Imagine the Possibilities

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Story Challenge. Thanks to the co-authors of              Two Writing Teachers for creating this  supportive community.

Act One – The Conversation

Thursday is Pi Day. What kind would you like this year? Lemon meringue?

 Hmmmm…how about peach?

 OK. But fresh peaches might be hard to find this time of year. How about blueberry?

 Great!

 Act Two – The Preparation

After a quick stop at the grocery store yesterday, I had what I needed – blueberries, a lemon, and a package of refrigerated pie crusts. I learned a long time ago that while I love making pies, crusts are not my strong suit. Pillsbury’s are the best, in my opinion. Today I carefully washed the blueberries. The recipe I had called for six cups. The blueberries I had were measured in ounces.

“Siri, how many ounces are in six cups?” The answer came quickly. Good, I had plenty.

I measured and mixed, scooped and scraped, laced and latticed.

Almost an hour later…

Act Three – The Finished Product

Still waiting for THE END.

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Story Challenge. Thanks to the co-authors of              Two Writing Teachers for creating this  supportive community.

I pulled into the bay at the Wawa, got out of the car, and began pumping. That’s when I heard the music, the beautiful music, being sung by a tenor. I quickly realized that the source of the music was the red pickup with the white lettering that just pulled in beside me. Inside, the driver was clearly enjoying the last strains of the aria before shutting off the engine.

It was not what I was expecting. And why, I wondered? Why couldn’t a guy in work overalls driving a red pickup enjoy opera?

And then I wondered what other stereotypes I might be harboring. Maybe it’s time I look at the world a little differently, a little more openly.

Beautiful music. Thanks.

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Story Challenge. Thanks to the co-authors of              Two Writing Teachers for creating this  supportive community.

Yesterday I was searching for something on one of my book shelves and came across a small box of pennies. Opening that box transported me back to a time when I did quite a bit of staff development. To get teachers thinking and writing, I would sometimes ask them to choose a penny, look at the date it was minted, and think about what was going on in their lives at that time. Ah-ha! Maybe there’s a story for me in here just waiting to be written! I chose one…

1985 – I’m much, much younger. Married less than ten years. My kids are little, very little. Brian is ready to start kindergarten…

One sunny summer morning I pack the kids up and go to the park. Today there is something special going on – a craft fair! With Ann in a stroller and Brian by the hand, we make our way through the crowds past stands of pottery (don’t touch!), hand-knitted scarves (Mom-Mom would like this), and homemade jams (yes, you can have a sample). “Stay with me,” I warn. We linger by some handcrafted wooden toys for a few minutes, then continue on. A stand with colorful, hand-painted greeting cards catches my eye, then another with delicate silver jewelry. Suddenly, I realize there is no little boy with me, no one holding onto the end of my jacket. I race back through the crowds calling his name. My son is missing! is the only thought in my mind. Heart pounding. Tears spilling. Hands shaking. I take a deep breath and retrace my steps. One minute, two minutes, it might as well have been a hundred minutes. But then…I spot a familiar red shirt back at the stand with the wooden toys. We are reunited.

The details might be a little fuzzy, but after all these years, that feeling of sheer panic still resurfaces when I think of that time.

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Story Challenge. Thanks to the co-authors of              Two Writing Teachers for creating this  supportive community.

It stands like a sentinel at the bottom of the stairs, keeping watch, keeping time, keeping our lives on track. We have come to set the rhythms of our lives by the chiming of the bells. Fifteen minute intervals that mimic the Westminster Quarters from Big Ben. Dependable. Steadfast. Comforting.

The other night my sleep was interrupted. Was it the change caused by the switch to Daylight Saving Time? I watched as the clock jumped from 1:59 to 3:00. I imagined an hour of time lost in space, swirling through the stars looking for a home, a purpose. But there was something else that wasn’t right.

I checked for Allan…quietly snoring beside me.

I checked for Cyrus…stretched by the side of the bed.

Years ago I would have checked on the kids…tonight I could only hold them in my thoughts.

Then it came to me…the clock wasn’t chiming. Had time stopped? Had I entered into a time warp? Was I time traveling?

Before long I was able to quiet my thoughts and return to sleep…sort of.

Ahhh…I just heard the Second Quarter Chimes. Time has returned.

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Story Challenge. Thanks to the co-authors of              Two Writing Teachers for creating this  supportive community.

We interrupt this gray and white winter to bring you a splash of color and warmth!

Longwood Gardens holds an Orchid Extravaganza every year from January to March. There are three OrKid Days as part of the celebration where families can enjoy art activities, storytelling, investigate the patterns and colors of orchids, and delight in wonder and fun. Yesterday, at the last OrKid Day for this season, I was delighted to conduct my favorite activity – storytelling.

The book was Fantastic Flowers. In it, author and illustrator Susan Stockdale takes a look at some unusual looking flowers. She imagines them as a ballerina, a baboon, an ice cream cone, and many more. The kids enjoyed looking at the book, but the real attraction were the puppets that one of our volunteers made to accompany the story. Puppets never fail to draw in even the most reluctant listener. Yesterday, one little girl entered the space with her head down, clutching her mom’s hand, content to partially hide herself behind mom. They sat down and I invited her to come closer so she could see. Immediately she gave me that “I’m-fine-here-on-mom’s-lap” look. Fair enough. As some of the other children started finding the puppets that went with the different spreads in the book, I saw her inching closer. It wasn’t long before she was right in the mix, delighting in matching puppets to picture and laughing at the unusual flower names.

Here is a picture from yesterday and a few others of the orchids at Longwood. I wish I could take credit for those, but they were snapped by Longwood’s volunteer photographers.