#celebratelu Celebrating Sun

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way.
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun shiny day!

I had to go looking for my sun glasses when the sun came out today after many cloudy days and lots of heavy rain. The yard sale signs popped up like harbingers of fall and the walkers, joggers, and bike riders emerged from hiding to embrace the sunshine. The homecoming floats gratefully paraded down Main Street and the cheerleaders danced in gratitude for the opportunity to celebrate under clear skies. There was still a chill in the late September air that seemed to remind us all the enjoy this gift and reminder that light follows darkness just as sunshine follows rain.  

The analogy to life was evident as I sat in the sunshine waiting for the parade to pass with a song about sunshine in my mins. There will be storms in all the chapters of our lives and there will be days when it is seems the storms will never end; however, if you hang on, there will be better days and sunny skies on the horizon.    

#irs That IRS Letter

I had spent the day playing trucks, trains, and blocks with my toddler grandsons before stopping by Fairway for some birthday-weekend-goodies.  I was planning on spending the waning hours of the evening working on reading responses from my grad students and working on slides for this week's classes. I had every minute scheduled before bed.  I arrived home ready to roll.

Then I put my hand in the mailbox and saw it, a letter from the IRS addressed to me, the estate manager. The lump in my throat grew immediately to a size that allowed me to just barely swallow and  the my blood pressure soared to new heights as I imagined the potential questions, reviews. additional fees, and potential audit inside.  

I put away groceries and made tea and I was actually shaking by the time I opened the big fat letter with certain disastrous news.....and then.....I could hardly believe the words from the IRS....."can you please complete this survey about the time and money estates spend the fulfill their tax obligations."!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THIS survey I was glad to do...in fact...I abandoned my plans for the evening....drank 2 cups of tea....and was happy to share that I have spent.......countless hours.....managing estates in the last few years,,,,,and the IRS paperwork is INSANE!  I am hoping they sent this survey so that things might change in the future!!!!!!! Perhaps, others have complained or at least noticed?

If I had a chance to redo a chapter of my life, I would manage the estates of my mother and my aunt without a second thought.  Yet, the IRS paperwork is pretty intense as it stands now and without a tax attorney and/or an accountant who understands the difference in tax filings, you can be hit with fees, questions, audits, headaches and high blood pressure!

I'll set the alarm to work on slides for next week and celebrate that the IRS asked me what I think rather than telling I am wrong!!!!!

Moral of the story 1 for adults: NOT all IRS letters are bad news.

Moral of the story 2 for adults and for parents of children: ALL meltdowns are the result of not fully understanding the whole situation.  

We all become stories and memories

I just finished Joe Biden's book, Promise Me, Dad.  I knew the ending before I read the first page and yet I read, finding inspiration and hope.

At one point in the evening, sitting on the porch with the distant sounds of a dogs barking and children bike-riding....my thoughts drifted to the power of a good book to take us away!  As a child, I regularly escaped in books.  As an adult, I am grateful for the reading and writing skills that allow me to escape into a good book.....even when I know the ending.......even when I know I will be sad.....

Which reminds me that, "In the end, we all become stories and memories." Margaret Atwood

Celebrating Life

The sun came out on this sad day,

After endless gray skies.

At first, I thought it ironic

Then, I decided it was a sign

Of this new chapter,

Without pain and suffering.

As I dug for my sunglasses,

I thought that he might have requested

The sunshine, a light, so to speak,

A reminder of his journey

Towards a new chapter.

As I listened to a his family,

Remember their dad,

I thought of the power of love

To transcend unfathomable hardship,

And the power of angels

To shape the future.  

As I watched his family

I remembered this journey

Can have mile-high speed bumps,

With countless trials

Unfathomable challenges.

Heartache and heartbreak.

Sometimes, the journey is derailed

Yet, we are called

To persevere.

As I left the church

I caught sight of a babbling brook

Under an overpass,

And I remembered the Biblical verse

Peace is like a river
Ebbing, flowing, persevering, 

And I offered a prayer

For a peaceful journey

As the sun set

After a celebration of life

This sad day

#sol18 A September Day

I thought about the date as I nestled into my spot (leaning against a door) on the already crowded train. 
I thought about the whispered announcement so many years ago about planes and the World Trade Center as I listened to the announcement about shortened and crowded trains.

I thought about the lives changed in classrooms just feet from me as I watched a seasoned passenger whip out her knitting and knit on the steps of the train.

I thought of my colleague teaching in an adjacent classroom who lost the love of her life and wondered how many loves were lost that day.

I thought about the shock and sadness that descended on the city (and the nation) as I wondered how many of these people were on trains on that morning.

I thought about riding the bus home with students that day to make sure everyone had someone at home and wondered how many fellow riders lost someone that day.

I remembered that some lost all and some lost greatly; however, we all lost something that day.

I smiled as I watched the standing-knitter and all those who have persevered in spite of adversity as I geared for a September Day in a resilient city

#sol 2018 Happy New Year

Stopped by Staples,

Knowing the crowd would be there,

Just for old times sake.

Circled by DSW

Knowing I didn't need shoes,

Out of habit.

Said a prayer for first day jitters

Knowing teachers and kiddos will be stressed

Like always.

Remembered,
 The many first days,

The smiles, tears, laughter, fears,

The smell of new pencils and notebooks,

Fresh new faces, ideas, optimism,
The promise of fall despite the hear,

The magic of a fresh start

Happy New Year