The Show Must Go On…
Less than two minutes into the match and my heart sank to the deepest part of my stomach. My son, starting goalie for an undefeated team, let the ball slip between his legs. A play he made a thousand times in the regular season, but it was early November and the semi-final game. He made great play after great play, and the team eventually scored a lone goal in the waning minutes, but they were unable to overcome a 2-1 grinder. Our season was over. The fans on the other half of the field cheered in celebration, having overcome Goliath.
That same feeling returned a few nights later. By 11:00 PM, exit polls across swing states were trending in a direction different from what I had hoped. The results were clear Wednesday morning. Friends, family, and colleagues exhaled a potpourri of emotions from elation to despair. A long and divisive campaign season came to a decisive end, with more questions than answers.
The show must go on however, and within days my family, and schools across the state, were busy with fall musicals. Ciara and her colleagues at Waterville put on a fantastic version of Mean Girls. There was a noticeable air in the auditorium as a cast of predominantly young women satirically unveiled how society pits women against women. I went to Hermon the following week to see Rock of Ages. It was great to see my colleagues and students. The show was a poignant reminder of how important a sense of community is to our individual souls, regardless of differences. To finish the month, Ciara and I took our son (yes, the goalie) and his girlfriend to see Wicked on the big screen. It lived up to the hype – the music was incredible, the cast exceptional, and the theme…apropos.
I have always enjoyed arts and athletics and have come to enjoy even more watching my kids and students perform. We ask students daily to step outside their comfort zones, making it especially rewarding to see them excel in their interests or take on new challenges. I’ve also come to realize how these activities are an essential part of community building, not just for students, schools, and colleges, but for the parents, coaches, and townspeople. We may skip a select board meeting, but we will show up in face paint for a Friday night game or in costume for a matinee.
I am looking forward to clutch free throws, powerplay goals, the thunder of fans stomping their feet on bleachers, sideline battles between bands, and half-time acrobatics. I’m ready for the emotional rollercoaster of drama competitions and March Mammal Madness (shoutout to Hermon High School Science Department). These events bring us together despite differences.
This new year brings changes to state and national governance, presenting both challenges and opportunities. We must work together to strengthen our communities for all who live in Maine, and who attend or work in Maine schools and public systems. Regardless of political divides, Americans defended their public schools where it was on the ballot.
We can too. Like Ed Harris in Apollo 13, I believe that this can be our “finest hour.” The MEA team, alongside our NEA family, has been working to secure our union so that we can continue to advocate for students, schools, and the public education employees that strengthen our communities. We must organize around our shared community values in pursuit of a more perfect, more equitable, and more just society…and we will.
