October 2025 Compassion

 My writing world friend Kim got me thinking about compassion 

early this morning and as I walked I thought about how.........

SOL25 September30 Need: Friends

Thank you to the Two Writing Teachers for hosting

This year-long reason for writing, reading and sharing.

Thank you also to my dear friend, Tracey, 

For her images of life.

Tracey often share memorable sunrises and sunsets on social media.  These days, I (many of us) appreciate the reminder that nature provides peace and happiness even in tough times. But today I am sharing her image that captures the feelings we all have when we find ourselves alone and feeling lonely.

There is a gaga pit at Tracey's school where children shout "Ga" and throw balls at each other. Everyone is a friend in the pit. The other day a local moose, found himself alone in the pit while the children were inside doing reading, writing, and math! While moose are typically solitary animals, except during mating and raising calves, the look on his face as he stood in the empty pit all by himself is a reminder that even he (or she) could use friends every once in a while.

The look on his face-oh my! 

Where did all the other moose go?  

Why can't someone come out to play? 

We all to be cared about.

We all need friends.

September 2025 Need: Immigrants

I had to skip swimming, aquacise and coffee this morning because they were coming, but in the end I got more than attic access.  Let me explain.

"They are from Ukraine," he offered proudly as he introduced his colleagues who were installing a way into my attic other than the very-warped-sort-of-door installed many years ago by a do-it-yourself homeowner who likely also installed side-flowing plumbing in the kitchen. 

I wanted to say, "I am so sorry for the lack of support from America and the ongoing pressure from Russia," but instead said sincerely, "I am glad you are here."  I meant it.   

While they worked, efficiently, neatly, and carefully, I had time to wonder about their: immigration status; family losses; concerns in America while feeling a bit guilty about my clearly first world wants/needs. I was initially connected with this attic-stair company through a website that was informative, something I rarely find when searching for people to help me make and keep my old house safe and warm. Yet, real innovation and hard work is what I got from this renovation.  

I will not likely store anything in this old attic, but I do plan to get some insulation up there to help with the rising heating bills. The real perk of this home-owner-project was time to think about the crucial role of and need for immigrants to this country. 

September 2025 Our Country Needs: Front Porches

 

I noticed the front porch before I moved into my house; but, it was not something I thought I needed. I had memories of sharing afternoons and evenings on the porch at my grandparents' home. Sadie and Fanny would stop by to talk, cousins would rock on the squeaky bench, and my grandmother would snap beans or mend, and talk. 

I have no adult memories of a front porch close to neighbors as I always lived in modern houses with back decks where families gather away from neighbors. Somewhere, post WWII, American homes and people, in my opinion, started to become isolated even as foreign policy had us more involved than ever in supporting and defending others. 

What I have deduced, since moving here, is that with a front porch, it's hard/impossible to avoid your neighbors. We are a diverse group in age, careers, and political opinions. On my little corner of the block we are families and singles, liberals and conservatives, followers and leaders, from 2 to 85. Some have beach houses and know the Pottery Barn Delivery driver 's name, while others mow their lawns and watch expenses. Yet, we talk and for the most part, are respectful and kind, because if you have a front porch, you cannot avoid at least acknowledging your neighbors.  

All this leaves me to the sort of poem, loosely borrowed from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie that rumbled through my mind after my neighbor circled by to ask about my electrician, and we talked about their tree, and then we moved onto who might become governor, and the annual town yard sale, and reading instruction today, and good books, and even the President.......because that is what you do if you have a front porch and your neighbors are just a few feet away! 

If you have a front porch, 

Your neighbors will see you leave and enter.

If they see you leave and enter, 

They will stop and ask how you are, or

Inquire about your comings and goings. 

If they ask, you might tell them about 

Teaching, swimming, volunteering.

They might tell you about 

Jobs, kids, politics, may seep in, too.

Even if you are hesitant to go there

You might talk about perspectives

UN induced traffic, immigration, taxes,

New car costs, American cars with foreign made parts,

Reading and writing instruction, teacher salaries,

Greek/Turkish/Asian take out food, taxes,

Local fall festivals, garage sales, dogs,

If you (and this is the plural you) talk and share points of view,

You (and this is the plural you) may just find that you (and this is the plural you) 

Agree on way more than you (and this is the plural you) disagree.

You (and this is the plural you) may see how family history, experiences,

Children, dogs, friends, colleagues drive perspectives.

You (and this is the plural you) may agree to disagree 

On means and ends, political parties, religion.

You (and this is the plural you) might sigh and

Look beyond yard signs that are clearly red or blue.

You (and this is the plural you) may say, 

"I hope you are right," and mean it,

You (and this is the plural you) may just learn to 

Talk and listen respectfully

I do realize this is a stretch, but perhaps, I pondered on the porch, if there was a way for Congress, the Supreme Court, White House, Immigrant groups, Medicare Groups, Social Security recipients, Veteran groups, Civil Servants, diverse ethnic and religious groups, and................to find front porches where they must pay common bills, walk past each other and look each other in the eye every day? It's easier to boast and bluster, moan and complain, Tik Toc and tweet, and when you (and this is the plural you) do not look your (and this is the plural your) neighbor in the eye.

September 2025 Holding the Future in My Heart

I am reflecting on a busy week exactly one decade ago when a tiny miracle was anxious to join the party. I was exhausted-excited-energized and in awe of the miracle of and promise of your existence. If there is still an internet and blogger when this beloved one is floating through cyberspace some day and find this, I hope they know I love them more than words can say. I really do.

Honestly, I could not have imagined

That you would send my heart

Into a total frenzy, I was seasoned,

I had already held a tiny burrito that week, yet 

You took my breath away

Even before my baby so proudly placed you

In my arms and into my heart.  

I knew at that moment

I was holding the future,

An already adored miracle

Although I could not imagine

Watching you grow. so anxious 

To crawl, walk, explore, so busy with 

Boxes, blocks, living, and loving.

Sometimes, you still lean in

Accepting a side-hug briefly

Acknowledging I am still 

Taller, for now,

Sometimes, you still share

Thinking, worries, concerns,

As I reflect on how you've grown

From toddler to gasp, ten,

Knowing there are no boundaries

To my love for you.

Sometimes, I forget and refer

To you by that toddler name

Remembering the

Damp curls permanently 

Burrowed into my heart while

Sharing Snuggle Puppy, Little Blue Truck

On repeat.

These days, I pray for this not-so-little one 

Loved today and every day

As the journey becomes

More complex and exciting

Options, opportunities, 

Beyond my wildest imagination, 

The future 

In your hands

But also 

In my heart.

 

Ethical ELA September 22 Hell's Kitchen: A Fib

Today's Ethical ELA host, Barbar Edler, asks us to delve into a writer’s thinking to deepen understanding of a text and then write a poem about it. 

I decided to write a "fib" poem using the mathematical sequence in which each line is determined by the sum of the previous two lines. 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, …| I chose to write about the Alicia Keys' play Hell's Kitchen which is a semi-autobiographical depiction of life in NYC in the federally supported artist-musician complex known as Manhattan Plaza. Alicia's mom in real life, as well as in the play, had moved to the city to pursue acting; however, she left acting when she became a single mom. In the '90's, she was a single mom with a teenager in facing violence and discrimination an era was shaped by crackdowns on crime as well as racial profiling. Keys describes it as the "quintessential New York story."

She

Did 

Not have

A Dad's presence

Yet, he planted musical genes

Fueled by a wise teacher, a brilliant mentor

Notes, chords, tempos, beats, music

Shaped Superwoman

Beautiful

Noise

September 21 Ethical ELA Letters to and from Goldilocks

Today's Ethical ELA prompt asked us to turn nursery rhymes into Haikus or other poems.  I went with with notes from and to Goldilocks. 

 

A Nonet from Goldilocks to her Mom

I saw this house, went inside and then

Had oatmeal, it was amazing,

Broke a flimsy little chair,

Looked everywhere I could

Sat on a hard bed,

Tried a pink one,

Furious

Bears on

Way

A Haiku from her Mom to Goldilocks

You do not enter

Eat, break, nap, snoop, you are 

Lucky and grounded.

SEPTEMBER 2025 Holding the Future in My Hands

There has been an untold amount of  anxiety in our world this week, different from the stressors I felt a decade ago as my world was both falling apart and growing exponentially.  This week, the one who first called me "Meme" turns the big 1-0. If this blog is still functioning and if they someday find this message, I hope they know how much I love them.

Honestly, I could not have imagined

How it would be before you arrived.

I was busy working, care-giving, 

Until, during a meeting about nothing 

The text said you were

About to rock my world.

He placed your tiny burrito wrapped self

Into my arms, so you could worm yourself

Right into my heart, as if 

You had always been there. 

I know at that moment

I was holding the future

In my hands, although

I could not imagine

The miracle of watching you grow.

I really have tried to 

Enjoy every minute, as they say,

It goes fast, like magic, 

The babe to be double-digits.

Those first snuggles giving way to

Hikes, beach days, Charlotte, 

Memories on the trail to

New chapters, grand adventures.

I cannot fathom how

Choices, decisions, dreams

Will merge, divide, grow

So I hold onto the memories

Nestled in my heart,

Watching, joyfully,

A future unfolding.

Ethical ELA September 20 The Happiest

Today, the Ethical ELA prompt asks us to think about the happiest thing you’ve ever tasted. The happiest food that have entered my mouth are not be recognized for their gourmet goodness, but rather for the people around the table.

Spread across the nation, it was rare

When we gathered at her massive 

Table to share bowls of pasta e fagioli,

Simmered lovingly

On that big old stove in the corner, yet

It was the happiest of times, sharing soup.

Spread thin from work, school, activities, 

Some days, we were able to gather at the table

With homework papers and books to share

Bottomless chicken in a pot always

Started on Sunday and fed with veggies,

Pasta, broth, tomatoes, and love.

It was the happiest of times, sharing soup.

Spread between overflowing lives, 

Busy careers, soccer, football, lacrosse, 

Swimming, family responsibilities,

It's very rare for us to gather, yet when

Those stars rarely align, it's still veggies

Simmered with love in a big pot,

It's the happiest of times, sharing with my people.

September 19 Roosevelt, Doonesbury, First Amendment

This week has dredged up thoughts and questions about free speech.  While I abhor name calling and meanness from all people, I'm finding hope in history as history does seem to repeat itself!

This text later appeared in “Doonesbury” on Sunday, February 10, 2002. I have a vague recollection of reading it in an old fashioned newspaper.  There was a lot of strife back in 2002 as you might remember as we reeled from 9-1-1 strikes, and I might have overlooked the quote except my brother mentioned Theodore Roosevelt in conversation soon after.

Here's the part that is interesting part as free speech becomes a hot button topic this week. Theodore Roosevelt was a progressive Republican who ultimately formed a third “Progressive” party when he lost reelection ultimately resulting in Wilson being elected President.  

Roosevelt opposed the excesses of big business, but wanted the U.S. to grow by taking land, such as Panama.  As he watched from the sidelines after losing to Wilson, Roosevelt regularly attacked Wilson’s conduct of the war in a substantial body of writing. As you can imagine, even then, not everyone agreed with Wilson and his actions in WWI including the draft and Wilson sought to crush First Amendment Rights for the greater good leading to this quote, from Roosevelt:

To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”

I am guessing Roosevelt never imagined I would quote him in 2025, or maybe that is why he wrote it down?