Don't wish your life away.....

...and other wonderful sayings like that come from my Dad, whom I often find myself quoting to my students.  My dad, who passed away in April after a short battle with cancer, had countless witty sayings and quips that come to my mind in many cases.  For instance, whenever we would say something like, "I can't wait until Christmas," Dad would retort with "don't wish your life away".   I have said this to my students many times when they have expressed the wish that it was Friday or the weekend, and so on.  I frequently say it to my children and grandchildren as well, and I always find myself saying, "as my father would say..."  One day last week we were talking in eighth grade history class about certain people in England who would indenture themselves to escape poverty and to gain passage to what they thought would be a better life in North America.  One of the students asked,  "Why is there poverty anyway?"  After discussing the possible reasons why, I told the class, "As my father would say, the rich get richer and the poor get kids."  They all looked at me sort of confused but then seemed to get that it was somewhat of a joke.  We moved on.   Another day, in the same class, we were discussing kidnapping regarding the explorer Jacques Cartier who, on one of his expeditions,  kidnapped two Native Americans to guide him up the St Lawrence River.  The subject turned to ransom for some reason and I told the students that my dad used to say that if any of his kids were ever kidnapped, the kidnappers would have to pay our parents ransom to take us back.  The students cracked up!  I am sure Dad was just saying that, but since my parents had eight children, maybe not!  Another day it was the subject of moving away from your homeland and settling in a place far away and getting used to a new life (regarding the settlers of Jamestown and Plymouth).  As always with this class, we got a little bit off topic and began talking about times they'd moved in thier lives.  I told them that once when my sisters and I went to summer camp,  my dad told us, "We may not be here when you get home because your mother and I are going to move and not leave a forwarding address."  Saying things like this with a twinkle in his blue Irish eyes, Dad would always  make us laugh, something he was very good at.    One of the students mentioned that I always talk about my dad.  Yep....I do......and sharing his witicisms with the students I have grown to love keeps his spirit and sense of humor alive for me.  Until next time.....happy tales!