True Slicing Fashion

Here I am, 11:48, almost out of time. I have been a late slicer almost all month. I still somehow made it here every day. It's kind of a surreal thing, writing every day about your everyday. Like I said though, I can't really go on too long because it's now 11:49 and the clock is ticking.
I did a lot of things today, I could list them out, but mostly what I enjoyed was feeling a bit closer to my daughter. At one point today we were all cuddled up together playing a word game on the couch. She claimed to be bored, we played, getting closer and closer. She's not too huggy these days. She's a bit distant. But for a moment today, it felt like she was my little cuddle bug snuggled up next to me. I didn't dare say a word, instead, I just leaned into her a bit. She didn't seem to mind.
11:52, still time to spare.

So, here is a moment of thank you. A thank you to all who participate in this challenge. Even if you only started, if you made it half-way, if you made it 30 days and not 31 because of some pestering obligation. It all matters. Every story you wrote, every word you thought, every moment you shared. It mattered and is taking up a bit of space in the universe now. You can feel pretty proud of that.

11:54--I don't think I'll push it any longer. Time to hit publish.
Goodnight.

Timeless Toy

I opened up a book of Mary Oliver poems today. An old bookmark fell out. It is a bookmark I think I've written about before. Funny thing, I always put it in a Mary Oliver book because I know I'll always re-find it there. 

I read a little poetry. Then I looked at the bookmark. It was a gift from my mom. I'm not sure what age I was when I got it and I don't remember where it came from. She would probably remember. 

As I stared at the bookmark, the words, "My Teddy Bear Loves Me" reminded me of my teddy bears as a kid. I had a few, my favorites being Cindy (she was a yellow-ish teddy bear) and Boo-Boo (he went with me everywhere). 

Teddy bears are such a timeless toy. 

 

Feeling Springy

I was feeling hungry for a California Roll but didn't really want to make my own at home. Shawn suggested we head to Horrock's. I hadn't been there is a few months even though I love their produce and specialty items.
While we were there, we walked around a bit. I was particularly drawn to the fresh flowers and garden displays. All the tulips and spring blooms along with the gerbera daisies were just bursting with juicy colors.

I know it's been "officially" spring for nine days now, but it's really starting to feel like it! Sunshine, bright blue skies, and beautiful flowers in one of my favorite stores. 

*Shawn just told me he thinks they are calling for snow this weekend. 

Much-Needed

The long week will be rewarded tomorrow morning.
No alarm.
Wake up when I want.
Take my time with my coffee.
Keep my pj's on longer.
Lay around a bit more.
Get some much-needed reading done.
Get some much-needed writing done.
Get some much-needed laundry done


I'll keep my expectations a bit low but I am hoping to accomplish a lot. Time will get away from me fast if I don't.

Just Enough

Sitting here at my desk a bit of evening sunshine is reaching through the blinds and warming up the air around me. I look around this classroom and it feels so "lived" in now. I've been in this section of the building for four years. It's been a very different space from my kindergarten and first grade teacher days.

I remember when I first began "moving" in I didn't have time to really explore everything that was here, left, or necessary. I was also struggling to part with things I had held onto for many years. What if I was moved back to kindergarten? What if I didn't like third grade? Questions swirled and uncertainty lingered for a while. It's less now and I have less "things" to part with as they've already made there way somewhere by now.

Eight and nine-year olds seem to have a special place in my heart these days. I would describe them as just the right amount of curiosity, wonder, and spark with a touch of silliness and unpredictability. They keep me on my toes but I don't mind because they pay me back with hugs and just enough paintings, drawings, and notes to make it all worthwhile.

Washing Off the Day

It’s my second long night of conferences. 

As draining and tiring as conferences are there are parts I enjoy. I get to spend little moments of down time catching up with colleagues. There’s time to tidy my desk or prep little things here and there. Most of all I get to share successes with families. 

All of that made for a long day. I was eager to get home. 

As soon as I could I took a hot shower and climbed into my pjs. I immediately felt like I had washed off the day and was ready to relax. 

I’m two days away from spring break. It’s feeling more and more deserved. 

Starting Over

I have started this slice multiple times. 

I was going to write about the snowdrops in the backyard. Then I started writing a poem about the patterns of life. From there I remembered the deer I saw the other day right outside the window, and we both startled each other. That seemed like a good idea, but I changed my mind again. The deer in the window made me think about the big crack in the back patio and how it's still stained in a dark gray with remnants of where the "legs" of the old aluminum overhang used to be. My train of thought lingered on that for a moment. I started to have a whole lot of thoughts. 

I decided to go read a large portion of my slices from 2017. That was the year we were in our rental house, we were safe and sound, OUR house was no longer our house, but it would be again someday. I wrote about all the things I missed, all the things I was surrounded by, I wrote, and it healed me in a lot of ways. 

I remember after the first couple of days writing with the "Not my..." theme back then I started to worry I wouldn't be able to keep it up. I wondered if I could work within a confined idea as opposed to open season on whatever I wanted. Turns out I could do it. It also turns out I have a month of memories from a very challenging time in my life that I will never want to forget. 

Just like this slice was started over and over moving into this newly built home over a year after our fire was like starting over. It was a fresh start and even though we've lived here for over a year now, it still feels fresh all the time. Eerily similar and yet so different.