Hey, I'm Back!

In writing a blog, it seems like it is either better to imagine you are writing to no one or that you are writing to thousands eager for your words.

It seems to have little of the advantage of self reflection or prophecy to acknowledge the truth – if I contacted some friends and colleagues, most would intend to get around to reading my blog, but probably only a few would actually get there (we’re all so busy). 

This issue of audience seems particularly awkward on a blog that is to announce, hey I’m back!  (echo, echo, echo)  My more than two-year hiatus from the blog bookmarks a transitional time for me.  A mere couple of rings on a tree but a time in which I was learning - or at least experiencing - work and life lessons at breakneck speed.  

Which gets to the point of this blog entry.  Although there was plenty to write about in the last two years to connect the Constitutional Tales to our brave, new world, I was too involved in it to have the time and likely the capacity to offer much worth reading.  The Tales became a part of my worldview that shaped how I approached my work with the State Board of Education, especially in the work of crafting a new vision for the system of public education.  That seemed public enough.

My professional role now is a little more behind the scenes.  And I find the Tales calling to me yet again. I am inspired by reading books like David Celeski’s  recently published book, The fire of Freedom – Abraham Galloway & the Slaves’ Civil War.  It is a reminder that there are so many prisms for looking into history and if we are willing to explore them, we can reshape our understanding of the meaning of the past and the possibilities of the present. 

So what is going on with the Tales?  The website, constitutionaltales.org, is now back up due to the extraordinary work and patience of Carol Place.  (Due to my negligence, the original site, constitutionaltales.net, suffered the worst possible fate of being abandoned and then purchased by a payday loan site.  Oh, the indignity.)  We’ve reworked the new site and added some new materials.  And Constitutional Tales is headed again to the State Capitol, this time as a special production for the North Carolina Association of Educators on March 21.  Lots to do now that I’m back.