MY WORK HUSBAND

So, we have heard the term "work husband" and "work wife". We spend an average of 8 hours a day with people other than our significant others (if we work), so it is only natural to form close, platonic bonds with our colleagues. Sometimes, people might even leave their spouses for their work husband or wife, but I digress and that is truly a story for another time. In any case, I am fortunate to call some of my work friends my best friends. I am also fortunate to have a work husband. Her name is Amanda. Amanda and I met a 7th grade orientation prior to the opening of the school year. It was my first year at our school. Amanda had on a tank top, skirt, wedge sandals and her toes were painted a shade somewhere between raspberry and watermelon. She quickly informed me of some work protocol and that morning laid the foundation of our friendship. I believe we truly became friends when I had to share a terrible discovery in the first floor ladies bathroom that

A. traumatized for me life,
B. exposed that I do have a talent for grossing others out,
C. exposed my ability to really get a feel for my audience and therefore know who can handle what and
D. began my mission and hobby of playing detective at work to determine those who commit crimes against good hygiene.

Are you ready for how my husband, Amanda and I really bonded? Okay--it is gross.
Back in 2002, our school only had fewer ladies rooms than we do now. Of the two (three if you include the handicapped bathroom where you need a step stool to hover since the toilet is so high), the one I was trying to use was soiled...I mean, someone, decided that it was cool to leave their Aunt Flo to her own devices on the seat of the toilet. Me, not really knowing many people, as it was day 2 of the school year (my first year), needed to share this. So, I bound up the stairs to my classroom where Amanda had hall duty and I shared this bit of information with her. We have been close ever since....see....I have a great read on my audience!

We would fantasize about co-teaching inclusion classes together and eventually our dream came true. We would perform skits for our classes which included dance moves, instruments, and with the addition of a SMARTBOARD, various video accompaniments or stills such as the yule for our holiday caroling. We also attended 3 wild concerts together: Rusted Root, Celine Dion, and the Ms. Spears Circus tour, all of which had their own funny set of circumstances.

WIth our love for music, of course, we had to have a song. Because there were times when either Amanda and I would come under fire for something or another, we were sure to have each others backs. I don't remember the particular instance that sparked my referral to Amanda as my "knight in shining armor", but she was and still is. So our song aptly became Peter Cetera's song "Glory of Love", which is also featured in the original Karate Kid. Here is the link of a live version if you are so inclined. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO0ZfI7WWCQ

Amanda and I no longer co-teach together, but it doesn't matter; spouses who are also friends stick together. At night, Josh, the actual husband asks me, "Who are you texting?" and when I tell him my work husband, he says, "Tell Amanda I said hi!"

**Please note that Amanda does not normally dress as her mother in holiday garb. It was her outfit for tacky holiday sweater day.