Down but not out!

It came over me like a giant wave as I prepared for work.  "What did I eat last night?" I wondered, realizing even before the thought was jelled that food was not my problem. I laid on the bed for a moment as my stomach flipped and the room began to sway.

It quickly became clear that this was not going to be one of those "Mind over matter," moments.  I headed to that room just in time and then,,,,well I will spare you the details....but I was down, down, down!  

The good news is that I lost a day as was down; however, I'm not out!  

#sol 18 What makes a book great?

Long long ago, when my own children were preschoolers, we read the same books night after night after night! My son ADORED Sandra Boyton's The Going to Bed Book.  I did not need to look at the text  in order to read the nightly pick.....! In fact, when HIS son began to adore the book many years later,, I still did not need to look at the printed words...

The sun has set not long ago. 

Now everybody goes below

to take a bath in one big tub

with soap all over—

SCRUB SCRUB SCRUB!

Recently, my two year old grandchildren came upon Mem Fox's Night Noises amidst my carefully-culled for them bookcase. I have used the text as a mentor text for "sound words" and "adjectives" but not for much else over the years and so at first I was amazed at their shared enjoyment of the story!  So, I've been thinking about what makes that Mem Fox classic work?   

Then, I remembered a quote from Dennis Abrams Scholastic that I keep in my writer's note book as a reminder of my need to publish someday,,,,

A great book is…

1. One that contains a simple and original idea presented with clarity and great power.
2. One that connects with the reader, asserting its world directly into the reader’s mind.
3. One that makes the world seem larger and more interesting.
4. One written with humor and a light touch.
5. One that is a realization of a complete but very different world.

A First Reflection on My Writing Life

It was early on a Saturday morning, eight years ago, when I dipped deep into my well of courage and took a big risk sharing my writing with anyone who happened to find this blog in cyberspace. If you were to go back and read my first entries, they were safe, informational pieces sharing research or describing how the weather impacts teachers!

Then, two years later, after regularly reading the Two Writing Teachers Blog, I challenged myself to participate in the Slice of Life Challenge for the month of March.   It really was a bit risky to think that anyone would even read my words, but this 30 day challenge changed my writing life!     

I've learned a lot about writing through writing. I know it is easier to write about small moments and tiny snippets (good and bad) of life and harder to write about the really big things! It's hard to write when your life turns upside down and when you are sad to the core.   I've learned that comments make me write more and that the more I write, the easier it gets.

Perhaps, writing is like exercise.  The more you do it, the easier it gets and the better the writer gets!

New Semester Eve

I had just finished removing the 1.5 inches of slush, less than any plow could enjoy, less than anyone expected, from the end of my tiny driveway when the sky lit up like a  Christmas tree.  I located my phone in an attempt to commit the image to memory.  It was not a lovely spring-summer-fall evening.  It was certainly a cold-blustery-wintery evening.  Yet it was magnificent.  It was memorable. It was a slice of red-sky-at-night just before the sunset.......a slice of now clear-dry road between snow covered lawns...a hint of the excitement  professors feel on the eve of the new semester! 

That's right, professors feel it on the eve of a new semester.  Grad students feel it, too. It's New Semester Eve, so to speak and the sky, perhaps even the heavens, lit up to welcome this new beginning!    

#sol18 What are homes made of?

I was not looking forward to going back. I was thinking the extreme cold might be an excuse, but I went anyway. I went back to the house where I lived for many years. The house where I debated color choices and Pinterested dramatic tile-back-splash-over-the-stove-options! I went back to the house where I stayed up way after bedtime to hang a chandelier high up in a hallway! I went back to the house where Christmas Eve, New Year's Day, and Evenings on the Magnificent Porch were spent sharing ideas, making memories, and enjoying family. I went back to the house where there were memorable conversations in swivel-around "bar stools" i while I was cooking and washing dishes.

Yes, on the coldest of days, I went back and I was flooded with the warmest of memories.  I thought of the no-power-sleep-over-with my elderly mom, aunt and caregivers where beds were set up on the first floor and movies were enjoyed by all.  I remembered the happy announcements and the deep discussions about next steps in life.  I remembered the cousins eagerly watching an octopus carving on New Year's Day.  I remembered the prayers of thanksgiving around the table.

I reflected on warm memories on my cold ride home  I thought about people, conversations, messes, and love that once filled the house. I thought about the family we nurtured and celebrated within those walls. My mind drifted to an old cross-stitched wall hanging: A house is made of brick and stone.  A home is made of love alone. Yes, I thought to myself as I drove through the darkness, a home is a never-perfect location where family gathers, love grows, happiness festers, and forgiveness prevails. I hope some lucky family can make it a home once again.         

#sol18 I already know that

We've been doing school-wide "screenings" of late in an effort to be sure "no child is left behind."  It can be a bit "laborious" (and at times tedious) for those of us who are screening as we ask the same questions for reading and math again and again and yet again to one child and then another. 

Some students tell me they are "great" at math or reading even before we start the 5 minutes or so of screening; however, other students show me they are great at remembering by their answers.

Yesterday afternoon, "E" was flying through the math section of the screening. 

I began with "Which student is fourth in line....."

She chimed in with, "Was waiting for the bus.....," answering the question accurately 

I smiled and continued onto another question,"Which of these is the same as..." 

She finished my sentence and answered the question accurately, again.  "I already know that," she smiled.

I smiled but was clearly perplexed.  I knew she could not be reading the questions.  But, how could she remember...

SO, I asked, "How do you know the questions I am going to ask?"

She smiled, and confidently responded, "You ask the same questions every time.  I remember." 

Yes, I do, I smiled to myself....recognizing the multiple meanings of my own response. 

If you ask the same questions, you will get the same answers!  

#sol18 OLW to guide the way

I had started to think about but had not started to obsess about my 2018 OLW when early in the morning, on New Year's Day, there were posts about OLWs appearing on Facebook and Instagram!  Clearly, others had settled on OLWs as 2018 opened! 

I do know the potential power of a OLW to shape decisions and focus thinking!  A few years ago, I chose JOY and the year was not only filled with happy celebrations but culminated in a huge family celebration!  I chose WHY NOT? one year, and the word became real when 2 miracles arrived 3 days apart changing my name to "Meme"!  Last year, I chose HOPE as my OLW...and 2 more miracles  joined my family!  

Thus, for 2018 I chose a OLW based on a little bit of inspiration but with a great deal of respect for what the word might do for my year!  At first, I was not sure this was a "sign" but four different posts in the past week with a quote from Ida Scott Taylor plus some soul searching lead me to a OLW for this new year...PRESENT!

Here is part of the quote that sold me:  One day at a time...Do not...grieve over the past...do not be troubled about the future...Live in the present...make it...worth remembering.  Ida Scott Taylor.

So for this year, I am going to try to be PRESENT more. I am going to try to LIVE in the PRESENT moment finding the joy, hope and inspiration.  THIS will be a challenge as the sadness of the past still haunts me and concerns about the future can overwhelm me!  THIS will be a challenge as there will be MANY lasts and MANY firsts this year!  However, it just may let me focus on the people, events, and challenges of the moment!    

SOL17 Perhaps the Window Will Come Some Day

Perhaps it is the writing course I am preparing to launch in January or perhaps it is a sign that light is beginning to break through the darkness, but whatever the reason, I am finding yet another small moment (3 in one week?) worthy of documenting!

"Um, Mrs. Ferreri?  This is XXX from XXX and I really don't know how to tell you this...but....there must be some sort of mix up with your installation," he began cautiously as if I was going to bite his head off.  "The installers did not show up this morning. I really don't know what to say.  Neither is answering his phone so far!"

I smiled thnking about this third attempt to install a window in four months!  The initial window was broken and then the replacement fell off the truck and so another custom sized window was ordered and so we waited,  I scheduled for Saturday morning a few weeks ago, but it didn't come in time, so today was the day!

Perhaps it is the spirit of the holiday season and perhaps it is a realization that in the whole scheme of life (made more clear by loss), a delay in window installation does NOT rock my world!  In fact, it is not even a ripple in the pond of life!  Perhaps it is the realization is the real "losers" are the company that has long been awaiting my money and really regrets the extra costs involved in this "deal".  

"It's really OK," I replied to the caller, " I'm sure there was some kind of mix up and we'll get it done eventually." Then, thinking about HIS likely loss of money from this lost job, I added, "I hope this is the biggest blip in your holiday season!"  

"Thank you for your understanding," he said softly.  "I'll call to reschedule on Wednesday.  I hope you have a Merry Christmas."

Perhaps it is the season of peace on earth and goodwill towards men, or perhaps a delay is NOT worthy of unkind words. Perhaps that window will arrive before the Wise Men!  Whatever the reason, I'm reminded, once again, that our words matter MORE than that window that will come some day!

Capricorn and This Winter Solstice

I usually catch the "news highlights" of the day on my phone after the alarm rings for the first time.  This morning, the start of winter was on my mind and so I clicked on USA Today's site following a headline about the winter solstice, "The winter solstice — also known as Yule, Midwinter, the Shortest Day of the Year and the Longest Night — occurs at 11:28 a.m. ET Thursday."

Yikes, I thought as I pulled the covers a little tighter and read, "This short, little day with the great many names also may be the worst day of the year, according to astrologers."

I'm not particularly into astrology, but "Apparently, the sun will appear to pass in front of the constellation Capricorn hours after Saturn does likewise. This will cause both of these orbs to line up for the first time time since 1664.".

The inference is , "starting something new on this day is “ill advised” and will have long-term consequences. And anything you try to do Thursday will be more difficult than usual, take more time and be more frustrating."  Ugh, I thought as I headed for the shower. 

But now, midway through a long day with students, I realize that it is NOT just the pull of a pending vacation, the excitement of endless gifts, or the clamor of crazy hat day that has students squirming in chairs and running in the hallway!  There is ALSO to the pull of Saturn, Capricorn and a new moon adding stress to our students' focus, attention and persistence to task!  Yes, USA TODAY, you are right!  Today has been a challenging day for teachers!  

SOL17

The crowd, how plentiful!
The sights, how incredible!

Taking in a plethora of miniatures,

Houses, trains, flowers,
An hour of escape
Into a Lilliputian version
Of NYC nestled
Amidst flowers and tiny trains.
The NYC Botanical Garden's
Annual Train Show.
If you can,
Go see it!
Or at least
Put it on your bucket list!