I Wish...

Tonight I was reading Elizabeth Berg's blog. She is one of my favorite authors; mostly because she knows how to savor the little things. I'd been planning to write a post tonight, but wasn't sure what I wanted to say. When I read paragraphs below, I knew I had my post.

I'm thinking a fragrant, lukewarm bath is in order. Summer pajamas. Then the books. I wish I could read by fireflies, like I did as a little girl one summer night when I was nine. I loved it. The fireflies did not, I think. I let them all go the next morning and not a one of them looked back and said, "Hey, thanks for the hospitality. Loved the holes you punched in the jar lid."
Also, I wish we could have fireflies in winter. Wouldn't THAT be pretty? Those little lanterns against the snow? Someone once said to me, "Boy. You sure wish for things a lot." And I said, "SO?????" I should have said, "I wish it wouldn't bother you so much."

~ Elizabeth Berg

I wish a lot, too. Don't you?

I wish...

** I wish to travel back in time to that perfect night when Jeffrey first held my hand. We were in a clearing in the middle of the woods and the sky was lit by a million stars. More than twenty years later, I still feel that same delighted fizz when we hold hands. Still, I'd like to live that night again.

** I wish for an old fashioned bathtub, the kind that keeps the water hot for hours and is deep enough to sit in and still soak to the chin.

** I wish air travel were as cheap and convenient and fun as road trips. That way I could visit far away friends and family much more often.

** I wish I had a first edition, autographed copy of To Kill a Mockingbird.

** I wish I had the good manners and generous spirit of Atticus Finch.

** I wish I could sing just once with an amazing singer. Just me and him and a piano. Nobody else around. Somebody like Frank, Willie, Bono, or Aaron.

** I wish I could start working on my doctoral degree. For free.

** I wish I could find season two of McLeod's Daughters for cheap.

** I wish Domino, Country Home, and Mary Englebreit's Home Companion would come back.

** I wish I could be sure that I actually did manage to teach all of my students to love reading.

** I wish parents would work a little harder to teach their children good manners.

** I wish it were still as much fun as it used to be to sneak reading in bed by candlelight.

** I wish sugar and chocolate were healthy and fiber was bad for you.

** I wish my kitchen were big enough to hold two adults at a time.

** I wish I could be funny when I write.

** I wish she would hurry up and write another book.

** I wish we could have fireflies in winter. And one snowfall each summer.

** I wish I could write one perfect fairy tale. For Sloane.


What about you? What are you wishing for?


The wonderful picture is by scottwills.

When Thelma Met Louise

It's been a month since I returned from San Francisco, and I still haven't written about the people portion of my trip. Funny since that was the most important part. Meeting friends was the real reason for the trip. I think I haven't written about meeting blogging friends because I hold that experience so close to my heart. The relationships we formed feel far too precious to write about casually. I feel like my "blog camp" friends deserve a trumpeting fanfare, a parade with them waving from the back of a cherry red convertible. They should, at the least, be showered in confetti and gifts. All I have are words. Not enough. Not nearly enough.
This picture, taken by an obliging stranger, is my favorite of the entire trip. Look at us. See how much we enjoy each other? It's all right there, in our faces. Real affection, laughter, kinship.

These pictures are of Robin and I. Our SF pals are much too camera shy for these posts. But, the kinship exists with them as well. How could it not? We laughed until our sides ached. We walked until we needed foot reflexology. We took more pictures than you can imagine. We inspired and challenged each other. Most of all, we talked. We talked about goals, about our pasts, about our passions, about old hurts and new joys. We were real. We connected. We looked deeply at each other. We saw each other. And we liked what we saw.

Dutchbaby and I met the most wonderful couple on the beach. They were both in grad school, and were building their first sandcastle. Those two were delightful, so full of life they fairly sparkled. As we talked DB mentioned that we were blogging friends that had only met the day before. Our new friends were shocked. The girl said,"Really? I just knew you two were lifelong friends." My answer? "We are. It just goes forward instead of back." And that's it. Those two sentences sum it up. When you meet a blog friend, when you spend time together, you become lifelong friends - going forward.

Happy Week, Saturday

One of the things that makes me happy is reading a really good post. In fact, in my bookmarks I have a folder called Perfect Posts. It's packed full, and for the past hour I've been enjoying rereading some old favorites. It occurred to me that you might enjoy them too. I hope so.

* posts that offer wisdom

** posts that ignite a spark

*** posts that make me laugh

**** posts that hold up a mirror

If you have a little time and are feeling generous, won't you leave a comment with a link to a favorite post? I'd love to discover more perfect posts.


The image above is a card one of my friends made for me years ago. If you liked these links you might want to click here and here.

Happy Week, Friday

Spontaneity makes me happy. I love it when my husband suggests something fun on the spur-of-the-moment and we all just jump up and do it. Tonight, after a delicious dinner (that Jeffrey cooked, of course) my sweet husband suggested we all go for a walk on the town's new sidewalk. It's a walking path that stretches through town; past ponds and grazing cows, through woods and fields, linking the elementary, Jr. high, and high schools.

What if I'd said, "No. I'm tired. I had a rough week. I don't want to."? All true, by the way. What would I have done instead? I'll tell you. I would have stayed inside, cleaned the kitchen, did the dishes, dealt with the week's detritus, felt the need to do a load of laundry, put Sloane to bed, and crashed brain-dead and slightly guilty about not posting for Happy Week.

But.

I make a point of saying "Yes" as often as I can.


Thank God for that. Instead of chores and exhaustion I got a perfect walk on a perfect night. The weather is unreal, about 70 with very little humidity. It's cool and breezy and feels more like a Florida night than a Missouri night. The path glowed palely in the purple twilight. The four of us, counting Mickey, walked along, talking about Sloane's new friends, the first week of school, Jeffrey's library book club, old rail beds, algebra, and the Magic School Bus. The kind of quiet talk among families that means nothing and everything all at once.

The path enters the woods and curves around among the trees for quite some time. While we were in the woods we all stopped walking and stood, holding our breaths, waiting to hear it again. There it was. Yes. It is an owl. No. Wait. Shh.... Listen. I think it's two. Yes, it is. Two owls. Now we walked more quietly, talked more softly, listened more intently.


When we came out of the woods Sloane spotted a frog hopping along beside us. Further down the path we met his much larger cousin. Sloane said, "I can't wait to write about this in my journal tonight. I've never heard an owl in person before. And, I got to hold two frogs!" You know, don't you, what this did to my heart?

We ended our walk at Jeffrey's high school where we washed up, got drinks, and poked around his library before we headed home. By the time we walked home it was full dark on a no moon night. Before we entered the woods again we stopped for a long time to marvel at the Milky Way spread in a gorgeous arc across the sky. Then, we walked home in the dark. Holding hands, counting the fireflies lighting the trees, talking quietly, stopping to listen to the owls.

Ahhh... a happy heart. And so, to bed. Good night, sweet friends.

Happy Week, Thursday

Music makes me happy. It always has. Song is one of the constants in my life. Whether I am sad, happy, delighted, wistful, or any mood in between, you'll find me listening. And, you'll likely hear me singing. I have a song for every occasion. I am an unabashed car-singer, shower-singer, front-of-the-classroom-singer. Mostly I'm a grab-a-wooden-spoon-pretend-it's-a-mike-and-let-'er-rip kind of singer. I gain daily joy from singing though I can't play a note. Not on a single instrument. Still. I love to hear musicians create their magic. Live music gives me the happy shivers. I even love high school band concerts. There is just something so wonderful and life affirming in making a joyful noise, in creating music, in raising your voice in song. I cry every time I join with a crowd to sing the National Anthem. I sing Sloane's Song every night when I turn her lights out and say goodnight, and there's not much that I enjoy more than being a part of a choir. Music makes me happy.

Yes, music makes me happy, and this video makes me happier than nearly any music I've ever heard. Watch. Listen. Celebrate.

Life is good. Sing it loud.


The image above is used with permission. It is from the September, 1937 issue of The Etude Music Magazine via takeabreak's photostream.

Happy Week, Wednesday

For Team Lawson, happiness is the first day of school.

Sloane and I headed back to school this morning, and what a day we had. As I held her little hand and walked her across the hall to her second grade classroom, I remembered this same walk two years ago. You know already that I had to blink back a few tears. Was it really two years ago that she was starting Kindergarten? Two years ago that we took that long, long, far-too-short walk across the school to her new classroom. I remember that I cried the entire walk while she was as excited as she could be. Her attitude was Finally! more than anything else. I got a quick kiss and a wave and she was off. No Kindergarten nerves for her.

Today I looked at her with a lump in my throat. There she was, so tall and excited in her well-planned outfit. Pink from head to toe. Pink cap-sleeve t-shirt, pink plaid scooter, pink socks, pink and white tennis shoes, matching pink backpack, pencil case, lunch box, and water bottle. Don't tell her I told you, but there was even pink underwear. Her pink stuffed unicorn named Sparkle was waiting for her in the car.

Today's walk was only across the hall so it took about five seconds. Still, in those moments I had time to think of all that had changed. There I was, teaching a new grade in a new classroom in a newly remodeled building, and looking forward to having my daughter on the same schedule so I could see her at lunch and recess. There she was, nearly a foot taller, the author of many short stories and poems, reading like nobodies business, already a person of great character.

There I was, feeling so proud of my little girl. Feeling a lump in my throat at how quickly time passes.

In those five seconds I had time to realize how much was exactly the same. There I was, teaching. Living my passion. Loving my work. Loving the chance to share my work life with my child. There she was, excited about school, excited about learning, excited about her friends. Eager to get to it. Giving me a quick kiss and wave, and off she went.

There I was, feeling so proud of my little girl. Feeling a lump in my throat at how blessed I am that some things never change.



The wonderful image above is by Carl Warren via Shutterpoint, and is used with permission.

Happy Week, Tuesday

Lisa over at Curious Girl is hosting Happy Week, and that is an idea I can get excited about. An entire week of happy posts makes me grin just thinking about it. Before you read this, would you please scroll to the end of the page and set my playlist to play song number 26? Ok, thanks.



Ordinary miracles make me happy.

Ordinary miracles like the way a sunset can paint even the WalMart parking lot beautiful. Or, the way spotlights turn into moons against a salmon colored sky. Or, the tender way a big brother kneels down to tie his little sister's shoe. I love the way a favorite song sometimes plays on the drive to work and becomes happily stuck in my head all day long. I love the way I will have something on my mind and find that three other blogging friends are thinking about the same thing - synchronicity. Or, taking the time to stop and listen to children laughing as they play. How about the simplicity of a row of birds on a wire like so many musical notes? And, the flowers that pop up in the most unexpected places. The light bulb moments that fill a school building each day. The tactile pleasure of sharpening your pencil to a perfect point. The way copper turns the most wonderful shade of green. Good hair days, purring cats, personal mail in the box, a clean house, a great book... Ordinary miracles.

Two Kinds of Poetry

School starts in two days, which makes things a little crazy around here. I've been feeling tired, a little overwhelmed, and in need of a pick-me-up. So, I decided to create a post full of things I love. Things like words and images. Poetry with paper and ink. Poetry with camera and light.

Rain

Paper white.
Stare blank.

The marks started as almost a whisper.
Building to the slightest twinge,
Almost a caress.
Pencil marks rained
And just rained
Drop after drop of dry graphite
Filling dreams into corners
Long forgotten.

Flowers, smiles, summer dresses
Saved in mothballs.
Camphor, wine, and laughter
Raining down,
Distilled to black
And white.

~ Harry Philbrick

What do you do when you need a pick me up?


All images are by Irene Suchocki and are used with permission.
Click here to visit her blog, and here to purchase her amazing work.

Catching Up...

Do you like memes? I think they are a fun way to get to know a blogger. Here's one that's long overdue, from my friend, Joan.

Q: What is your current obsession?

A: Organizing. During the school year everything seems to slip sideways. This summer I've been working on putting things back in order. This time, I'd like to do it well enough that perhaps we can stay organized even when school begins again.

Q: What is the very last picture that you framed?

A: A picture for Jeffrey that Julie took of me.

Q: What's for dinner?

A: You'd have to ask Jeffrey. He's the cook around here.

Q: What was the last thing you bought?

A: A butterfly wing pendant at my favorite spot. It is so beautiful but I especially loved it because the creators of these necklaces harvest already-dead butterflies from the rain forest. It's a beautiful form of recycling.

Q: What are you listening to right now?

A: This dreamy, perfect song is a new discovery, thanks to Debi.

Q: What is your favorite vacation spot?

A: Somewhere I've never been before. Always.

Q: What are you reading right now?

A: "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

Q: What four words would you use to describe yourself?

A: Passionate, affectionate, enthusiastic, fun

Q: What is your current guilty pleasure?

A: I'm with Lala. Why feel guilty about pleasure? Instead I'll give you four tiny pleasures: blowing bubbles, petting a cat, arranging a vase of flowers, writing lists

Q: What is one thing you hope to accomplish this summer?

A: Learn how to transfer my home videos from tape to dvd

Q: Where are you planning to travel next?

A: St. Louis for a weekend in October. For Jeffrey's birthday, I got all three of us tickets to see Yo Yo Ma. Can't wait!

Q: What was the best thing you ate or drank recently?

A: grilled asparagus with a bit of black pepper

Q: What is your favorite thing about summer?

A: small-town carnies & not wearing a watch from the day school gets out to the day it begins again

Q: What is your one favorite word these days?

A: Yes!

What about you? Play along if you like. I'd love to hear your answers.



Photograph above by Julie Blackmon. Believe it or not, I fell in love with this photograph in a local gallery about 5 or 6 years ago. It was $150, but I didn't have the money at the time. Now, her photographs sell for $2,200 to $4,800. Have you ever just wanted to kick yourself?

Signs of San Francisco

I've often thought that one of the ways to capture the flavor of a place is to pay attention to the types of signs posted. Perhaps those signs demonstrate civic priorities. I think so, anyway. You decide. Here is a sampling of the signs of San Francisco.

What about you? Do you have any interesting signs around your town?

I Am

Tonight I am taking a break from San Francisco posts to play along with Gillian. I'm also feeling great, thanks to Julie, who took this photo, and made one of my wishes come true.

I am a ...

wife

mom
believer
skydiver
dreamer
daughter
organizer
storyteller
adventurer
letter-writer
loud laugher
party thrower
frequent cryer
chief laundress
great present-giver
second grade teacher
procrastinating perfectionist
wanna-be photographer
picture straightener
abundant life liver
roller coaster rider
sister, aunt, niece
blessing counter
lifelong learner
encourager
car dancer
cat owner
Yes sayer
traveler
blogger
hugger
reader

writer
singer
friend

Won't you play along? If you do, send me your link and I'll add it here.


Picture, by Julie Michelle, is used with permission.