As some of you may know, teachers have very little time to do what they like to do in their spare time. In my case, that is writing, reading, and generally trying to stay current of trends and news of note. However, during the school year, I have very little of my own precious time as I am consumed with all things pertaining to “other peoples’ children”.
I have no children of my own, which in most cases, suits me just fine, as I love nothing more than spending the day with yours, and then sending them away. I fill their minds with all the knowledge I can, and it is up to them to retain it all. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have an endless supply of minutia, but I try to give them a well-rounded schooling in the way things work, how to change the things that don’t, and how to cooperate with others while doing the aforementioned. You could think of me as the Bruce Boudreau of my classroom. Ok, maybe not. But this is a hockey blog after all.
After completely shutting down my classroom, and wishing the children a fond farewell, which was really more like “help-me-pick-up-this-room-before-you-run-screaming-out-the-door-for-the-last-time”, I now have time to ponder how I will spend my summer days. The Washington Capitals must have had this same feeling when their season ended almost two months ago. Sure, we all love a good vacation, but it’s how you spend that precious free-time that really helps you understand who you are. So far, I am a lazy, manicured, Target-shopping, tooth-breaking, traffic-cursing, wasp-teasing, NHL draft-watcher. Who will I be tomorrow? Stay tuned.
I do know, that after winning the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey, Capitals Goalie Jose Theodore announced that he was probably not going to be returning the team. Jose lost his precious son, and it continues to define who he will be tomorrow. After losing the Norris for the second year in a row, Mike Green has been quoted as preparing to come back in the best shape of his life, after suffering a very disappointing loss in the first round of the playoffs. Captain Alex Ovechkin saw his fellow NHL players award him MVP, but had to endure his Russian comrades’ fall in the Olympics, and again in the Worlds. Who will they be tomorrow? Trades, picks, and free agency will help define this team over the next few days. I am glad I only have to worry about whether I applied sunscreen.
