Joplin

I love being a teacher! I love when my professional world and personal life intersect!!

Today, I was in my classroom working. I had put one of my nine year olds to work, organizing the first book order. She showed me the new book being released in the popular "I Survived" series.

"I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011." 

What makes this SO exciting is TWO WEEKS ago, my family and I were IN Joplin, Missourri, visiting the tornado memorial. 

Cunningham Park, a memorial to the people who lost their lives and those who survived

Behind my nine year olds is the path of the tornado, now a park, and the stop light (there is one) is were the tornado was the strongest. 

The Joplin Tornado was an EF5 multiple vortex tornado that killed 158 and injured over a thousand people. It had a maximum width of a mile and was on the ground for 38 minutes on Sunday May 22, 2011. It was the deadliest tornado since 1947 (the seventh deadliest tornado in recorded US history).

I am not sure what part of me is more excited, the teacher who gets to share her excitement about this book with her students or the mom who was THERE with her children just TWO WEEKS ago!!! Don't get me wrong, the tragedy of this natural disaster and loss of life is not forgotten. I just appreciate the opportunity to travel. I have visited 48 of the 50 states, and I feel it is a benefit to share enthusiasm, excitement, and personal experiences with my students!!! Just another reason I am getting excited to start a new school year!!