. Kraig asked me this AM, "What were you crying about last night?" I said, "GRADUATION!" :) My pillow was a sopping mess when I finally dozed off around 1... only to be awaked by my alarm at 2.

We needed to leave for the Knoxville airport by 3 in order to make our 6 AM flight. We were very tired but also very excited. Two (prop) plane rides later, we arrived in the Big Apple (technically in Neward, but really who's being specific?)! Feel free to skim over the touristy details of our next few days. In Kraig's words, "Athena, you are the only person who can fit a two week trip into two days." Well I try to get my money's worth. Or, in this case, ABC's money's worth! :)

I'm kind of going to do this in list-form.

Saturday
This was my first time to ever see someone holding a sign with my name on it, then ride in a car that had been sent just for me. Our driver was so kind, had a daughter in journalism at Columbia, a son in law school, and a wife who is a reading teacher. His regular job is that he drives Robin Roberts on weekdays.
Left our bag at the hotel, changed clothes, headed to the Discounted Tickets booth in Times Square
Line moved super fast, within minutes had 5 tickets to Newsies at 2 PM!
Checked in with Mom, Dad, and Natalie (almost to their hotel), made a plan to meet up with them
Very easily found John's Pizza (highly recommended), had a table in minutes, ordered food for all of us
Mom, Dad, and Natalie arrived with about 45 min of time in which to eat
That pizza, by the way, was delicious!!!
Made it to the Nederlander Theater at just the right time to see "Newsies"
LOVED THAT SHOW, LOVE BROADWAY SHOWS, SUCKER FOR THEATER, ALWAYS CRY AT CURTAIN CALLS WHETHER I KNOW THE PEOPLE OR NOT.
It was raining when we left, so we headed for the Subway to spend a little time shopping in Chinatown.
I would prefer not to speak of our time on the Subway. Either we are dumb or New York enjoys the confusion of its guests.
Various family members bought various fake things, then we had another frustrating Subway journey back to the Times Square area. I BOUGHT RAIDER BLUE SHOES FOR THE SHOW!!!
We spent lots of time walking, went in St. Patrick's Cathedral, saw Radio City and Rockefeller Center, then grabbed a burger and parted ways.
Kraig and I bummed around Times Square and the Hershey store for a bit before heading back to our room around 11:30.

Sunday
It was Mother's Day! Supercool way to spend that holiday.
We met Mom, Dad, and Natalie in the far corner of Central Park around 9:30.
We took lots of pictures and walked that end of the park until we emerged on the corner near Broadway.
Our sweet friend Brenda had gotten us a complimentary meal at Ellen's Starlite Diner-- what an experience! We loved the singing, the food, the atmosphere, all of it.
VERY COOL moment was when our Pastor skyped us into the Mother's Day service at church! The girls talked to us and he encouraged votes and support.
Stopped by our hotel to charge phones, bathroom, etc.
Walking Tour (Natalie's favorite part!) started at 2 at the New York Public Library. We saw the library, Grand Central, the Waldorf Astoria, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, Radio City, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's, and lots of other things I am forgetting.
Most challenging Subway experience came next as we tried to get to the 9/11 Memorial on a weekend. Just whatever.
The 9/11 Memorial... WOW. I am so interested in memorials and monuments and museums. I love to consider the thought that goes into something that carries such a burden of responsibility to do it RIGHT. This one is just so incredibly moving and powerful. I love that they put roses on the names on that person's birthday. Unfortunately, the Museum opens in ELEVEN DAYS, so we barely missed it. That's a day none of us will ever forget (and a day that means my daughters only know a post-9/11 world) and I appreciated a chance to pay honor to those who lost their lives.
We then took the Staten Island Ferry out to see the Statue of Liberty and the famous skyline. It was a beautiful day and that was an incredible experience.
One (easier) Subway ride later, we were back in Times Square and ready for some supper. We picked Virgil's (also recommended) and really enjoyed it.
My people bought lots more fake stuff on the streets as we enjoyed a leisurely trek through Times Square. We even got to see the guys grab all of their wares and run for it when the "Madame" (as they called her) came near.
*My wonderful Director of Schools had arranged for us to enjoy complimentary Starbuck's on this day but we were unable to get to the one that his brother managed. We really appreciated the gesture, however.

Monday
*I'll come back to the show part later.
Got picked up for the studio at 7:45, did the show, back to the hotel by 10:30
Mom, Dad, and Natalie finally got back in their taxi so we went to the room for a minute to charge phones, for me to change, and for Kraig and I to check out.
Our friend Brenda had also arranged for complimentary Top of the Rock tickets for us, so the 5 of us headed to Rockefeller Center.
WHAT A VIEW! WOW. Really really cool experience.
From Top of the Rock, we had planned to go to the Shake Shack but it was so crowded, so instead we went to Juniors, which seemed to be at the top of most people's lists. It was sooooo good! Food, atmosphere, and especially THAT CHEESECAKE!!!
We sat in the stands in the middle of Times Square and people watched for a while, trying to soak up the last little bit of NYC before Mom, Dad, and Natalie headed to their hotel to catch a car to the airport.
Kraig and I just strolled around, shopping and being together. We saw a film being shot of the Fox show "Girls", which was cool. Bought some souvenirs, got rained on, ate some more pizza, then headed to the hotel for the car to pick us up.
From there it was an easy trip home (for us, not so much Mom, Dad, and Natalie!)!

The Show
It started with people behind a barricade taking photos of our car as we pulled in to the garage. (Kraig laughed and said, "Those guys have no clue who they are taking photos of!" HAHA!) Joni met us in the garage and took us straight to the Green Room where she was very impressed to hear how much ground Davis Touring can cover in 48 hours. ;) Everyone I met on the show was just so very nice! I was nervous but not painfully so until I heard that an ambulance was there for someone else who had passed out and something about my crazy brain and how susceptible it is to power of suggestion made me start feeling woozy (same exact feelings as the Hall of Fame induction in September!). I ate a crescent and drank some water and mind-over-mattered it out of me and I was fine from then on. Hair and makeup was a unique experience (and apparently went well, based on the input from others-- more on that in a later post called "These Things I Learned"). I didn't have any cavorting time with Michael and Kelly or any of the other guests for that day. Kimmel shook my hand, Ruffalo waved, and you saw me hug Michael and Kelly (in between the strange clasping of my hands to one another that I did the entire time I was onscreen). I apparently was less than two feet from Jennifer Lopez at one point and had no clue it was her. Typical. After Kimmel and Ruffalo's segs, they had me in a narrow hallway backstage where I was able to watch my filmed segment before I went out. Let's just say from the first student face that popped up, I was teary. It wasn't just the sweet things they were saying, it was that I knew I wouldn't be seeing them in my classroom again! They were GONE! Graduated! :( I didn't watch very closely because I couldn't handle too much at that moment. When it was time for me to go out, I was nervous and excited. It went so fast and was very hard to hear what was being said so I actually had to look at the teleprompter at one point. Kelly is as tiny as she seems (or smaller) and Michael is as huge as he seems (or bigger) and they are both just comfortable and sweet and genuine. I am so grateful for the tablet/computers for my school.
The trip to Israel??? I am still in shock. I never in a million years expected that. Some people who watched the show last year had mentioned some got trips and I wondered about the possibility of a trip to Poland or Germany. I never would have imagined a trip to Israel. NEVER. It's a dream I never even really voiced because it seemed so out of reach. For a teacher of the Holocaust to visit Yad Vashem, for a Christian to visit the Holy Land... JUST WOW. It took my brain a long time into the announcement to fully process what was happening. I feel like even now, almost a week later, my brain just has this little refrain in it going, "Israel, Israel, Israel!" We are thinking about going fall break week. And we are planning to pay extra and take our two girls.

I was back at school by Tuesday and this week has been another whirlwind of end of the year stuff and coming down off the high. I have loved all the students at school who have introduced themselves to me, told me they saw the show, promised to vote for me. It has made being alone once seniors leave a little less lonely... I can't even being to explain the massive amount of messages and kind words via all forms of social media, technology, the beautiful packet of cards my friends arranged for me to get from all sorts of people, in person, etc. As I said in the last posts, most people have to wait until they die to hear nice things and then they don't even get to hear them! ;) I am so so grateful.

I was finally able to watch the segment (the one that basically everyone has told me made them cry) this week. (I watched it from backstage but it was nice to watch when I could focus and not feel like I was about to throw up.) I am in complete awe that Joni, a woman who had never met me in her life, could show up at my school on a Tuesday morning, shoot me teaching, interview kids and administrators and me, talk to a few other people, and somehow put together a segment that presents EXACTLY the person I hope I present myself to be. She even used the exact quotes from our hour long interview that I would have wanted her to use! And MY STUDENTS!!! I wish I could round every one of you up, those whose interviews made the cut and those who didn't, and have a giant party with you and give you presents and thank you! Like a LIVE 2.0 or something! You all made me so proud, not only for the things you said about me, but for the intelligent, articulate ways you expressed yourselves. I am just beaming still today.

I'm so thankful for those who kept my kids while I was gone, for all of the love and supportive words the day I was on the show, for those who have laughed with me since about various things (like my hands and my nails), for the inspiring and moving newspaper articles that have been published and the television stories that have been done by local media, and just for this town and who you are.

I still can't believe it has happened and is still happening. What a beautiful gift straight from my Lord, and one of which I am undeserving.