I had to make a quick stop at my neighborhood market this afternoon and I ran into a parent of one of my previous students who I haven't seen at all this year. I was happy to see them and we started a conversation...before I knew it she was asking me about common core. I was so excited to be asked this since NO ONE talks about it. She is beside herself trying to understand why they are avoiding teaching long division. She says they have all these weird ways of trying to get to the answer that doing long division would accomplish, but she's been told not to teach her own kid this method (wtf??). She was very frustrated and said that she's been to school meetings but they don't encourage asking questions and don't really answer any either.

While we were exchanging opinions about common core it eventually led to discussing the government (since it's the fed gov is who is pushing common core on the States), she started to open up about how she doesn't understand why so many people are just going through their days and dealing with their little problems as if there's nothing bigger to worry about. As we talked we both just paused a few times and said, "Oh my God we really need to get together and have a glass of wine and talk about all of this..it's scary."

As the conversation continued I went into explaining how people being silent and NOT talking about these things is not going to wake other people up...we need to talk and talk and talk to everybody and get them to realize that big bad things are coming if we don't stop it... .. another lady came up to the veggie section and started nodding her head in agreement and she started talking to us too and even said that her whole family is doing just that...talking to everyone they know about how bad things are. I was in AWE! I said, "So many people are sooo worried about offending someone that they won't even broach the subject of government with others....screw that. If we stay silent we're doomed."

I can't even believe this happened! These chance meetings are wonderful!

I also told the parent about Atlas Shrugged....turns out she lived in Poland until she was 9 and goes back to visit every year....so she has some knowledge of communism in her history....she was very interested in reading AS.

I told a friend about his later and she asked, "Did you give them cards?" (John Galt cards)... WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH ME??? I didn't. :( I was so enthralled I forgot. (HORRIBLE excuse, I know.)

Still.... a good day :)

Waking up America!!!