Who knows what panic...

lurks in the hearts of teachers.  The district back-to-school letter knows.  This is my 13th year of teaching and my 13th year of receiving the infamous letter from the superintendent with the calendar of impending doom (aka the look how many meetings you get to have! calendar).  One would think that I would get used to it.  I know summer ends but the letter makes it real.  It also sends me into a panic because my room is not physically ready for school to start.  Therefore, I spent all day yesterday  cleaning and organizing (until the Bear and Clover started shutting each other in the cabinets) .  There was bleach involved and probably around 5 giant trash bags (one thing I refuse to be at school is a hoarder...analytical arguer, yes; hoarder, no).  It is not even close to being done.  I'm not sure what system the teacher before me was using, but it is not the one I would choose.  So I changed it.  I plan to return tomorrow, after the back-to-school eye doctor appointments, and probably all of the following week (otherwise...how will it get done?).  After a certain point, Tums stop working then you end up with an ulcer.  Thanks a lot reality-bringing letter.