Caught in the Cracks

As a substitute teacher and writer, I am living in two worlds. I constantly look for cracks in the day in which to write. I carry a bag that is heavy enough to give me back pains. (Thank goodness for yoga.) If I am not required to be actively engaged with students, I write, go through my notebook and try to come up with ideas. If possible, I steal a few minutes at a computer.
I would love to stay home and write, but that is not financially possible right now. In the meantime, I focus on the joy that I find in expressing my thoughts, ideas and imagination.
Some people write in coffee shops sipping lattes (a romantic dream of how writers work). I write surrounded by teenagers doing math assignments -- at least I hope they are -- two days before Christmas break. I help them if I can, but since my math knowledge at this point stops around pre-algebra, and I generally use what I call "Kathy math" for my own needs, I can't help them with much.