December 2 Giving From the Heart

On Giving Tuesday, I saw the Giving Tree filled with wishes, I grabbed a random middle-of-the-tree wish for a disabled veteran. It was a request for a CVS gift card. Glancing at the other wishes, it appeared they were all requests for gift cards: Walmart, Shop Rite, Walgreens, Kohls...

I stood there a moment and my mind raced back to years when I schlepped from store to store to shop for a family while my own gift-shopping waited in the wings. I smiled remembering that Christmas when I shopped for diapers and onesies things for the local shelter without a clue I would be a grandparent before the next Christmas!  So much work and if I am honest, so much fun gifting things we hoped others would like. 

As I drove home, my mind wandered to thoughts about impersonal gift cards and to highly impersonal "green" gifts to my family. Then, my plans exploded into something bigger than the monetary giving of this day that will take up every spare minute of the next few weeks and still leave me feeling frustrated because I will not likely get it all done! 

I decided to include "something from my heart" with the CVS card and every other gift! I pulled into the driveway, thought for a bit, and got to work creating with vigor that has languished for a long time. 

SOL25 December 2 Perspective Matters

 

"How did it get so late so soon? 

It's night before it's afternoon. 

December is here before it's June. 

My goodness how the time has flewn. 

How did it get so late so soon?” Seuss

I always think of Seuss on these really dark days when the Christmas lights are still few and far between and the Hanukkah candles are still waiting for their chance to shine. The darkness steals minutes of precious sunlight each day and to be honest, it can be pretty depressing. 

Yet, the the prolonged hours of darkness also yield magical moments of nature-provided beauty in the morning as well as in the evening, if keep your mind and your eyes open to the show. 

"Look at that sky," she screeched, "it's so happy the day is over, it is putting on a light show!" I'm reminded, on so many levels, perspective matters.

November 2025 Gratitude

 

Long ago, I had consumed a pumpkin-coffee, merged lanes, and filled bags with toys after unloading the dishwasher, sweeping the floor, and scraping ice off my car before 8 AM on Black Friday.  

This year, I had a cup of tea, walked the park, and took trash to the curb. There is nothing in the stores calling and the obscene prices will give me the same pause when I shop online, on Monday or Tuesday or whenever. So I  find myself reflective in a morning of extended-day gratitude as I prep for the always busy month of December.

In Random Order: Gratitude

Grands, who still hug with vigor

Children who acknowledge my love,

Medical miracles giving more days,

Family who share lives, loves, passions,

Social media images that connect, inspire,

Critical thinking, good intentions, forgiveness,

Friends who still connect from afar,

Pools filled with friends, hope, joy

Shopping carts in online stores,

Supporting this chapter.

November 2025 Red Sky Warning

Early in the morning, I walk to start my heart and then to assure its rhythm is in sync with the day. This week, the "red skies in the morning" have been notable, so I snapped this photo to remember. The ages old adage of "red sky in the morning, sailors take warning," echoes in my head as I walk without a coat on November mornings! 

Perhaps, this is a reminder to think of others?

Traveling in parts where the weather is not so wonderful?
Suffering from pain and anguish this holiday season?

Alone and or lonely as they work through life?

Hungry, unemployed, facing deportation?

Scared, worried, afraid?

Even as the big balloons still fill the NYC skies.

Even as the turkeys still fly off the shelf.

Even if we are envisioning different paths to a future.

I give thanks for the "warning," and slow down to notice others.

SOL 25 November 25 Passion for Life

I am thankful all year through for the TWT and their reminder to stop and reflect about the slices that make this gift of life interesting and memorable!  I wish you all a peaceful and safe holiday weekend.

Last weekend, I headed to the Putnam County Symphony where a group of dedicated musicians somehow find time to practice their violins, cellos, and oboes, without parental reminders and without pay amidst their busy lives. In spite of laundry and emails calling them, they work together to create beautiful music. It was amazing and a testament to the kind of enthusiasm that inspires humans to reach outside their comfort zones.  

Perhaps it is a similar fervor that

Propels runners to head into the darkness

In search of sunrises, serotonins and endorphins?

Drives painters and writers to risk hunger, comforts,

While they create masterpieces from their hearts and heads?

Moves gardeners into the heat of the day or into the driving rain,

To seize the moment when their plants and flowers might flourish?

Empowers athletes to forgo sleep, overlook pain, accept discomforts,

With a destination of a personal best in show for that moment in time?

Endows humans with unimaginable power to reach for a cure, accept risks,

Torture their bodies and minds in search of more days, more experiences, more life?

Grants the vigor needed to head to work when we are exhausted, overwhelmed?

Empowers the exhausted to be caregivers, providers for those who need support?

Yields the energy for cooking, baking, and transporting crowds this week!

November 2025 Landfill Santa

I started a post earlier about how we need to be careful about what we say; then, I drove past this, a blow up that served one or two seasons but will forever be relegated to garbage. In light of increased energy costs, increased holiday decoration costs, and increased landfill, let's rethink blow ups. Our world is too precarious for wasting hot air on a puffed up balloon that will self destruct.

Hundreds of dollars, spent,

Big, box, blow up sits lifeless,

Image of Santa once,

Nylon remnants in landfill

Forever, and ever.

November 20, 2025 Fat or No Fat

When my pediatrician urged low fat milk, I bought it even though my children, who consumed the "real stuff" at my parents' home asked for whole milk. I will admit that sometimes, when I poured the 1% milk into the cereal bowl, it did look like water. I served eggs and beef infrequently and fried food very, very rarely. We switched to olive oil when that was urged as a healthier choice and avoided processed foods almost entirely. Yet, these days, my cholesterol is "borderline" even with my even more careful diet that has made cheese and meat products a rare treat!  

These days, my children choose whole, organic milk for their children.  It looks better on cereal and I sure hope we have things right this time. So when I read headlines like yesterday's NYTimes asking about if full fat is healthier I cringe. I am a failure as a mother for sure in this department even though I shopped the outside ring of the store (fresh produce, meats, dairy) and never brought Little Debbie or her friends home. 

To My Children:

Sorry,

I tried,

I really tried

To put healthy options

In fridge, on the table, 

To use fresh produce,

Fruits, to limit 

Fats, sweets, 

Sorry

SOL 25: November 18: Imagine What Might Be

One of the "perks" of writing slices about life is that you savor those moments that are just too special for forget. The other night, I went to the Westchester County Center, a nearly century old Art Deco, multiuse facility that hosts art shows, dog shows, ballets, Dancing with the Stars and a whole lot more!

Went to celebrate

Up close and personal with

Knick want-to-be basket-ballers

Snagging 3-pointers,

Longing for the ball

To land in the net

To be noticed

Where you can

Munch on hotdogs,

Cuddle with grands,

Get your ball signed

Imagine what might be

Dream big,

If you are turning double digits for the first time.

To my surprise

The Pacemakers 

Whose ages are inspirational

Provided half-time

Entertainment, dancing, 

Moving, shaking

To Tay-Tay, Queen,

Proudly sharing birth years with

Smiling crowds,

Reminders to

Imagine what might be

Dream big, even

If you have turned double digits many times!

 

Ethical ELA: Growing Miracles

Today’s Ethical ELA poem is a chance to reflect with gratitude us to spend time practicing gratitude.  This month's host, Mo, encouraged us to try a format called a Kenning which comes from Norse myths or legends. A Kenning uses two-word phrases as metaphors to describe something. 

I drafted a single poem that sums up my half-dozen grands who range from 3 to 10 years old. I am very grateful to be able watch them grow and change. 

Full-body huggers,

Chip munchers,

Marker magicians,

Videogame addicts,

Ice-cream consumers,

Jacket avoiders,

Pup huggers,

Gingerbread aficionados,

Avid swimmers,

Intense ball-handlers,

Unconditional loving

Growing miracles.

Ethical ELA: The Cortica Cup

This morning, Ethical ELA asks us to write a tanka or series of tankas telling us all about a favorite, or maybe least favorite, fall tradition. A tanka is a traditional Japanese poetic form of 31 syllables over 5 lines. The syllable count is 5/7/5/7/7. Usually there is a turn in the third line. I am sharing a tanka about the "Biggest Little Football Game," an annual tradition in upstate NY between Ithica College and Cortland State where the winner takes home a giant trophy, The Cortica Cup. I am not really a football person and to be honest, I held my breath with every tackle and clenched my teeth when every helmet hit the ground, but I embraced the excitement because my son was out on that field giving his all.

Freezing fingers, toes,

Swirling wind, picking up steam,

As the sun settles

Huddled under blankets, we

Embraced the Cortica Cup.

Our boy, dressed in red

Did his part to bring it home

I held my breath with

Every crashing helmet, 

Praying for a safe ending.