Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Tuesday Slice: Reader's response

I am a book-juggler; I very rarely read just one at a time.  Right now, I have a kidlit book, an adult novel, two personal growth books, and two professional books all in various stages of being read.  My Muse decided that today's Slice will be reader's responses in verse to three of the books.

The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd 
If one is bereft of longings
     No hopes, no dreams
     No inner voice straining to be heard
Is one truly alive?

The Elephant's Girl by Celesta Rimington
What wisdom lies
   in an elephant's eyes?
Ghosts don't just say "Boo!"--
   they can be helpful, too.
Families are found in the heart.

Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty
Exposing my negativity
Excavating my fears
Exploring my intentions
This is bibliotherapy.

Now I am thinking this might be fun for our students, too...

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Tuesday Slice: Fall vibes

 


Fall vibes

Fuzzy socks 
long-sleeved pajamas
extra blanket
at bedtime

So-dark mornings
one more snooze button
chilled kitchen
warm cinnamon-scented coffee

Crisp sunrises
invoke deep breathing
skies of pale blues
or stormy grays

Warm sunsets
last of the mosquitoes lurking
fewer birds at the feeder
plants dug up by hoarding squirrels

Children focused 
on costumes and candy
adults already shopping
for Christmas

Calendar checks
trips planned
who's-cooking-the-turkey
pumpkin pie, apple, or both

Cardigans on rotation
coats at the ready
hats and mittens
not far behind

Fall vibes.

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Tuesday Slice: Taking time for me

 

We had a staff development day yesterday, with a whole hour for lunch--educators know what a gift that is!  We sat in our overly-air-conditioned cafeteria for three hours in the morning, and I felt the need to warm up after eating in my office...so I went for a walk outside.  

I rarely venture outdoors during a workday, my usual schedule prohibitive of such activity, and it felt a little scandalous to do so.  I slipped out a back door and immediately felt the sun's warm rays on my shoulders.  Conscious of the time, I walked briskly around the cul-de-sac behind our school, empty of delivery trucks at the moment.  I made my way around the side entrance, and stopped at the garden planted on the front lawn.

Giant stalks of who-knows-what were bent to the ground.  I noticed tiny green cherry tomatoes here and there, and sprawling vines snaking through dried mulch with leaves as big as my hand.  The vines intrigued me, so I followed them with my eyes...and spied not one, but two watermelons!  Not quite ready for picking, so I let them be.

An orange butterfly--a fritillary, by the looks of it--fluttered from one flower to another.  I spent a few quiet moments just watching it feed, marveling at its colors and long, spindly legs.  Something made me look at my watch, and I realized it was time to get back to work.

Warmed up, back at my desk in my windowless library, I said to myself, "I should do this every Monday."



Thursday, October 7, 2021

Where am I?--Spiritual Journey Thursday


Ramona has given us the prompt of exploring the concept of "here" for this month's Spiritual Journey reflection. You can find her own post here.

I am challenged to be present
Be here, in the now

With my bleary, tired eyes squinting at the screen
My stomach slightly roiling from today's uncouth eating
My head fuzzy with fatigue.

Before this
I paid a bill
listened to a podcast
while Christmas shopping with an hour to spare on a coupon,
and signing up for yet another self-help newsletter.
Was I there for any of that?

Before that
I was nodding off on the couch
phone in hand
husband seated across the room
new show on the television, half watched.
Was I there for any of that?

It is hard for me to be present
with a mind that tends to the future
and a body that protests for more sleep.

And when I sleep
will I finally be here
or will my mind decide to roam fields of dreams?
What is so wrong with the present
that makes it so hard to be here?

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Tuesday Slice: Dance party of one


Some mornings
I turn the radio on, volume down low
Search for a station with a beat
Feet starting to move, then hips
Arms start swinging--
Moves from ancient aerobics tapes surface
(Who cares?  No one else is awake!)
Hands in the air, stretching overhead--
important for people of a certain age, so I'm told
Occasional slick shimmies from clubbing days
Conjure memories of sticky sweet machine-made fog
Carefree nights with friends...
The song trails off.  Do I have time for another?
Check the clock:  no.
This dance party ends with workday prep
Instead of a 2am run to Denny's for fries and a coke.



Three to five minute dance parties have become my mini-workout of choice most workday mornings.  Bonus mood booster if I happen upon eighties dance music.