Learning To Be Writers and Readers: In The 21st Century
Sharing thoughts, ideas, and research about teaching, writing, and LIVING in the 21st Century.
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
#sol24 October 15 Grand Dogs For Me
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
#sol24 October8 Slice of Cake with Frosting
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
#sol24 October 1 Good Bye, Neighborhood
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
#sol24 September 17 Tree, Table, Book Club
Monday, September 9, 2024
#sol24September10 Shopping for Santa?
Like almost everyone else in town, I grabbed a cart and threw in the snowy day essentials like bread, milk, and eggs. I impulsively grabbed flour and sugar thinking I might just bake cookies while stuck inside. The lines were growing, so I pulled into the nearest one and impulsively grabbed a slew of the in-reach items. A scored a couple of Swedish Fish, Twizzlers, M & M s, Hershey Kisses, Jolley Ranchers, Altoids, bubble gum, gummy. worms, pens, travel sized games and travel size toothbrushes for good measure. I was pretty sure this would be my last shopping before the big holiday and so I took full advantage of that impulse aisle! I suspect I was thinking about the excessive amount of sugar destined for those stockings or perhaps I was bemoaning the lack of weather appropriate footwear, but the voice behind me was comforting and familiar.
Monday, September 2, 2024
#sol24 September 3 Wherever You Find Yourself
Sunday, August 25, 2024
#sol24 August 27 Power of Stories
The request was simple enough. "Want to do a book club?" she asked. I read a lot more than usual this summer as I took the summer "off" from my teaching tasks. Kristen Hannah and others had filled my summer evenings with stories of people who interfaced, ever so briefly, with my "real" life. I often thought about how this chapter of my life mirrored those middle years when books and their characters filled the crevices of my mind that had been filled with teaching, family, and life demands for so many years.
Tuesday, July 30, 2024
#sol24 August 13 Good Samaritan
Today, I could write about the people I met during multiple flight delays or I could tell you about the amazing and powerful people one shares life experiences with when a hurricane, such as Debbie, does what hurricanes do and alters travel and vacation plans. I really want to write about the stranded woman and special needs daughter from Dallas who had spent 18 hours securing a new fight: however, I am going to write about a moment at the beach, on my long awaited and much needed vacation.
I had already done the obligatory ocean swim where one goes from one end to the other of the designated area and had settled into an salt-water holding pattern of slow motion when they entered my visual space. She was more spry than he was, but not by a lot. I wondered about their trip to the Island. He must have needed a wheel-chair assist at the airport, but I was sure he did not want one. Perhaps I was projecting my own thoughts onto others,
He held onto her shoulders as they slowly, but surely, made their way onto the sandy ledge. His slow descent was marked by many stops where he readjusted his stance while focused on the goal, the water's edge. Several times, he stopped and appeared to be rethinking the decision to enter the water; yet, his supportive partner appeared to reassure him that the trip was both possible and worthwhile, even if she was not sure of the path ahead.
He stopped inches from the water's edge, and it was then that a younger man passed a toddler to his wife and emerged to become an entry support person. I do not know what words, if any were exchanged. I do know that the entry went smoothly and the man was soon immersed in the warm water where his smile was evident to all. The younger man stuck around just in case he was needed.
The older man stayed in the ocean only a few minutes, and the Good Samaritan helped with the exit through the murky sand. Eventually, the Good Samaritan returned to his own, young family playing in the briny waves.
I hope that some day, in the not so distant future, there is a Good Samaritan to help me when the waves and ocean drop are greater than I can manage,
I hope, in the distant future, there is another Good Samaritan to help that young man when he needs support to feel the ocean in his bones.
#sol24 July 30th SMART Talk