Today is April Fools Day. I have never been a particular fan of April Fools Day. Part of it is because it’s hard for me to fool people; or if I do, I’m never quite sure where the line is between being funny and possibly hurting the other person’s feelings. The other reason I am not a fan is because I’ve been a teacher for 19 years, and whether I’m teaching fourth graders or high schoolers, I always have to be on my guard. It’s hard to find the balance between letting them trick me, or not. If a student is shy, it could boost their confidence and strengthen our bond if I let them trick me. But if a student is trying to gain attention and distract the class, then I have to stand my ground and try to keep the class on track. Needless to say, I love it when April Fools Day lands on a weekend.

However, as much as I don’t like April Fools Day, I still find joy on April 1st. You see, April Fools Day was one of my granny’s favorite holidays. She was quite the practical joker and, unlike myself, she always knew where the line between funny and hurtful was, and she always stayed on the side of funny. My granny was one of my favorite people. She was generous, kind, sassy, strong, and an all-around amazing woman. Unfortunately she passed away when I was ten years old, but I like to think that a lot of her personality still lives on in me. In addition to her personality, I also inherited her love of West Highland terriers. Ever since I was young, I knew I wanted to have a Westie when I grew up. Sure enough, the first Christmas present from my husband was a Westie puppy. When that dog passed away in 2023, I didn’t think I’d find another dog that I could ever love as much. Little did I know that on April 1, 2023, my next little Westie would be born.

So, as I celebrate my Westie’s second birthday, not only do I get a chance to celebrate my pet, but I also get the perfect day to remember my granny who loved Westies and April Fools Day. Instead of tricking people today, I’ll be giving my pet treats and thinking of my granny and the amazing woman that she was.