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? 

September 17 The Days Are Long

Every year, about this time, 

New teacher notes arrive.

Usually penned in the early morning hours

In hope I will understand or

Offer some sage wisdom about

Never ending demands, needs, exhaustion.

I hear you teacher as the heavy morning darkness

Reminds you daylight hours are shrinking

The newness giving way to reality

Lesson plans, paperwork, scores, reports

Piling up, overtaking your thinking.

How will you do this until June you are wondering?

Having worked late last night and the night before?

Feeling like you will never catch up, ever?

You will. It will get easier.

You make a difference every single day

With words, smiles, nods,.

It's exhausting, it will get easier, 

Never easy.

I can only offer this thought

 As I reflect on Septembers, on parenting,

The days are long, but the years will fly,

Promise

sol25 September 16 Farms, Farmers, Farming

There is something incredibly wonderful and important about knowing not only where your food is grown, but also the magical transformation of seeds, sunshine and water into food and flowers for people and animals.  I was thinking about all this as I celebrated a community supported non-profit farm where local businesses stop by for planting, yoga takes place with piglets, and children learn food does not grow at Shop Rite. The magic of working the soil and harvesting its fruits is only possible for most of us thanks to these few and far between farms supported by local communities. 

Farms and farmers are not only impacted by unpredictable weather (droughts, floods, storms), but also socio-political forces (tariffs, immigration, funding) and even changing dietary practices (eggs, beef, kale). It's a hard life when there are so many factors impacting your destiny.  

I am pretty sure that is why, many years ago, my grandmother sold the family farm within weeks of my grandfather's passing, heading to the big city where at least in theory, life was a bit easier.  

I'm proud to have one of my own family carrying the farming torch for a non-profit farm in spite of the unpredictable weather and socio-political forces that challenge farm life in the 21st Century. If you have small farm nearby, consider supporting the future by preserving the past. 

2025 September 14 Those Sunflowers

It has been a long hard week remembering the horrific attacks on American soil. Guns have taken lives, again and again. Divisive political rhetoric has escalated, again and again. It all left me anxious, worried and at times afraid to express an opinion. Frankly, the only word to describe my feeling on Friday night was "wilted."  I was not sick, or mad, just feeling limp as in having difficult time seeing the "light" and moving forward. 

I put one foot ahead of the other as I had a celebration to attend for a local farm that has had a challenging year. After the requisite speeches, I made my way to the sunflower patch at the strong suggestion of the farm director,.  

There were a lot of others in that sunflower patch and there was a lot of talking; however, everyone was kind and respectful while standing among those yellow giants Sure we was there to socialize and celebrate the farm, but as we stood among those sunflowers, there was something else that happened: a sense of peace.

Sunflowers sit atop stems that certainly do not appear to be sturdy enough to handle the weight of magnificent heads filled with bright yellow petals and zillions of potential seeds. While they look the "same" from a distance, up close you see the variety. I did a search and found out sunflowers can have between 34 and 89 petals with the number based on the Fibonacci sequence (like pinecones)!  Crazy! Yet, when they stand together, sunflowers protect and support each other to be strong. 

I've thought a lot about those sunflowers in the past couple of days. I am feeling stronger.  You too might want to stand among sunflowers to find hope.  You can find some lovely ones here

September 11, 2025 Marred

I am pretty sure I am not the only one marred by events of 9-11-01. 

This date marred forever

"Send them back to class,

Come to the office," she whispered to

Reading, Music, Art teachers,

"Don't say anything to the children."

Keep them safe from the news

While we worried.

This date marred forever

We tried to call parents

Spotty cell service

Concerns mounting,

We could not know the extent

Planes, buildings, lives lost.

 

This date marred forever

Trains, bridges, roads shut down,

Many would not come home

Parents, friends, children, relatives

Were in those buildings, planes,

Hope dwindled.

This date marred forever

Memories, people, images, prayers,

A crystal-clear morning lost to

Ashen skies, a nation in shock

The mourning continues

For all lost to hate

For all marred forever. 

Did not answer, who tried to save.

September 9 Profiling

 

I am very lucky to live minutes from Broadway and I am grateful for 2 for 1 ticket season that makes great theater, like Hell's Kitchen, more available.

As I reflected on life in the 90s, I smiled thinking about the powerful music tying Keys' loosely autobiographical story together. I sighed thinking about the pervasive "stop and frisk" mentality.  And then I remember a mom of a kindergartener who long ago implored me to make her boy read saying, "He has to do good in school because he's black. He'll grow up to be a black teenager. You know what that means."  

Then, my mind wandered to yesterday's Supreme Court decision allowing stopping people based only on race or language. I thought of my former students who learned English as a second or new language and are now leading students, other teachers and school districts. My mind also wandered to thoughts about school shootings as I recalled a graphic about ethnicity of school shooters 1982-2025.  

I am sure that skin tone, religious beliefs, and native language do not determine any individual's right to live, love, and work in America nor do they indicate propensity towards crime.  How do we move away from profiling towards a society respectful of and embracing diverse cultures, perspectives, and viewpoints?  

September 8 Were the Beatles Right?

You've know the Beatles song, "Love, love, love, da da da da da, love, love, love, da da da da da, love is all you need." It was on shuffle repeat as I walked past my familiar early morning movers and shakers including John and Mary (pseudonyms) who move slowly but surely each morning while holding hands. In my opinion, they are the quintessential couple in our neighborhood. Always a smile and a good morning even when I doubt they are always happy and worry about the impacts of ongoing medical interventions. Their smiles would suggest that they day is off to a good start if they have the chance to go for a walk together in the early morning. If they music playing in their ears as they walked along, I think it would be closer to the Turtles lyrics, "So happy together, I can't see me loving nobody but you for all my life.

 

As I walked a bit further, I saw movers at the home of neighbors whose marriage ended before their wedding album was probably even delivered. I thought about the dissolution of my own marriage, without a trace, as if it never happened. There was a lot running through my brain as the Beatles shuffled in again and I hummed along to, "Is, is is, do, do do, do, is love all you need?" 

As I made coffee, I  remembered a NYTimes story from the summer suggesting love, like weeds, looks different for different people at different times.  Sari Bashi writes about her life as an Israeli-Palestinian family in the West Bank.  There are many powerful lines in her stories of love transcending politics, yet her most powerful line may be: 

        As the world continues to explode around us and my spouse’s family in Gaza struggles to survive, I         feel a fierce, desperate gratitude that we can still love each other. Love isn’t enough to protect us —         or anyone — but we plan to use it as a shield for as long as we can."  

It is possible that the revered songsters of long ago may have been influenced by hormones and a search for catchy song lyrics. But, I want to start this week in September remembering that love, the powerful force of caring about other humans is at the center of caring and the epicenter of human relationships even if it is not all you need!

September 5 Sew-Happy

 

Frankly, the news this morning scares me on every level: body, mind, heart. Wars in the Middle East, Far West, Europe, Asia and dropping bombs on ships in the Caribbean all at the same time? The rising cost of food, the continuing attacks on immigrants, and the confusing decisions of courts? Then, every once in a while, something catches my eye that makes me smile, like this article!

Granted, it was written about a crazy busy trend of learning to sew and alter things happening in NYC; however, like so many "trends" what happens there can seep into the suburbs and I have all kinds of hope that some store will come about to replace the sew-missed (pun intended) Joanne's which closed up shop earlier this year. 

In truth as all who know me know, I do have a "stash" of fabric thanks in large part to following my mother-in-law and my daughter on fabric missions over the years. So, until that new store opens somewhere, I will work down my stash and be sew-happy that sewing is new again!  Like the article suggests, "I feel like a Renaissance woman!" 

September 4 A Frittata

 

There was much on the front page to think and talk about today as court decisions, international military strikes, and challenges to vaccines were all headlines and made me cringe and sad to my core. Perhaps, that is why the recipe of the day at the bottom of the page, brought memories to my heart and a smile to my core.  

I had never even heard of a frittata until my mother-in-law introduced me to the always-ready-to-make-at-the-drop-of-a-hat-for-one-or-a-crowd-smile-guaranteed recipe.  Again and again, she produced them seemingly from left over veggies, wayward meats, or wilted zucchini in her fridge as a hungry child or grandchild descended on her kitchen.  Somehow, she should be smiling thinking the humble frittata is recommended in these trying times as a good comfort food in spite of the cost of eggs that would make her cringe!

In these challenging times, perhaps the frittata might just be a way to comfort our pockets and make us smile. It's going to be on my table tonight.

SOL25 September 2 Here We Go Again

Most of my family and friends are back in the business of teaching or learning now that summer is over. I guess that is why I consider Labor Day a day of reflection, thinking about the summer as well as ahead.  This summer, I saw two special shows that have shaped my thinking.

Crying on the Camino featured Celeste Manicelli, who inspires laughter and  self-reflection through retelling her trek of the Camino de Santiago. She recalls the challenge of your undies dangling off your backpack reminding us to change what we can, but to accept what we cannot change. Communal sleeping and eating arrangements are reminders that we are pilgrims on the same journey where we hope for the best and take what comes.  I certainly was inspired to reflect on my own journey!

I also saw Mamma Mia 2, where crazy dancing, gaudy clothes and  ABBA songs presented, at first, a different image, yet, similar lessons including having faith in yourself!  As we danced in standing ovation, every single person in that audience was smiling no matter what else had happened that day or what might loom ahead.

I am at the filled with hopes and prayers for all those heading back:
    

    * Have faith in yourself and keep a song in your heart (Mamma Mia, here we go again...)
    * Begin this journey with hope! (I have a dream, a song to sing, to help me cope with anything...)

    * We are all on this journey, just at different places!

Schoolbag in hand, they leave home early morning

Waving goodbye with an absent minded smile

I watch them go with a surge of that well known sadness

And I have to sit down for a while.

Slipping through my fingers all the time

I try to capture every minute, the feeling in it

Each time I think I'm close to knowing

They keep on growing

Slipping through my fingers all the time