Dear King Burrito

Dear King Burrito,

This letter has been a LONG time coming. If I was trying to do my stomach justice, I would have written it right after my letter to PB & J because I probably eat you the second-most of any food in my life right now. But, for some reason, I just never quite got around to it (although I DID make plenty of references to you in previous blog entries*).

But today, it's time. With only a few more days of school left (23 more hours with kids), our time together is likely going to come to an end for a little while because you are most definitely a school-only association. Not that I don't love you outside of that, but I'm just not going to come all the way up here to eat you without a damn good reason.

But enough of the lead-up. Now is when I'm going to thank you. Thank you for a great year. I don't know how many times a trip to see you and eat your wonderful carnitas burritos with extra avocado and sour cream have bailed me out after a rough day with the kiddies. And if it wasn't the carnitas burrito, it was three carne asada tacos (one of which, actually FROM you, is pictured below).

So many days, the kids were gone, I was hungry and tired, and my co-worker John would give me that look (the "swearing happens when kids go away" look) followed by the words, "Kinging it?" There literally was never a time when I said no.

So we'd go, both of us ordering the exact same thing every time, and we'd just unwind, maybe vent a little bit, but mostly just enjoying the ridiculous tastiness of your food. I don't know what it is, exactly. I'm sure that it has to do with the grease and fat - always tasty, if you ask me - but there must have been MORE. Crack, perhaps? Whatever it is, it made me only too happy to throw my $3.75 down for a gigantic honking burrito or those three tacos (same price). I mean, that's a Hell of a deal!!!

And, of course, there's also the peripheral pleasures you brought me such as PEPSI IN A GLASS BOTTLE!!! And some jewelry from the quarter vending machine in the corner.

And it wasn't just John that enjoyed those visits with me (whatever am I going to do when he's gone next year?). All the rest of the staff ended up at you with me at some point during the year. In fact, all the other teachers from the middle school PLUS teachers from our high school program were all there today. Must be something about the last week before summer that necessitates some heavy-duty refueling. Or maybe it's the crack.

Whatever.

To further the comparison to addictive drugs, there was even a time in which I convinced a kid NOT to stay after school to finish her homework that day because I wanted to get my ass to you, King Burrito. If that isn't a "cry for help" (similar to the one previously mentioned in my "Dear Irony" letter), I don't know what it is. Maybe it's a "cry of love." Yeah . . .

Whatever it is, you make my teaching life better. You help me let it out and recharge before going back to the fray another time. Is that how you spell the kind of fray where it's like a battle (as opposed to what happens to a rope)? Hell - carnitas in my belly, it doesn't even matter.

So thank you, King Burrito. Thank you for the times we've had. Thank you for the support - both mental and physical - that you provide for me. I'm sure we'll see each other at least one more time before I'm officially out for the summer, but I wanted you to have a tangible record of my love in writing. Thank you. Thank you so much.

Just Appreciative,
CVT

*See "Dear Soda in a Glass Bottle" for another you reference. I'm going to have me one of those this week. Maybe Wednesday.