If I were a Disney Princess...

Today one of my students likened me to Ariel, the Disney mermaid, not because I have flowing red hair (because I don't) or because I roam the ocean in a seashell bra (because I DEFINITELY don't), but because I lost my voice. Utterly. Completely. Obviously.

It started on Tuesday, with a slight sore throat and a little bit of a tickle. On Wednesday morning my voice was already giving out in certain tonal ranges, and by this morning (Thursday) I was reduced to a breathy whisper, understood only when coupled with absolute silence and lip-reading. I have only lost my voice two or three other times in my life, although never to this extent, and I always thought it was kind of fun to hear it squeak and see what it would do when I tried to say things normally. Of course, I never had anything really important to do then.

Some things are really hard to do without a voice. I have learned what a lot of those things are in the last 36 hours: asking for directions, ordering at a restaurant, answering the phone, and especially teaching first grade. I went to school determined to make it until lunch, and greeted all of my students with a soundless "good morning" at the door. They thought it was funny, and some were genuinely concerned, but overall they behaved very well. I wrote out my comments, instructions, and questions on the whiteboard and I was pleased to see everyone trying to read the messages, even the less competent readers. They helped each other to understand what I was saying, and I had several volunteers for a personal assistant.

But even with the best behavior, it was pretty challenging to teach a math lesson, and phonics was out of the question, so I sent them off to lunch and called in for a substitute. How fun! Now I had the rest of the afternoon free!

First I wanted to call my mom. Wait...she can't hear me. Hmmm, I thought, maybe I will go find out more about that piano playing job at the retirement center! Nope, that is out, too. I ended up spending a silent afternoon cleaning my apartment and taking a nap, and I was sad to not be able to sing as I did the dishes, because that is one of the few times when I do. I think I normally identify more with Cinderella (just because of the activities that bring on her spontaneous bursts of song), but for this week I guess I am stuck with a closer resemblance to the Disney girl in the seashell bra.

P.S. If I had to choose a Disney character that I identify most with, it would undoubtedly be Meg from Hercules.