It's a humbling experience

It’s a humbling experience to be back in the classroom again — as a student.

After I graduated from Bethel College, I wasn’t sure I’d ever want to take another class. I was ready to spread my wings. Ready to work and not study something endlessly. I wanted to live and do instead. So, that’s what I did.

After seven years in my chosen field, I was asked to teach. The thought of sharing the lessons I’d learned (some the hard way) sounded exciting. So I found myself standing in front of the classroom, rather than sitting in it.

Now things have come full circle. I’m simultaneously a student and an instructor. While it’s been difficult, it’s been good for me.

I think it’s a great thing for every instructor to remember what being a student is like. In my poetry class at St. Thomas I’ve had to question what it is my professor wants from me. I’ve had to puzzle out what she expects in my weekly papers. I’ve looked at the syllabus and wondered how I will ever fit that much homework in between my other responsibilities.

I’m a bit like a fish out of water here. I’m taking the first poetry class of my life after having been immersed in journalism for 10 years. It’s a bit disconcerting. I’m not sure I have anything to add to the conversation. I certainly can’t read a poem as I do a news story. Somedays it feels like everything I spent the last 10 years building no longer matters. Considering that I teach at a college populated with many students returning to school after a long absence, this lesson is also good for me. Difficult, but good.

One thing I did learn as a journalist is that everyone and everything we come in contact with broadens our horizons if we let them. My perspective is changing constantly these days. It’s good for me.

Consignment sales = savings and convenience

Do you love garage sales but cring at the thought of dragging your baby in and out of the car? Hit up a Just Between Friends sale and you won’t have that problem.

I went to my first sale of this sort today. It was great! (And goes through Saturday if you want to check it out yourself.) Here’s the idea behind this mega sale: Consignors bring their new and gently-

used children's and maternity merchandise to sell. Shoppers can then browse and purchase these items at great savings, usually far below retail prices.

The prices are higher than what I’d pay at a garage sale. Instead of $1 a shirt I was paying $3 to $4. But I didn’t have to dig through piles of clothes either. All of the clothing was hung on racks and easy to look through. There’s more than clothing at these sales. I saw big items like cribs, basinnets, cradles, strollers, exersaucers, and swings. There were also mounds of toys. I found cloth diapers and slings, as well as backpacks and disposible diapers. I was amazed at the variety of Halloween costumes. I even saw a man checking out with a snowboard.

These sales are held around the country in numerous cities. The closest one to me is in Maple Grove at the Golf Center (Highways 169/81). Sales are held twice a year so you can stock up and save. Yeah! New moms get in a day before the general public. The last day of the sale, Saturday, everything is half off. Cash, credit and check accepted.

If you want to sell, you will make between 60-70% of the sale price.

More at:

www.jbfsale.com

Another sale like this one is the Munchkin Market. Again, sales are held twice a year in the spring and in the fall. The sales this fall were held in Stillwater at the Washington County Fairgrounds and also at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Cash or local checks.

http://www.munchkinmarkets.com/

A web site that compiles sales information is:

http://www.twincitieskidssales.com/sales.htm

Sale organizers have to pay for a listing, so it’s not complete, but well worth checking out. Sales are organized by area (North-West Metro, North-East Metro, South of the River, West Metro).