Siren Songs Be Damned!

This past weekend was absofuckinglutely fabulous.  I took the cadet group up to my friends property in the White Mountains and we went for an eight mile hike and had a day of swimming and BBQ.  The kids were well behaved and the adults were too.  We had one cadet in particular that stands out. He had decided not to participate in the hike but another member of the staff convinced him otherwise.  He is overweight and out of shape but the staff member stayed with him and the young man completed the difficult eight mile trek. 

Another highlight of my weekend was snorkeling with the kids.  There was two in particular that stand out.  One has expressed desire to become a Navy seal and he was europhoric after snorkeling amongst the sea weeds and schools of fish.  When he thanked me I could feel the gratitude emanating from his soul.

My other young snorkeling companion was my seventeen year old protégé.  She is very bright and quickly grasped the technique of rising and diving.  I spent most of the time leading her but the few times she surged ahead I could not help but admire her beauty.  I am really wrestling with my feelings for her but I am absolutely confident that I will face down this challenge and emerge victorious over her unintentional siren songs.  I feel that this is a challenge I must face down so that I can continue to work with female adolescents without succumbing to the primal urges that accompany that work.  I have grown and matured so much over this past year and there will be no better time to put this weakness behind me.