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Month: January 2024

B is for Bird

Published on January 30, 2024

It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life." 
Thank you  Two Writing Teachers for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!

On babysitting days, Tony’s always a real sport about driving across town to pick up our Bird and bring her back here for the day. He is more of an early riser than I am; I like to wake slowly – and write. This week, however, I was up early, itching to go. It had been three weeks since I laid eyes on my granddaughters, thanks to the timing of Covid-19 sweeping through both our households. I was thrilled to go, and catch a glimpse of her sister Frog before she left for school.

big hugs, big smiles, we’re together

My eyes watered at the hugs I received. I was half-wishing that Frog could play hooky from school for the day, but that seemed a naughty thing for this retired teacher to suggest. Bird and I watched from the window, waving goodbye, as her parents and sister left for the day.

grandchildren and grandparents: mutual adoration society

Bird wanted to ‘show me a few things’ at her house, so we lingered. First order of business, building a Magna-Tile castle for Elsa and Anna. ‘Elsa and Anna,’ oh my. How many years will this movie have such a hold on children? How many years will I have songs from Frozen running through my brain unexpectedly?

let it go!  let it go!

Next, we had to build a Magna-Tile highway. (Magna-Tiles are perhaps my favorite toy – whether home or preschool classroom. Such a clever tool!) This highway stretched from the new castle to Michigan (the girls’ dollhouse).

build and break, think again, redo

Michigan is home to many of Bird’s relatives on Mom’s side of the family. They had visited in early January, a long and memorable car ride for this three year old child. Building the Magna- Tile highway reminded Bird of the need for snacks. I’m sure she and her sister were simply plied with munchies all along the way, on that long trip. So, we searched the kitchen for something fun – ah, blueberry pop tarts! Sure, we can have a pop tart as we build together.

pop tarts and childhood together always

Then she noticed her playdough factory, and decided it was time to play there. I reminded her that Poppa was making her an egg breakfast at our house and that he was looking forward to seeing her. Hint, hint. “I need to pack my princess shoes!” Bird said. (Yes, she got the hint!)

princess dress, plastic heels, let’s go!

We double-checked the tote bag to make sure we had everything we needed for the day. While I look for things like extra clothes such as leggings and a long-sleeved shirt, Bird is tossing in treasured toys: a princess crown, princess gloves, those princess ‘heels’, and a doll or two. Lest you think she is a girly-girl, she finds her favorite toy car and pickup truck. Oh, and the entire large plastic playdough factory, because we have playdough at my house. (Thank goodness for large tote bags.) We also tossed the pop tarts into a food pouch for the drive. Finally, we were ready for the day.

car ride, any length, snacks needed

We had a full and joyous morning at my house, nothing out of the ordinary, just our usual ‘B’ list:

breakfast of eggs, toast, and grapes
baby dolls need regular diaper changes 
bright red playdough tea and cookies 
building a puzzle together is fun 
best solo activity is marker drawing 
bundle up warm for the playground 
balancing practice on curbs and flagstones
blast down the hill full speed 
busy with jeep driving and playscape climbing 
blustery wind suggests we head home
boundless energy zapped, stroller ride back
blueberries and yogurt for lunch
bevy of stories, time for nap
bountiful morning followed by quiet dreaming

Truth is – we all three take a nap!! I’m not a big napper most days – but they have become ‘de rigueur’ on babysitting days.

couch curled, sound asleep, midday bliss

This was just an ordinary babysitting day. This was a wonderful ordinary babysitting day!

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Back It Up

Published on January 23, 2024

It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life." 
Thank you  Two Writing Teachers for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!

Dear Lower Back,

I write this standing at the counter
since you refuse to let me sit down 
in my cozy chair
I am sorry that I ignored you
all this long time
I admit, I didn’t think about you
at all during these many good months
and that was so wrong of me
I know you are always there for me
supporting me, helping me, bearing with me
and I should have included you 
in all my other pursuits 

The last time things were dark and dirty 
between us
I recognized 
there is work I need to do on a regular basis
to focus on you, build you up, support you
we are together forever in this journey called life
takes two to tango

How long will it take me to learn this fully?
Not just when you get upset?

I know enough about apologies 
to recognize defensiveness and excuses
I want to be humbly apologetic, but . . .
couldn’t you give me a heads up that
I have abandoned you again?
(Just reading this, I see my ego, my self-absorption;
I apologize for this, too)
but . . .when I am in the throes of other ills
this is when you unleash your anger at me?
hurting me at my lowest
feels very calculated and controlling
from my view at the counter here

deep cleansing breath

let’s build on our relationship
I promise to do better by you
one step at a time
today forward
we are one

Love, me

I wrote this letter/poem of apology to my back just a few days ago, when things were falling apart. I have had a tough week, healthwise. After hoping to the contrary, I contracted Covid-19 after all, falling ill the day after last week’s SOL. I thought I had escaped the virus. Not to be.

This was my first time contracting the disease and I gotta say – I am not a fan. I have some low grade back issues, and I have been able to keep these in check through regular exercise. This past week, it was as if the virus settled right inside my lower back and held it in some sort of clench. I could not bend without excruciating pain. I moved with caution and trepidation. Shifting my body to get out of bed involved minutes of motor planning, thinking through my best approach. Sitting felt terrible.

Although my body was exhausted from the virus, I kept standing and walking around – ever so slowly. Vertical was the least painful position. Nothing was automatic anymore. Basic movements, such as putting on my socks or lifting my feet onto a footstool, were beyond my ability. Any surprise or unforeseen movement resulted in searing sensations that simply locked me up, immobilized. Here’s a challenge – try to sneeze or cough without moving unexpectedly. Here’s a second challenge – try to get through Covid-19 without sneezing or coughing.

I was a mess.

The pain was particularly acute during the first day or two, as I struggled with a fever. Then, the fever lifted, and the dagger-like pain in my back subsided substantially.

I reached out to my son who is, unfortunately, very informed about lower back pain, having lived with it since high school due to an injury. My text: What are the top five things you do for a lower back flare up? He wrote –

#1 Avoid the seated position. Sitting is the devil. Lie down on your back or stand whenever possible. (Of course, I was sitting when I read his response - only to stand back up, with a chuckle.)
#2 Walking is the best exercise. It loosens up the back.
#3 Assume the supine position with your knees up and feet on the floor. Tighten your core with your back braced against the ground. 
#4 Heed your Transverse Abdominal Muscles (TAs). Look up where those are and practice tightening them. Keep these tight.
#5 When all else fails, heat and ice!

I thanked my son for his helpful response, and he texted back – Of course! Happy to share about one of my few true areas of expertise. Lol.

I am living that expression “new lease on life.” Covid-19 is on its way out of my body; I feel better each day. I am back to my self-care basics – simple back exercises completed upon waking, before I leave my bed. The yoga mat is unfurled for daily conditioning. I am recommitted to my fitness and health goals – and I will move towards these with care. To a healthier back!

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Children First

Published on January 16, 2024

It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life." 
Thank you  Two Writing Teachers for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!

I feel great. Yes, I feel fine. Yes!

Each morning for the past couple of days, I wake up and instinctively check for how I am feeling. January has arrived with Covid racing through our family. First, it was the grandkids, who we had just babysat for two days straight. Then, everyone else has been getting sick, one-by-one, in rapid procession, testing positive for Covid. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven of us, so far? Knock on wood, I have escaped. Nevertheless, all plans have been canceled. Tony (not so lucky, enduring his second bout of this virus) and I have been having a very low-key time, taking it easy – working on a puzzle, watching television, and reading books. I’ve made a couple different homemade soups.

I just finished reading the memoir Class by Stephanie Land, a holiday gift from my son. Ms. Land shares the story of her struggles to get a writing degree as a poor and single mother. Throughout the book, I was on edge for her young daughter, growing up in such challenging circumstances. I have been stewing over this quote –

“Resilience as a virtue is assigned, especially to marginalized groups, when systemic structures have created countless barriers to living what the privileged consider a normal life.”
Stephanie Land , Class, pgs. 67-68

It is unusually cold here today, and expected to get colder. We have snow for the first time in a couple of years. My biggest challenge is willing myself to leave the proximity of my quilt and space heater in order to get another cup of hot tea. I am struck by the ease of Covid for me, for our family – and what an absolute crisis this virus or any health issue becomes for the poor.

If I were a single mom right now, 
with young children, 
without family around to help, 
with only hourly-wage work that offers no benefits,
struggling to pay bills,
unable to take time off,
already in debt…
holy smoke, this would be insufferable.

On our car trip to Georgia over winter break, we dashed into a fast food restaurant to use the bathroom. I noticed a young child, maybe three or four years old, in a booth by herself in the back corner, with coloring books and crayons; the child had a deep cough. “Mom” was an employee behind the counter; she rushed over to check on her child when there were no customers in the queue.

It is beyond appalling that our great country has no safety net in place (or only a very broken, torn, ripped safety net) for those who need it. The child poverty rate is nearly 15% in America. This is outrageous. This is appalling. This is criminal.

Did you read that many states are turning down food assistance for poor children during the summer months? As the Center for American Progress writes – Poverty is a policy choice. Here are their 12 solutions to eradicate poverty in America.

The world now has the means to end extreme poverty, 
we pray we will have the will. 
                                                                              (Source:  Rev. Barbara Crafton, 
                                                                              “The Counting Prayer”)

I needed to have a bit of levity in this post – here’s one of my favorite photos from teaching preschoolers.

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A Poem A Day

Published on January 9, 2024

It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life." 
Thank you  Two Writing Teachers for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!

Last week, I shared that my one little word for 2024 is ‘hold.’ Nine days into this new year, I am having fun writing one ‘summative’ poem a day, some aspect of the day that I want to hold onto – or that I am so preoccupied by, it has a hold on me. (I’d prefer all my ‘holds’ to be uplifting, but let’s be real – life isn’t that way.)

Basically, this is poetry as daily reflection. My poetry is weak/easy, mostly ‘free’ writing with no specific forms being used…I am not feeling especially proud of the writing itself. However, I am excited by how the writing settles me, allowing me to pause for a bit and review my day. It has been a nice intention for the new year – to stop and think about what I want to remember about each day.

I have lots of questions for myself, beyond whether I’ll be able to write a poem a day. I’m wondering if there will be patterns to what I’m writing about, if I’ll revisit the same topics over and over again. I wonder if my poetry writing will improve, especially if I try to write into new and different forms of poetry. I wonder if I’ll feel ‘called’ to edit, rewrite, or rethink certain poems.

For now, I’m just exploring. Here’s today’s poem – from babysitting three-year-old Bird, my granddaughter.

she tucks herself in now

she never wants me to tarry
at naptime
insists I leave
and she unwinds
readies for bed
all by herself

she is growing up too quickly

later
I slip in
to witness
her stir from her nap

she is snuggling
under a blanket 

and laying right next to her
its small head poking out
is a plush small giraffe
nestled under its own little blanket

so dear

did she sing
did she coo
did she hold
the giraffe
before its nap?

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Life is Fleeting

Published on January 2, 2024

It is Tuesday and time to write a 'Slice of Life." 
Thank you  Two Writing Teachers for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!

We just returned from a holiday week in Georgia – visiting my “in-laws,” the family and friends that I gained through marriage. Each day was filled with many wonderful connections with others, sharing meals and conversation. As always, we did lots of driving, meeting loved ones in sundry locations. I enjoyed looking out the car window as we drove about, taking in the sights. I took a few photos.

On the long drive home, I reviewed my phone photos and amused myself with tinkering with the lighting, zoom, and other editing tools. I was fascinated by several ‘nature’ snapshots – a pretty sunset, passing clouds, the trees on one of our walks. I’ve included a few here – little moments of awe that I happened to capture, and now I am able to hold onto, longer.

It was challenging to write while we drove; I am glad I had the camera to help me collect memories. When we got home, I wrote and wrote, trying to record the highs and lows of our adventure. As with those nature photos I took, this is the purpose of my daily writing practice: to hold onto, longer. Writing helps me hold precious moments, whether with loved ones, or in nature, or simply in my imagination.

I hope to do lots more writing in this new year.

When we pulled into the driveway after our long trip, the shrubs were noisy with happy birds, and so I played with a haiku –

bevy of chatter
starlings frolic in the bush
welcoming us home

In this new year, I seek again to create poetry and prose that builds on the good things in my life and allows me to hold these close, to be present, and to savor.

Life is fleeting. 
How might I hold it?

Hold onto
Hold up
Hold fast
Hold strong
Holding

My one little word for 2024 is hold.

Thank you for visiting my blog.  Clicking the title of any post will open a comment box at the bottom of the page. I love hearing from you.