August 31 Pips

I needed to play a new game in the early morning hours just a wee bit more than I needed to have a pair of Balenciaga running shoes!  I was already playing: Wordle, Spelling Bee, Connections, Strands, The Mini, Letter Boxed, and 2 levels of Sudoku.  Over the past few years, my morning allotment of time had grown from 10 minutes to more like 20+ and that was IF I stayed up to do the The Mini and Sudoku at 10PM when they are posted and IF the Wordle was fast!

I justify the time and energy with reassurances that puzzles are good for your brain, but I am an easy sell with a good puzzle. I also feel that the puzzles are a great distraction from the ever scary news.

Then, this week, the Times introduced Pips, a domino-like puzzle that I really did not want to include in my morning routine, but, somehow it found its way into my heart all too quickly.  Unlike Wordle and Strands that appeals to my phonics background, this one is pure logic and pulls at the part of me that likes engineering and math. I am sure my dad and brother would have loved this one; therefore, I am going to tell myself it is ok to add another puzzle to the mix because I really am doing it for them!  I really hope the Times has nothing new, besides good news, up its presses.

 

August 30 Beachy Dreams

Family lore suggests it was a Labor Day Weekend, long ago, when my family along with my grandmother and Aunts, went to Jones Beach for the day. There was even a picture, once upon a time, of the windblown "beehives" and family packed up ready to leave! I vaguely remember sandy sandwiches and feeling the surf. I think I found the salty air profoundly satisfying even if my mother was in both physical and emotional distress by the whole experience. Yet, family lore suggests the most memorable part of the day was my mother saying, "You've had your picnic, we're going home." We never went back, not to any beach, ever. 

As a young adult, I camped (seriously) right on the Atlantic Ocean and began to understand the draw of the salty air and relentless waves. One time, I spent a week in SC when it was just slightly hotter the surface of the sun camping in a tent in order to stand in the water to cool off? I've had beachy dreams, ever since!  In fact, I am "already-at-my house-condo-apartment-spot" for the holiday weekend listening to the waves.  While I do not have a real-life-dream-beach-spot of my own, I am pretty sure it would not be in the Hamptons; rather, my own dream spot would be on on Water Street In Stonington, Connecticut.

THUS, when I read the article in the NYTimes about Eric Nathan whose home at the beach is a driveway off Dune Road in the Hamptons, I really do understand. Through the passage of time, hurricanes, and family divisions of land and wealth all that is left of a long ago family cottage is a tiny slip of land where Mr. Nathan visits a few times each year in order to reconnect with the sea.  

I get it!

AUGUST 29 Sing Your Song

August used to be a month-long, diet-busting, candle-filled celebration of Leos and Virgos who filled the days. It's hard to find a day this month that does not hold special significance for someone in our family, even if it is just a memory.  Thus, I was particularly reflective as I laced my sneakers, wishing I could put on a swimsuit; but,

It was fifty degrees this morning, much too cold for swimming, sandals or a watermelon smoothie. It's usually like this in the days before the pools close and the return to school.  It was, however, a perfect morning for a long walk wearing a warm sweatshirt to mark the day remembering shared walks, hikes, and journeys; yet,

I went alone as the sun broke through the haze and the trees rustled as if to say, "Fall's coming!." I sometimes, still wonder what might have been in moments before endorphins begin to surge through my veins and muscles remember what to be do; however, the breeze filled my heart with reminders that 

Like everything else in this life, people, holidays and celebrations are ever changing, fleeting moments where hopes and dreams can be dashed by wishes or strife or embraced with a smile and the acknowledgement of a special moment that will never come again; thus,

Here is hope for an

End of the summer

Bittersweet, sun kissed day

With an assurance of falling

Leaves, sweatshirts; may you,

In the words of Mama Cass,

Sing your own special song*

*Mama Cass Elliot

August 28 How can we keep them safe?

 

Long ago, after a school shooting

This image was posted on social media

Speaking to the loss of life, shattering of

Peace, destruction of innocence.

I know schools have made Herculean

Efforts to keep children safe

Drills, codes, safety doors, even

Stained glass is not enough.

We need to address the plethora of

Mental health needs in our society

The access to assault weapons

Of mass destruction,

Bullying, threatening and violence.

We should be celebrating the beginning of

A new year with new hopes and endless

Possibilities as well, celebrating the 

Children who are the future

Yet, again we are wondering

How can we keep them safe?

SOLAugust 26 Today

Thanks for the sand, shells, salt, and pictures

Stirring so many memories.

In NJ,

It's cloudy

Cooling, clearly

The chance for beach

Days, evening walks,

Is diminishing rapidly

Yet, I touch Maine's

Sandy coastline filled with

Shells, rocks, salt, that old 

Familiar feeling bringing memories

While reading, on my porch.

Cape Cod, where summer slows

Certainly, classes begin,

Surely, back to school rush,

Frenzy unfurls while some

Waves are still lapping at

Some windows, time

Moves faster

Unless it's

Birthday

Eve

And you can hold

Summer in your

Hand one

More day.

 

August 22 Around the Sun

 

Most years, this day was filled

Back to school shopping, meetings

Rushed meals, fall sports practices.

That late August chill a reminder

Summer's end imminent,

Squeeze in the dentist, doctor,

A "thank you for having me" visit

To my mother, a call to my namesake,

Classroom set-up, bulletin boards

While dreams of one more swim

Vanished into sweater mornings.

This year, it's a bit quieter

Yet the clear demise

Of summer is still in the air, a

Reminder that seasons of life,

Like chapters in books are

Transient moments to savor, to

Share with friends, family,

Planting new memories, 

Squeezing in swims, tea, coffee,

Popcorn, celebrating 

Every day during every

Trip around the sun.

August 21 Like This Buck

 

I wish 

I could be bit

Like this buck, resting

Watching the world go by

Grateful for the day, the warmth

Plenty of food, not worrying about

Challenges ahead, those less fortunate.

Does he realize the risks every time

He crosses the street or nabs a

Hydrangea from a garden?

Does he know his

Rack is sought?

He is only

Focused

On 

Enjoying

This very moment.

There may be something

I can learn from watching these

Graceful giants and thorough

Garden wreckers

Go through

Life.

SOL August 19 Choosing to Smile

I could write about 

Providing children with books or

Overfocusing only on word attack or 

Potentially world altering proposals or

Federal government troops defending DC or

Space X getting millions and never paying taxes or

Stock market values escalating to levels exceeding profits or

Gerrymandering for congressional seats that exceeds my understanding or

A new mural dedicated to "celebration of a city that has been built by immigrants and where immigrants have been welcomed."

Commissioned in 2023, it's a bit of a reminder of the long standing respect

for millions of people from all around the globe (not just Europe)

who have left families, loved ones, lives to be in "America"  It can be visited in St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC.  Today, I am choosing to smile.

August 18 Ethical ELA My Heart

                                

Today's Ethical ELA prompt asks us to respond to this amazing photo. 
Thank you Margaret Simon for the image and writing fuel.

       

                                                        

                                                         I       Am
                                                  Pulsating slowly,

                                                Stronger for surviving

                                                    Rejection, losses, 

                                                        Weathering

                                                            Storms

A piece of my heart

August 17 Ethical ELA: A Quiz

Today's Ethical ELA asks  us to write Hermit Crab poems! Hermit crabs are 

known for creating inventive homes in all sorts of surprising spaces and containers. A hermit crab poem takes on another existing form, such as recipes, glossaries, quizzes, applications....

I am sharing the first questions of a back to school quiz:

1. All you need to teach all kids to read is:

        a) complete phonological awareness and phonics

        b) phonics and a lot of books

        c) a lot of books and lots of time

        d) a magical teacher with multiple strategies for word attack, vocabulary, comprehension,                               fluency and books that will capture the interests of diverse readers and respect for the powerful                   connection between reading and writing. 

2. On that first day of school, it is important to remember 

        a) to take a first day picture with a sign to remember your children's interests

        b) to have new clothes that are stylish

        c) to remember parents know best 

        d) that one book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world (Malala Yousafzai)

August 16 Ethical ELA An Acrostic: Intimidator

Today's Ethical ELA asks us to write an acrostic poem
I honestly have not used this format in a long, long time.

This is clearly just my perspective on the events of yesterday.

In the cold, often barren state of Alaska, a red carpet and fly over announced 

Negotiations, which might have quieted bloodshed, ended brutal attacks,

Took place between a man known for threats, little patience for diverse

Ideas with a playbook that outlines clear strategies and punishments

Meant to promote an image of a home-grown hero determined

In a quest to solve all problems at home and in the world

Dared to think a dictator who really believes he is right

Along with pictures, handshakes on American soil

That clearly show the Intimidator and the

Oppressor's meeting was bluster would

Resolve something?

sol25 Capturing Joy

Yesterday, today, tomorrow,

Late summer celebrations

Fill social media, records of

Happy moments amidst real,

Diverse, busy, complicated lives.

Hikes, waves, reunions,

Piles of seafood,

Birthdays, anniversaries,

Embracing, capturing joy

 As school looms on the horizon,

As the daylight hours dwindle.

In the "olden days" we waited

Until the shortest day to

See images of loved one's lives!

In the olden days, there were 

holiday letters

Remember them?

 

August 9 Still Learning

Remember that time I went to the interview

Boasting I was a life-long learner

Reading, reflecting, critical-thinking kind

Convinced that the journey was

Really paved with opportunities

To grow as a professional as well as a person

Determined to be the best version of me

Possible at that moment in time?

On this glorious summer morning

Nestled on the porch with fresh coffee

My book is calling me to return

My heart is happy with the peace

Late summer promises, yet

 Heeding that long ago promise to myself?

Heading out the door, now

Facing hours of learning, scared

Can I still learn, worried

New moves, new possibilities?

Excited

I might be called

SOL25 August 5 Absolutely Boring

 

I started this post more than 14 hours ago, in a bathrobe, on the porch, with coffee, before I decided I needed to hop in the shower and get the day started. I was distracted by the trip ahead and the potential, for bad news.  

Long before I headed on the long journey with traffic that just kept coming and more road construction than I have ever seen in my life.  There was even a new-to-me exit I almost missed! 

Way before I to a reached that far away place in order to visit Crystal and spend an hour catching up on her kids and their summer. 

Before I settled into her recliner for the requisite welcome pics and she offered me her world famous "gel" to make the hour more more fun!

Well before she began sharing her powerful water and her special polish and we chatted about choosing healthy diets and water picking in the shower.  Even before we talked about her new laser toy to see if it might help because at this point, my bridges are geriatric and my implants already middle aged. 

Before Dr. M. studied my pictures and peered into my mouth before smiling ear to ear and acknowledging his long ago implants. "Looking good," he said quietly although I think he might have been patting himself on the back for providing my mouth with urban renewal way back when.  He then, declared me "absolutely boring."  I can honestly tell you it was the very nicest compliment I have ever received.  

There has been a bumper crop of not-so-good news among my friends and relatives recently and thus, I am very happy and very proud to have finally, after many years of complex dental issues to have become absolutely boring!

August 1 Grumpy

My Dad's special day, usually hot and humid with a sprinkling of thunderstorms on the cusp of corn season, began what was for many years, a busy month with more than a dozen birthdays and a few anniversaries. Those of us with special days at the end of the month knew to celebrate at the beginning before the energy dissipated into "back-to-school" frenzy. 

Today, as a strange cool snap settled into the Northeast on what would have been his 100th birthday, I ate an ear of corn and wondered what my Dad, an avid news follower, would have thought about today's headlines? I thought about how my Dad tried to be positive and hopeful even under tough circumstances. I thought about the unlikely moniker given him by his oldest grandchild as he woke up from one of his late afternoon "power naps." 

I was thinking of my Dad when a message arrived about a restaurant at Grand Central Station. There was a picture and a note about needing to check out this place!

Here is where the story gets spine-tingly. The name of the restaurant, Cafe Grumpy, is an unusual name for a place to get food.  Grumpy was also a very uncharacteristic name for my Dad who was usually smiling even during the hardest of times; yet, he wore the name proudly.

It is also a strange moniker for the sender of that message, my cousin, who now also responds to the name Grump around  his gaggle of grands. My Dad and my cousin have a lot in common, besides family heritage.  

We all learned about plowing through challenging times from watching my Dad; but, today, I was reminded that we all touch the future in ways we cannot even imagine.