Small library patron (age 5 max) with a tiara and flouncy skirt: "where are your books on presidents?"
Me: "presidents of the United States?"
Small p: "yes ma'am."
A jaunt to the 900's where books with lists and brief descriptions of them live.
Small p after brief glance: "actually I like to read about their lives"
Me (!): "okay, lets go to the biographies. which one would you like to start with?" (betting on Washington or Lincoln)
Pause by Small p: "Let's start with Grant." (!!)
I came back to my colleague and asked what she was reading at 5 and she said without a pause, "Uncle Wiggly"
Whew, thank God, I'm not alone!
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Fish-horn
We had a transom over the door of our "front room" in my childhood home. I can't remember if it was glorified in any way by designs painted or etched. What did give it distinction was the sound it emitted when the wind blew strongly - a hoarse, wild-sounding blare. It was most startling to a stranger, but to us kids, it was intriguing. We called it the fish-horn for some reason.
More than the sound, was the feeling of security it gave me. I imagined all sorts of wild scenarios out there in the stormy night as the wind howled around us. But inside we were circled in comfort, warm, dry and usually in the midst of a spirited family game or deep in the heart of a book.
Fish-horns are good, occasionally, to alert us to danger, but more importantly to underline what is keeping us safe.
More than the sound, was the feeling of security it gave me. I imagined all sorts of wild scenarios out there in the stormy night as the wind howled around us. But inside we were circled in comfort, warm, dry and usually in the midst of a spirited family game or deep in the heart of a book.
Fish-horns are good, occasionally, to alert us to danger, but more importantly to underline what is keeping us safe.
Saturday, January 24, 2015
silence
Our media kills me.
I understand all about hype and how it sells. But must we hear for days and days in advance about the snow storm that will surely alter all our lives and turns out, when the fateful day actually arrives, not to contain one flake or crystal of ice? Could they maybe just say there is a possibility???
I know, I know, I don't have to listen. I happen to be a news junkie, so I share the blame. But really this weather business each winter gets worse I think. I know the only factor in this dilemma that can be altered is me..... sigh.
The one thing that I truly am thankful for this morning is that the rain has washed all the chemicals from my car! And I'm sure the rain is good for the earth. And I'm grateful that none of the traffic/human chaos that always occurs in the DC area with a snowstorm has happened.
... but just once I would love a deep, white snowstorm that quiets all the insanity for just a brief moment.... reminding us of an earlier time when the world was still and you could hear the earth's music.
I understand all about hype and how it sells. But must we hear for days and days in advance about the snow storm that will surely alter all our lives and turns out, when the fateful day actually arrives, not to contain one flake or crystal of ice? Could they maybe just say there is a possibility???
I know, I know, I don't have to listen. I happen to be a news junkie, so I share the blame. But really this weather business each winter gets worse I think. I know the only factor in this dilemma that can be altered is me..... sigh.
The one thing that I truly am thankful for this morning is that the rain has washed all the chemicals from my car! And I'm sure the rain is good for the earth. And I'm grateful that none of the traffic/human chaos that always occurs in the DC area with a snowstorm has happened.
... but just once I would love a deep, white snowstorm that quiets all the insanity for just a brief moment.... reminding us of an earlier time when the world was still and you could hear the earth's music.
Friday, January 16, 2015
tonic
Do you ever feel that you are having an out-of-body feeling looking back on your life? Did I really do that - both good things and bad?
I think all of us have dividers in our lives, like putting those plastic sticks on the check-out conveyor belt to denote where your purchase stops and starts. I do that with my life: childhood, schooling, marriage, teaching abroad, grad school, small children, work, teen children, , full-time work, part-time work and eventual retirement..... marker, marker, marker!
When I stop to reflect, I can scarcely recognize the me inside some of those markers! Sometimes I'm proud, chagrined, unbelieving, sad, satisfied.
I'm friends with someone who fights for serenity every day, every minute because depressing battle fatigue tends to take over - like a cardboard cutout that you have to prop from every side with serious weights.
I can't conceive of such a condition.
Despite whatever regrets I may have in looking back, most of the time, in the ongoing moment, I'm content.
If I could bottle that elixir, I'd be a wealthy woman as well as a happy one!
I think all of us have dividers in our lives, like putting those plastic sticks on the check-out conveyor belt to denote where your purchase stops and starts. I do that with my life: childhood, schooling, marriage, teaching abroad, grad school, small children, work, teen children, , full-time work, part-time work and eventual retirement..... marker, marker, marker!
When I stop to reflect, I can scarcely recognize the me inside some of those markers! Sometimes I'm proud, chagrined, unbelieving, sad, satisfied.
I'm friends with someone who fights for serenity every day, every minute because depressing battle fatigue tends to take over - like a cardboard cutout that you have to prop from every side with serious weights.
I can't conceive of such a condition.
Despite whatever regrets I may have in looking back, most of the time, in the ongoing moment, I'm content.
If I could bottle that elixir, I'd be a wealthy woman as well as a happy one!
Friday, January 9, 2015
Sandman
Naps.
I've never taken them on a regular basis.
But my dad took them like clockwork. Every day at noon he came home for a meal - and I mean a meal - not just a sandwich or some sort - and after that he would retire to the davenport in the front room and snooze. I certainly don't remember how long he slept - what is time to a child! But at a given signal, some internal alarm woke him and he was up and off to work for the rest of the day. I'm sure it benefited him no end. It benefited us children by the coins we dug out from deep in the cushions! But in retrospect I think - what a lovely leisurely way to enhance your day.
Now I know my retired older sibs do exactly the same thing! At night I can sometimes doze off for about fifteen minutes sitting in my recliner reading. But if the nap goes beyond that I awake feeling utterly disoriented!
Why is it that some people can slip into the arms of Morpheus easily and love the experience and for others those arms disrupt the day entirely?
I've never taken them on a regular basis.
But my dad took them like clockwork. Every day at noon he came home for a meal - and I mean a meal - not just a sandwich or some sort - and after that he would retire to the davenport in the front room and snooze. I certainly don't remember how long he slept - what is time to a child! But at a given signal, some internal alarm woke him and he was up and off to work for the rest of the day. I'm sure it benefited him no end. It benefited us children by the coins we dug out from deep in the cushions! But in retrospect I think - what a lovely leisurely way to enhance your day.
Now I know my retired older sibs do exactly the same thing! At night I can sometimes doze off for about fifteen minutes sitting in my recliner reading. But if the nap goes beyond that I awake feeling utterly disoriented!
Why is it that some people can slip into the arms of Morpheus easily and love the experience and for others those arms disrupt the day entirely?
Monday, January 5, 2015
Elusive
Two hugs from patrons today who hadn't seen me for a while. How many jobs offer that as a benefit?
One was a patron from South Africa - long resident of US, but still has a glorious patrician look, accent, bearing. We were talking about her daughter at UVA who is a reporter for the school newspaper and has been in the thick of the fraternity/date/rape furor. Then conversation branched to the most recent murder there and the ones that preceded it. And the 15 unsolved murders along Rt. 29.
Suddenly I remembered one beautiful girl, daughter of a college classmate, on her way to marriage and life, when she stopped by the side of Rt. 29..... forever.
One was a patron from South Africa - long resident of US, but still has a glorious patrician look, accent, bearing. We were talking about her daughter at UVA who is a reporter for the school newspaper and has been in the thick of the fraternity/date/rape furor. Then conversation branched to the most recent murder there and the ones that preceded it. And the 15 unsolved murders along Rt. 29.
Suddenly I remembered one beautiful girl, daughter of a college classmate, on her way to marriage and life, when she stopped by the side of Rt. 29..... forever.
Saturday, January 3, 2015
before his time
In Target.
Marv needed toothpicks.
I stood stock still in the baking items aisle, not finding them. Where in this huge expanse of red and white circles and shining lights would I look for toothpicks. The proverbial needle in a haystack.
Seeing a young man unloading soda at the end of the aisle I asked him.
"Toothpicks?" he smiled uncomfortably. "I would have to look that up." Whipped out a phone of some sort. Apologetically, "Is that one word or two?"
"One," I said taking pity and realizing suddenly I was asking for something outside his "ken"!
"Aw, here it is - A-16 at the front of the store" he beamed with an enormous smile of relief!
How sweet. Toothpicks. Hmmmm. 70 is getting older.
Marv needed toothpicks.
I stood stock still in the baking items aisle, not finding them. Where in this huge expanse of red and white circles and shining lights would I look for toothpicks. The proverbial needle in a haystack.
Seeing a young man unloading soda at the end of the aisle I asked him.
"Toothpicks?" he smiled uncomfortably. "I would have to look that up." Whipped out a phone of some sort. Apologetically, "Is that one word or two?"
"One," I said taking pity and realizing suddenly I was asking for something outside his "ken"!
"Aw, here it is - A-16 at the front of the store" he beamed with an enormous smile of relief!
How sweet. Toothpicks. Hmmmm. 70 is getting older.
Friday, January 2, 2015
outlook
The book I'm reading - correction, one of the books I'm reading! - has the line, "I always remember my mother as being in a good mood."
And it stopped me. I thought back to my mother and with an overwhelming wave of gratitude I realized I could say the same thing. Not that my mother didn't get angry - oh I can quite recall the time I appeared at the back door(sent by older sibs) with black oozing pitch over my white sandals after having gotten into my father's forbidden roofing supplies - my mother's mood was definitely not good!
But I'm talking a day-in, day-out let-the-merry-sunshine-in disposition. She was definitely a glass half-full person. Optimism ruled. She dwelt in the sunny side of the street as much as possible. Not that she didn't have burdens to bear, but, hey, why not be happy along the way. Pollyanna, Anne of Green Gables? Yes, she loved them. Happy endings? Yes. But beyond that, she felt that Life had dealt her a very favorable hand and she was grateful.
And so am I. For her, for her unquenchable gift of sunshine.
And it stopped me. I thought back to my mother and with an overwhelming wave of gratitude I realized I could say the same thing. Not that my mother didn't get angry - oh I can quite recall the time I appeared at the back door(sent by older sibs) with black oozing pitch over my white sandals after having gotten into my father's forbidden roofing supplies - my mother's mood was definitely not good!
But I'm talking a day-in, day-out let-the-merry-sunshine-in disposition. She was definitely a glass half-full person. Optimism ruled. She dwelt in the sunny side of the street as much as possible. Not that she didn't have burdens to bear, but, hey, why not be happy along the way. Pollyanna, Anne of Green Gables? Yes, she loved them. Happy endings? Yes. But beyond that, she felt that Life had dealt her a very favorable hand and she was grateful.
And so am I. For her, for her unquenchable gift of sunshine.
January 1
New year.
How inviting, daunting, inspiring, challenging, scary, exciting....... on and on.
It seems so limitless. White pages, no writing. A pie uncut. Play ball!
Though I never was ambitious, I think as I grow older, I view a new year with a prayer for health and harmony most of all. That doesn't seem like a lot to ask for, but it's the world.
Health is #1, because if you don't have it, every other aspect of your life is jeopardized.
And harmony is #1-A because if you don't have harmony with the world, your work, your community, your neighborhood, your household, your soul - again, everything is up for grabs. You are atilt.
So we do what we can with the health thing. Still, despite all our efforts, stuff happens.
And we do what we can about the harmony thing. Still, again, we are disquieted.
My advice: eat your broccoli and meditate - a lot!
How inviting, daunting, inspiring, challenging, scary, exciting....... on and on.
It seems so limitless. White pages, no writing. A pie uncut. Play ball!
Though I never was ambitious, I think as I grow older, I view a new year with a prayer for health and harmony most of all. That doesn't seem like a lot to ask for, but it's the world.
Health is #1, because if you don't have it, every other aspect of your life is jeopardized.
And harmony is #1-A because if you don't have harmony with the world, your work, your community, your neighborhood, your household, your soul - again, everything is up for grabs. You are atilt.
So we do what we can with the health thing. Still, despite all our efforts, stuff happens.
And we do what we can about the harmony thing. Still, again, we are disquieted.
My advice: eat your broccoli and meditate - a lot!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)