January 7th

 Oh, January

Always so full of promise

Re-dos

Resolutions

“This year…”

But now I know

I’m just here 

to be present.

To receive.

To listen with my heart & soul.

I could vow to “do better.”

I could vow to change…somehow.

But what I really need

is just to be me.

Ask

 Inspired by “Look” by Billy Collins.

Today I opened up

                to receive

The messages came

                clear and quick

It was as if angels

                we’re flitting around the lake

Just waiting for me

                to ask.

2022 Year in Review in Photos

This is year 3 for the awesome Year in Review activity introduced to me by my friend Laurie Kemp. I now look forward to unpacking the best parts of my year strictly through the camera lens. It's challenging and fun.

The year 2022 was a difficult one in several ways. Keeping that in mind while selecting photos made the associated memories all the more meaningful.

Here goes!

Feeling Connected at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Annmarie and Laurie, my nature loving friends

On a Sunday morning in January, I met my friends Annmarie and Laurie at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The weather was cool, and the wildlife few and far between, but just being in nature with friends was all the connection I needed. It is something we like to do on occasion, and this memory makes me realize the more often the better!

Make Me Smile at the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center, Downtown Fort Myers

Sierra Hull, mandolin player extraordinaire

One of my favorite musical artists finally arrived in Fort Myers last March, and it was another concert to remember. Honestly, the only concert I attended this year, which is sad. But Sierra Hull makes up for that in so many ways. I have seen her twice before, both times having to drive to Stuart for the show, and each time I witnessed her skill and talent as an artist, a songwriter, and an entertainer. And that just continues to grow! My friend Kara accompanied me, and enjoyed the show as well. This particular event had been canceled in 2020, so finally getting to see Sierra here in town was a long-awaited treat. And yes, I smiled the whole way through, just like Sierra does as she sings.

Meaningful Moment in Chokoloskee, Florida

After a long ride, a relaxing lunch

 

The first few years we lived in Florida, we would get in the car and head south, often ending up on the little shell island known as Chokoloskee, way down in the Western Everglades. We would drive down Route 29, through Immokolee and Fakahatchee Strand and the Panther Preserve, admiring the wide and vast Florida environment. Once on the island we would visit the famous Smallwood Store and eat at J.T.'s.  Since it had been over a decade since we've done this excursion, we set out on Memorial Day weekend to recreate the experience. So much was the same, until we got to the island. There we discovered that J.T.'s was no longer, but a wonderful Latin restaurant had taken its place. We had a wonderful time there--the atmosphere was inviting and the food delicious. It is doubtful that we will ever make this trip again, so it makes it a meaningful memory.

Feeling Amazed at Fatheads Brewery, Middleburg Heights, Ohio

Braydon--one of a kind

It has taken over 11 years to meet this wonder child of our grandson Jeff. Braydon is knowledgeable, creative, smart, active, responsible, and purely original (just check out the hair!) We had an amazing conversation while at the brewery, mostly about creative writing and how books are better than the movie versions. This is a young person anyone would love being around. He got the best the families had to offer!

Moments Shared with Loved Ones at Cristof's On MacGregor, Fort Myers

Belated 80th birthday photo

Ralph and Pam

 

This year Jim turned 80-years-old, and we were planning on celebrating with his son and wife, Scott and Brenda. But the impending hurricane forced them to change their plans, and we ended up at Cantina Laredo with our friends Pam and Ralph to celebrate. Unfortunately, on that day I forgot to have Pam take a picture of us on Jim's birthday, and for weeks I was mad at myself about that. The situation was rectified when we went for lunch at Cristof's On MacGregor to celebrate Ralph's birthday. There I finally got my long awaited picture: and I was wearing the shirt Pam had given me with the dandelion of books flying away! Pam and Ralph are dear friends, and we are grateful they are in our lives.

Highlight of the Year at Bowman's Beach, Sanibel Island

Kaylee and Emily

Sunset at the beach June 2022

Okay, I will admit...as I try to write this I have tears pouring down my face. This evening stays with me for so many reasons. Emily had brought Kaylee (another incredible 11-year-old) to Sanibel for a special mother-daughter trip. They made us a lovely pasta dinner in their resort condo, and then we headed over to our favorite beach, Bowman's, for sunset. It was special to have Jim with me since we haven't been to the beach together in a very long time (I seriously cannot remember when). The evening was buggy (June in Florida) but still a lot of fun, seeking out shells, and tracking the sun as it set. 

The reason for my tears, of course, is that an excursion like this is not even possible given the state Hurricane Ian left the island just over three months later. This night probably would have been the highlight of my year no matter what else happened, but the fact that so much has changed makes it all the more poignant. And I am glad I got to spend it with some of my most favorite humans. 

Someday we will be back.

That Thing About the End of the School Day

 Tight shoulders 

       released from pressure.

The weight off me now

       Life returns.

Last Friday at 4:20 I got to enjoy a ritual I had not had the pleasure of indulging in for many months.

In the morning I had written the little poem above, inspired by Billy Collins' poem "Argument for Design."  I then wrote this:

Looking forward

to that moment

the kids leave

and I have a few 

minutes of quiet

to myself I haven't

had since

September 23rd!

On Friday, September 23rd I had stayed a little late prepping for a guest teacher since I was taking Monday the 26th off for my husband's milestone birthday. Talk of hurricane was in the works, and I prepped accordingly for that as well.

By Tuesday the 27th school was closed, and the kids did not return to our school until Wednesday, October 19th. That coincided with the day Jim began radiation treatments. Every single day I scooted out early, imposing on my co-workers to take my kids for me so I could leave, pick up Jim, and battle traffic to get him to the cancer center. The daily routine for six weeks was a royal drag in many ways, especially for him, of course. 

We were quite excited when the end was in sight: December 15th. He finished up, rang the bell, and a weight was lifted, as I wrote in my morning poem above.

It wasn't until I wrote that poem I realized how much I missed that quiet time at the end of the day. I actually hadn't thought much about how every day I was losing the chance to reflect, get things set for the next day, and in the case of the 16th, actually creating an activity to use. Frankly, many times I leave right away, but it is nice to have the option.

Teachers spend their days greeting, teaching, listening, and saying goodbye to dozens of students. Having that few minutes when it is over to breathe in the day, reflect a bit, and move forward for the next day is an important part of the process. There is something about the end of the school day that can feel like a little gift to ourselves. I am grateful Jim is done with his treatments, of course. But for me, that time at the end of the day is like unwrapping a little piece of chocolate and savoring it all by myself. 

Just Makes Me Happy

 For some reason this year, there was a holiday door decorating contest at my school, with a fantastic prize of a jeans week for the teacher (yawn).  I couldn’t figure out how anyone had time for this, since we were in a crunch given we lost three weeks plus this semester. But…oh well.

Then suddenly I decided to do something simple. And yes, I spent more time on it than I had planned.  But…oh well.

I brought in what was left on an old roll of wrapping paper. I printed off snowflakes for the students to color, along with some pine trees. Called it “Celebrate Learning” and focused on the recent success my learners had in raising their Lexile levels. Of course we didn’t “win” in any of the categories, but that was never my focus. I intend on relishing this joyful expression up until the day I have to take it down. It represents spontaneity, success in goals being met, and so much more. After the major interruption in our lives in the form of one of the worst hurricanes in US history, I am glad we took the time to celebrate through color and creativity. 

I consider this a win!

Here are a couple of detail photos:

Delight Song of Celestial Bodies

 Creative Writing Club November 8, 2022

Two writers showed up for club on Tuesday: 8th grader William and 6th grader Hazel.

William wanted to do something collaboratively. We did some writing, and Hazel had this line about "celestial body" in hers.  I then pulled up my "Delight Song of Six Mile Cypress Slough" (see previous post) and we used that idea to do a write around. 

I.

I am a celestial body

I am a piece of floating space

I am the center of the solar system, a becoming star

I am accused of being too distant

I am alive, I am alive

I stand in good relation to the stars

I stand in good relation to the universe

I stand in good relation to all that is beautiful

You see, I am alive, I am alive

II.

I am a celestial body

I am brilliant at twilight

I am always in the dark

I am seen from other galaxies

I am a dot in a telescope

I am a shining star

I am a far away galaxy, waiting to be discovered

I am secretive and sharp and sullen

I am soft and caring and warm

I am what the future looks like

I am alive, yes, I am alive

I stand in good relation to the earth

I stand in good relation to the heavens

I am alive, I am alive.

III.

I am a celestial body twinkling with glowing stars

I am a star that died out long ago

I am sun-kissed and moon-glowed

I am a moon-given presence

I am what a child sees in her dreams but never remembers

I am a trophy with an endless ribbon

I am in good relation with God

You see, I am alive and alive I am

Delight Song of Six Mile Cypress Slough

 A return to the slough with this mentor poem in mind.  Delight Song of the Tsoai-Talee

 

I am where you enter the boardwalk to magic

I am the Pond Cypress swamp who greets you

 

 

I am the trees and sky

 

 

 

 

I am the white fungus that dots the trees like punctuation

 

I am the sunlight setting the alligator flag aglow

 

 

I am the wide and gentle lake, perfect for morning meditations

 

 

I am sunlight on the water

I am the tree that took two directions

I am the tree that couldn't hang on

I am the heart, the butterfly, the flower

 

 

I am deep blues and bright greens

 

 

I am a bit of autumn red surprise

I am sun-filtered fern, plentiful and free

I am Cypress needles hanging on, and Cypress trees standing straight and tall.

I am Grandfather Cypress who lost my crown in the hurricane.

I am stillness and reflection as far as the eye can see

I am the raccoon, the Limpkin, the Night Heron, the Pileated Woodpecker who refused to be photographed

I am November in the Slough after the mighty winds that blew

I am the Red-Shouldered Hawk calling as if reciting the poem

You see, I am alive, I am alive

I stand in good relation to the earth

I stand in good relation to the gods

I stand in good relation to all that is beautiful...

You see, I am alive, I am alive

Italicized lines from the mentor poem posted at top