October 2025 You Don't Know What You've Got Until It's Gone

"Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone?”

 Joni Mitchell

Long ago, I lived in a Washington suburb; thus, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews came to pay tribute to the sights, including the White House. In the space of a few years, I explored Mount Vernon, Alexandria, and Georgetown.  I stood, in Arlington Cemetery, explored the Pentagon, and listened to Congress inside the Capitol.

During the January 6th occupation, I realized the Capitol would never be open to people again. I was sad that my own children and grandchildren would never know the long corridors infused with the history of our democracy.

Somehow, I never went inside the White House even though I had planned to do so. I always figured I would get there some day. 

This week, I realized I will never stand inside the White House.  I will not be invited into the grand new ballroom build in the image of Trump's Towers. I will not stand inside the People's House where the walls are infused with memories of the many men and women who worked there promoting women's rights, mental health, reading, and nature focused initiatives. Nor will my children, their children and your children.  

I guess you never miss what you had until it's gone, as Joni Mitchell sang long ago.

October 2025To Be Strong

I asked the little one to say he was sorry for hitting his sister, and he dug in his heels on that stairway, making a face that suggested his annoyance with me exceeded his anger towards his sister. He was willing to give up the movie rather than give in to my demand. I relayed the story to my writing group and we wondered IF the sister had been a silent aggressor and thus HE felt SHE should have apologized! Perhaps he was just standing his ground!

Then, we morphed into a discussion about times when WE forgave (or didn't forgive) someone without an apology. Oh my, the stories that we told ranged from borrowing shirts to taking large sums of money and even tales of adultery.  Some felt that you cannot fully forgive without an apology; while others felt that forgiveness, even without an apology, allows one to move forward. 

We referenced local politicians who apologize and those who move forward without reference to issues. We wondered if some see apologizing as an admission of wrong doing or sign of weakness?  

Gee, I was hoping for a real life writing prompt and what I ended up in was a metaphysical discussion of honesty, strength and weakness in the human spirit.  

 

October 2025 A Scary Line

This blog is focused on my own journey

As a reader and  writer.  These are my thoughts. 

I was in a long line at the money machine when I noticed the other long line. There were cars on both sides of the street, again. There were mothers, fathers, grandparents, and children of all ages there, again. Some wore their winter coats in the 40 degree temps but many huddled under blankets probably surprised by the chill. The line was reminiscent of those in 2020, even if those in line were unmasked and standing shoulder to shoulder. There were strollers and walkers as well as wheel chairs and market baskets. It was cold and I knew why they were there even as I was at the machine that spits out bills.

I wondered how many were impacted by the federal government shut down and how many were impacted by a local factory that shut down recently? I wondered if there were construction workers and landscapers, recently let go? I wondered how many were there because local programs such as Meals on Wheels have been reduced? I wondered if the line was longer today of if I was watching a surge?

I thought about the line as I shopped for kale and potatoes and as I read about the record, 38 trillion dollar debt. I thought about increasing inflation and slower wage growth that comes with such debt as well as a clip of the massive East Wing demolition project in Washington.  I felt sad and even a bit sick as I ate by own leek and potato soup with a fresh kale salad and wondered about the impacts of food insecurity on the health and well being of both young and old in my community. 

I hope there is a way out of this messy stage of life where so many are grateful for the boxed mac and cheese, white bread, and cereal, mainstays of food pantries. 

I thought about the blow up goblins on my street as I swept the porch in the setting sun that frankly are no where near as scary as that long line at the food bank

SOL25 October 21 Proud

Today's slice is about the bravery and tenacity it takes to try something new.

Those skills are the essence of making a path through life.

Proud, 

As the little one went under bravely 

Entering the scary unknown, not that long

Ago, where she added flips, turns, slides.

Proud,

Lessons, training, laps, workouts,

Practicing those strokes beyond what is

Needed to stay afloat and survive,

Proud, 

As adding varsity swimming is

No joke, daily laps, serious strokes,

Between studying, APs, teaching.

Proud,

 Winning this heat, learning about 

Teamwork, courage. while planning a

Next chapter where she will rise again,

Proudly

Ethical ELA October 20 Wisdom from Tea

Today's Ethical ELA hosts, Kim and Fran, ask us to pour a cup of tea and write! 

I COULD write about family gatherings for tea 

or the merits of Harney's African Autumn

However, I am going to share messages from four tea bag tags

found in the back of my junk drawer

that serve as anchors for my life.

Ethical ELA October 19 Magic 8 Ball

Kim Johnson is hosting Ethical ELA today and asks us to 

consider the Magic 8 Ball format where answers drive questions. 

I wrote a mix of personal and big picture questions! 

Does writing help me process ideas, work through frustration, and share happiness?

Absolutely!

Am I brave enough to drive through New York City with all the fees, electric bikes and jaywalkers? 

Definitely

Will I know the joy of watching loved ones grow into strong adults making the world a better place?

Without a doubt.

Will I ever be know the kind of love that makes you forget your plans and weak in the knees?

Outlook no so good!

Will there be a quick end to the suffering of so many who are facing deportation after years of working faithfully through a system that has failed them?

My sources suggest sadly the answer is no.

Am I confident that the good guys will always win in the end, even if it takes a long time and a lot of frustration to get to the end?

Without a doubt!

How long will it take?

I cannot predict now.

October 18 Just Numbers

What a week!

Numerous new friends:

Maurice, Penny, Linda, Charlie, Barbara,

Kelly, Corrie, Randy, Marnie, Debbie,

8 great aquacise classes 

7 wonderful containers of pesto 

6 delicious jars applesauce

5 treks in falling leaves

4 greeting cards, mailed

3 appointments, scheduled

2 sporting events, attended

1 opportunity to be heard,

Negligible impact,

No violence, just numbers!

Ethical ELA October 18 Sweet Is Not Just a Taste

 Fran Haley, who is hosting Ethical ELA today, encouraged us to write about
Sweet things such as favorite candy or dessert or a sweet gesture.  I am choosing

To write about a gesture far sweeter than anything made of sugar

She had that very long week look that takes over

Your body, your face, your whole being as well

As the exhaustion that comes from getting up 

Every day in order to work too long making too many

People happy, comfortable, peaceful and accountable

Planning for the future, getting through the days.

I'm guessing part of her would have been grateful and

Clearly would have understood if I had declined to get

On the road for the long trip when she asked about

Doing dinner. but I did not and so we talked,

Remembered, wondered, teared up, refilled

Our empty cups with reminders that

We are not alone on this journey

The sweetest moments are not sugar coated

Long after the feta and fries were history.

SOL25 October 14 We Celebrate With Books

It's a day to celebrate peace, love and books.  Thank you to the Two Writing Teachers for hosting this celebration/

Long ago, as a reward for not screaming during the torture of the dentist's drill, my mother took me next door to Finkelstein's magical home of endless adventures!  My teeth were nothing to brag about, so every trip to the dentist meant drilling and books.

Back in the days when Baby Boomers roamed school hallways, there were not school libraries as we know them now.  In fact, teachers had scant books that were not always shared with their teeming classrooms. It was Spot, Dick, Jane and their reader friends. I did have a few Golden Books and a copy of the Bobsey Twins that I read on repeat along with Reader's Digest Condensed books that my Aunts shared. Thus, a chance to climb through those stacks was a celebration.

My grandchildren have shelves filled with books in their rooms and in their classrooms. They have school and public libraries at their disposal.  Plus, I usually show up with more books because I love books. I am confident they have all already been exposed to more books than I could have ever imagined back in the days when I climbed through the stacks in Finkelstein's. 

So when my-own-child shared a glimpse of his-own-child climbing the stacks, I could only smile and think of celebrating at Finkelstein's, not far from the book-climbing-wall where this fearless little one bravely climbed the stacks in a celebration of her own.

October 2025 Busier Than Shop Rite

 

It's been mostly sunny and dry in these parts for the past month or so; thus, the forecasters and predictors of weather as well as those of us who rely on Mother Nature to water lawns have been pretty excited about the Nor'easter headed our way. 

I had plans to take in porch cushions and pull up the throw rugs in the basement, but I was not really planning for a month at home when I tried to pull into the Shop Rite parking lot. There were more cars than on the day before THANKSGIVING! Carts were laden as if they were planning for an extended period of being stuck at home.

I sighed as I drove around, wondering if I really needed to buy onions in order to make left-over-vegetables into soup, and finally decided that I would make do with some solidly packed, well aged onion powder that hopefully lurked in a closet's nether regions. 

As I drove home, I questioned my hasty retreat from the crowd remembering the storms of past years like Superstorm Sandy (2012) that disrupted lives, airports, and electric for so many for so long. I remembered the damage from high winds when the trees are still laden with leaves. I remembered the challenge of providing care for my mom and aunt as well as their care-givers during days without electricity. I remembered the challenge of finding a flight during an end-of-life moment with airports closed.

I'm lucky that I do not, this time, have to worry about food and medicine for many others. I counted my blessings that I did not need to worry about an oxygen concentrator or an imminent appointment in the days ahead.  I said a prayer for loved ones who would be traveling during the storm. I did my own "live-alone" checklist of what I really needed: flashlights; raincoat; tea; coffee and a back-up-phone-charger. 

Then, I remembered the tree trimming company is scheduled to come on Monday. I really do hope the storm blows out to see with no damage; however, I suspect they will be busier that Shop Rite this morning.