#sol20 Day 3 March 3 The Lawn Jockey

Those of us who spend our lives in schools are used to decorating for every "holiday" including Presidents' Day, Groundhog's Day,.... St. Patrick's Day (even if we are not Irish).

My neighbors take that decorating spin to a new level with a small statue in their front yard, affectionately referred to by my grandchildren as the Statue Boy. 

I must admit I look forward to his changing costumes, especially his Yankee (baseball) and Leprechaun attire; yet, there was a part of me thinking that I remembered there was some unsavory history behind such lawn art?  So I did a bit of research. Yes, I Googled "jockey lawn art."

There are several different stories behind the "lawn jockey", including a version that George Washington commissioned a statue of Jocko, The Faithful Groomsmen, to represent an African-American boy, too young to fight, who froze to death holding a lantern during the Revolutionary War. 

There is also a theory that lawn jockeys played a role in the Underground Railroad marking dangerous and safe houses along the journey north. Different lanterns tied to the arm would signal if a route was safe or not.

In Saratoga Springs, NY, lawn jockeys are part of the local horse racing culture, wearing the bright colors of favorite jockeys in a long tradition of summer horse racing. At one time, many jockeys were African American; yet the "lawn jockey" is an image that transcends racial identity as jockeys today are of diverse heritage. 

So, after just a brief Google search, I am thinking that "lawn jockeys" are historical "relics" with an unclear but not unsavory past!  

Yet, if you have something to add to this story, please let me know and I will add!

I'm participating in the SOL March Writing Challenge.

https://twowritingteachers.org/2020/01/16/sol20overview/

I'm planning to write a little slice of my life each day in March. 

#sol20 Day 2 March 2 The First Lyft

Admittedly, I'm a bit behind on many aspects of "cultural literacy"! 

I had been nervously waiting for him for since I asked him to come. I made plans in my head in case he did not come and even though I had allowed more than enough time, I wondered if I would make it and I wondered what would happen if I missed my connection?

I carefully put my two pieces of luggage on the porch and then moved them next to the porch and then moved them closer to the end of my driveway.  I went in to brush my teeth, again, and to try to relieve my anxiety that was mounting by the minute. What if he were a criminal or, I don't know, going to steal my bags (full of books and achievement tests)!

He arrived right on time in a Toyota with a license plate that matched the number relayed to me on my phone. He stopped carefully and jumped out of the car introducing himself and showing me his ID before I even asked. He seemlessly opened his trunk and loaded my luggage asking in a joking fashion, "Do you have a body in here?"

His accent was heavy, yet he made carefully articulated small talk first clarifying to goal of our trip and later sharing a bit of his own story working as an apprentice lineman for Verizon and driving for Lyft when he can in order to save funds to attend the University.  His dream was to study to be an electrical engineer like his brother who now works for Google.

After learning I was a teacher, he shared how he learned English from watching TV with subtitles in his native language. He talked of The Big Bang Theory, his favorite show, and how he watched it again and again until he could retell whole shows.

The ride flew by and before I knew it, and before I was ready for the ride to end, it was over. I knew it was unlikely that our paths would cross again and yet I knew he had given me a faith in this new system of transportation. He had also renewed my faith in this new crop of hard working first  generation Americans who are working to reshape now only their own lives but how we all live and travel from place to place.

I'm participating in the SOL March Writing Challenge.

https://twowritingteachers.org/2020/01/16/sol20overview/
Here's the link if you want to join:
https://twowritingteachers.org/2020/03/01/day-1-sol20/

I'm planning to write a little slice of my life each day in March. 

I'm also going to encourage new bloggers as a member of the Welcome Wagon.

SOL20 Day 1 Potential Slices

I'm feeling anxious, 

Like when you approach the podium,

Yet, it's my 9th time,

It will get easier every day.

I'll be looking at everything

I see, hear, do,

As potential slices.

I'm a Mom, Meme, Auntie, Great Auntie,

I'm a Sister, Sister in Law, Friend,

I'm a semi-retired Literacy Specialist

Adjunct Professor, Mentor,

Online Course Developer.

Hopeful book publisher.

I'm renovating a kitchen and a bathroom,

(I probably could find 31 slices right there)

I love to walk, swim, sew.

Along with my writing challenge,

I'm doing a 31 minutes (at least) for 31 days,

Exercise and clean eating challenge.

I'm painting walls,

Busy trying to

Put my house/life together.

Plant a few seeds/gardens,

Every moment

A potential slice.

No wonder I am feeling anxious!

I'm participating in the SOL March Writing Challenge.

https://twowritingteachers.org/2020/01/16/sol20overview/
Here's the link if you want to join:
https://twowritingteachers.org/2020/03/01/day-1-sol20/

I'm planning to write a little slice of my life each day in March. 

I'm also going to encourage new bloggers as a member of the Welcome Wagon.

#sol20 Like Putty

He took my hand, firmly, and pulled me gently into the other room. I left the dishwasher open as there was an urgency to his need.

He held my hand tightly in a way that suggested a serious situation needed to be addressed. The room was strewn with toys and evidence of childhood but it was clear he was on a mission.

He led me to the couch and sat as close as he could. He sighed as he leaned in, knowing what was ahead.

"Read, Meme," he instructed me.  It was not a question, not a request, not a debate. "Read this book."

When we got to the last page of How to Track a Truck, he got up and raced over to the bookcase. "Another one?" he asked, yet it really wasn't a question.  "Dragons love tacos," he began as he placed the book in my lap and climbed up as quickly as he could.

He may be little, but he already knows I am like putty when a book about spicy tacos (or any other book) is placed in my lap!

I'm participating in the Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Tuesday, today, and hope to write every day in March during the SOL challenge.  I always feel anxious and unsure of my ability to undertake such a challenge; however, I'm going to try to document the moments and memories of my life.

#sol20 Just don't do aquasize

During a recent road-trip, I began talking about my new-found happy-place, the local YMCA.  "I don't feel embarrassed to walk on the treadmill and when I look around, there are people going slower than me!  I also like the relaxed feel of the dressing room where there is no pressure to have six-pack abs and a perfect body! I also love the pool. When I swim, I just don't feel my age as much."

"Just don't do aquasize," the driver offered as if it was a banned substance. 

"But I love aquasize and do it 3-4 times a week," I almost screamed, but realizing the kiddos were sleeping, I resisted the scream and made it a firm statement! "I get great exercise and even do some resistance and weight work in the water. It's also easy on my knees." 

"But, it's for o-o-o-o," he stopped, catching the prejudice before it came all the way out.

"It's great for old ladies," I quipped in defense of all aquacizers, some much older and some younger than me.  "This is an exercise routine I can get behind and do for a long time. I am getting older, in case you didn't notice."

Later that night I reflected on the conversation as I climbed into bed, promising myself I would do weights in the morning.  It's easy to let our preconceived ideas get in the way.

#SOL2020 Lesson Learned

Lanny's reminder about March's Slice of Life Marathon made me feel as if I had been called into the principal's office about my lack of writing.  Clearly, I could choose to just let "the blog" rest in this new season of life; yet, this "blog" has been an important forum for saving the "small moments" of life and a way of connecting with others who process life and thinking in a similar way.

So, in a quick review of the past few months:
I learned to brush my teeth with bottled water and a "spittoon"!
I spent more time at the gym showering than exercising!
I cleaned the same corner 30 times until the dust finally settled.
I met amazing craftsmen, lived amidst chaos, wrestled with decisions.

I created a new generation graduate course while my laptop was covered with dust,
I filmed segments in a real studio after getting hair and make-up as if I was a star,
I aligned meaningful activities and video clips of student-teacher interaction,
I met producers, lived with stress, wrestled with deadlines!

I've watched my tribe of little people grow, learn, and thrive, each in their own way,
I've explained that their parents are "my babies" to disbelieving audiences,
I've read How to Track a Truck and Strega Nona more than a few times,
I've watched snow fall, Amazon trucks arrive, and Pete the Cat videos.

I've been busy, but the real reason for not writing is that it is hard to write when you get out of the daily practice of writing.  Plus, I really do have stories to share about my home renovation, course development, and my tribe. Lesson learned.

#NCATE2019 Collecting Ideas and Books

Baltimore Harbor, November 2019
I'm surrounded by teachers
English, Reading, Writing, all Special,
Passionate enough about their profession for
Saturday morning, coffee in hand
Trucking like lemmings
To learn, to affirm, to reaffirm
From their peers.

I'm a long professed
Lifelong learner
Reader, questioner.
Assured there is no
One way to reach all.





So here I am,
Laden with 
New books.
Filled with
New ideas
Inspired by
Friends turned authors
Empowered by
Hope for our profession.

I'm grateful
To be a teacher.

This and the Other Side

I hope on the other side,

He'll be happy,

Feel love, hope,
Let go of regret, guilt,

Be healthy,

Find peace.

One could say, "If only...."

One could think, 

"He's in a better place...."

One could feel sad,

For paths not taken,

For roads not traveled,

For happiness not shared,

"If only in this life...."

I hope on this side,

His family will

Remember the happy times,

Remember the love,

Find peace.

sol#19 One Tile and Then Another

I'm in my office,

The only place free of construction dust.

Listening to the glorious, hopeful sound 

Of tile installation,

Scraping, tapping, 

The whir of cutting, resizing,

Wonderful sounds.

It's been 9 weeks

I could say endlessly long.

I could say hopelessly long.

Yet there are walls, now.

There are floors, now.

There is heat, now.

There is water, outside, now.

"It will go fast, now," they say.

"I hope so," I think.

"Cabinets tomorrow," they say.

"Appliances tomorrow, too," they say.

"I hope so," I think.

Hopeful words. 

#sol19 Thankful, Hopeful, Woeful!

It's been a while, but I am reminded that writing helps me put the chaos of life in perspective!



I'm thankful my house now has ceilings and walls, but not much else.  I'm told it will go fast from here however, I am not too hopeful. To be honest, sitting and trying to work or write amidst the dust and debris makes me a bit woeful! I'm hopeful it will be worth it in the end.

I'm also thankful Halloween is out of the way. It's a stressful and scary time for so many kids and the hype seems to grow each year. I'm hopeful that we will return to a focus on cute costumes and fun rather than on gruesome decorating!

I'm also hopeful for the holidays that follow All Saints Day and hopeful I can focus on gratitude and giving in the months ahead.