Category: Uncategorized
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Spencer
Small,warmbodyall curled upon my lap, like thesweetest fleece blanket in the world!Goodnight,BabyBoo beside me, always touching some part of me as we cuddle!Photo: Spencer. 12.5.24 by LA
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Walks
Walks-Through town,In the park,Around a lake,Down tree lined pathways,Up a steep mountainside,Along the lapping ocean,Through a quiet cemetery,By myself or with a friend or two,A daily practice I’ve come to embrace.A treat for my mind, body and spirit,A chance to be alone with my thoughts,A chance to find some clarity,A chance to get some fresh…
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Judging
What could you do less of? Icoulddo lessjudging…ofothers and myself,instead offering compassion. photo: New Haven, CT. 11.25.24 by LA
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Decorations
‘Twas a day past Thanksgiving, when all through the house,Christmas decorations were distributed, even my walnut mouse;The stockings were hung by the front door with care,They were made by my mom, and they honor her there;The children were nestled all snug on the couch,While I worked around them, and dropped a sled-ouch!Gab wore the headband,…
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Bubbe
She shared the news with us tonight,at Writing Class,by sharing a poem she’d written during the week.This sweet friend of mine-a wonderful woman,generous mother,talented baker,loyal friend-will be a grandmother in the spring!Her poem was all about nicknames,from all different stages of life,and then she revealed her latest one -Bubbe -and we all shrieked with joy!Bubbe…
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Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Arriving home a few minutes after six, I was met by road closures and wailing sirens. Inside the house, Henry was racing from room to room, imitating the emergency call with his howl. Either the whole borough was on fire, or more hopefully, Santa Claus had come to town!The frenetic pace of the last few…
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Snow Squall
Today we had a snow squall in my little part of the world. I got warnings on my phone that it was coming, but I was deep into a reading lesson with my little 3rd grade guy who works so hard and is so sweet. When we wrapped, I looked out the window and saw…
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We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
The other day, Bridgette posted a beautiful piece called Photography: Beaver Moon. It featured an excerpt from the children’s book, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. It took me back decades to when I was a little girl and my mother lead my Brownie Troop in a “Bear Hunt.” She was our troop leader and…
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Full House
My heart was happy, This holiday season,A home full of loved ones,Was the primary reason!They came in small groups,And they came one by one,They found spots to sleep,When the day was all done.We played and we ate,And went out on the town,The kids poked and teased,And were clowning around.The young and the old,Came together at…
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Life Lessons from the Gym
I’ve gone to the gym regularly since I was 14 years old. I plan my own workouts and complete them alone, though I’ll walk with friends from time to time. A friend of mine in Denver had been raving to me about a body pump class she takes regularly. Because I tend to do the…
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Thanks Giving
Giving thanks todayFor my daughters,Home and helping,For my family, Catch up, games and memories,For my home,Warm sanctuary,For our food,Plentiful and delicious,For my friends,All of us checking in,For my pups,Cuddly and entertaining,For my town,Hosting a turkey trot, For my life,Whole and fulfilling,For HOPE,A world filled with empathy.photo: Thanksgiving snuggle. 11.28.24 by LA
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Integration
Saturday evening,I sat in the glow,And relished the flow,Connection all around me.Beside me a friend of 33 years,(We started our teaching careers together),On my other side,A friend of 15 years,(We returned to teaching part time,After being home with kids for years,And re-started our careers).As I looked around This circle of friends,Brought together for a birthday…
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Secret Snowman
I’m Secret Snowman,And I got your list of likes,I started shopping,To choose things that will delight!I must start with food;I do applaud your snack choice!You like salty ones,And Reese’s – we share a vice!!Coffee is your drink,And your preference is iced tea,I’ll make that happen -A gift card to Alkemy!When asked what you do,When you…
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Friendship
Ateepeeon a coldSaturday night,a gathering offriends, celebrating the birthday of a dear woman. Bundled under blankets, drinks inhand, we laughed and chatted through the night,basking in the joyousness of friendship. photo: Frenchtown, NJ. 11.23.24 by PA
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Privacy and Secrecy
Privacy,honoring the partsthat are all yours,staying independent,retaining autonomy,making choices aboutwhen, what, and how muchyou share,keeping some space.Privacy-normal, healthy, safe, boundaried,and yet still trustworthy.Secrecy,protecting the Selfto avoid consequences, vulnerability,or taking responsibility,controlling how others perceive you,through lying, manipulation, deception, hiding.Secrecy-withholding truths that affect relationships, affect others,eroding, disconnecting, building barriers,worthy of distrust.”Privacy protects; secrecy sabotages.” Sara Kubric
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Circle of Possibility
Last week I read an article on Substack by Cory Allen, published on Nov. 3rd. His ideas were not new to me, but much of his language raised my level of understanding and gave me some nuggets to think about. He began by acknowledging the idea that we are the average of the 5 people…
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Mama Bear
Growing upwith two brothers and a sister,we had more than our shareof accidents, injuries and issuesthat required emergency roomsand at least a couple of surgeries each.My brothers were “rough and tumble,”inside and outside the house,and no risk was too greatin the pursuit of a win in any of the hybrid sports they invented.And so there…
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Removal Vs. Integration
Recently, the discussion in my groupwas about defects versus faults,removal versus integration.I instantly loved this ideabecause I’ve long wrestled withmy survival traits that mimic personalityand removing traitswhen I feel like I should be accepting them as shadow parts.Confusing.The more we talked,the clearer it became to me,crystal clear really,and I set to work making a list.It…
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Open and Honest
I enjoy reading great literature. I also enjoy reading Costco magazine! In this month’s edition, there was an interesting article about being a trustworthy team member in the workplace, but as usual, I could see all the connections to interactions with friends, family and significant others. Professional development so often positively impacts my personal life.…
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March Backward to Oblivion
I savored these words in my current read, Horse, by Geraldine Brooks: “Theo pressed the delete key and watched the letters march backward into oblivion. All that was left was the blinking cursor, tapping like an impatient finger.” That image very much encapsulated my feelings about writing sometimes, mostly when I’m stuck, I’ve been given…
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Communicate to the Interior
Earlier this month, my writing group met for a scrumptious breakfast at a Main Street bakery before we took an architectural tour of town, led by a prominent, local architect who has redesigned several of the buildings. We learned about the time periods, relevant history, and how and why certain buildings were converted to the…
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Walk With a Friend
Walking with a friend,Through a park we know so well,For years it’s been our meeting spot,And held us in its spell.Shining above trees,When we set off down the trail,The sun highlighted waterfalls,An autumn wedding veil.Turning down a path,With the canal on our left,The dimming light hit tops of trees,Daylight Savings’ theft.Wrapping up our walk,Past a…
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Handsome Henry
His stance is so regal, His back is so straight,When not with his brother,His tireless playmate.His eyes look right at me,Bore into my soul,He seems almost human,As if that’s his goal.My handsome little man,So sweet and so true,My loyal companion,I’ll always love you!Photo: Henry, 11.3.24 by LA
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We Need Hope
Arriving at my gate, which had been moved to the complete other end of the large Atlanta airport, the flight crew was announcing over the loud speaker that they were still looking for people willing to sit in the emergency exit row. I walked over and stood behind a tall, elegant woman. We both volunteered…
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One Heart
I think I’ve always thought of usas having two hearts -a literal one and a figurative one.The literal one gives us life,pumping blood throughout our bodies,delivering oxygen and nutrients to our cells,and removing waste;a muscle that needs to be protected,maintained, and strengthened.That heart is literally our life giver.The figurative heart was different, separate;love an abstract…
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Cemetery
A place of peace and quiet,Only the rustling of the leaves,From the scampering of the squirrelsDisturbs the silence.Outside this sacred space,The city is bustling and bursting,Adults commuting to work,Children walking to school,Businesses showcasing their wares,Cafes grilling up goodness -A world alive with busy-ness and purpose.But it is here in this gentle space,That I feel most…
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Atlanta Getaway
1 precious daughter1 exciting WTA Final1 peaceful cemetery walk1 rail trail path2 smooth flights2 convenient MARTA rides2 airport shuttles3 bustling markets3 tree-lined parks4 fun-filled days5 distinct sections of the city6 separate museums7 delicious meals 8 historic landmarks44.26 miles walked 332 photos taken95,630 steps taken 1,728 miles flown14 Coca Cola products sampled5 Olympic rings4 different types…
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Make America Better
It’s nearly midnight and I’m just getting home from an amazing four day getaway to Atlanta, GA that was everything I needed. Today, on our last afternoon, we went to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. It was an emotional 2.5 hours as we moved from exhibit to exhibit, reading, viewing, and even…
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Hitting Pause
Last month, I had planned a long weekend getaway to begin tomorrow. In anticipation of that, I had written several pieces and scheduled them to post while I was away since my November goal is to write and post every day. I have rescheduled them all for next week, as the wee hours of this…
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Halloween
On Thursday night, on Halloween,Too warm for Fall, so it would seem,The costumed children did arrive,The Party Spirit was alive!Dinosaurs, fall guys, and police,Formed a line that never ceased,Polite this year more than before,Even complimenting my decor.My favorites were the family themes,And kids who planned it as a team,The makeup was exemplary,Halfhearted effort a rarity.My…
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Back in My Life
Are there chance encounters?I don’t think so.I think the Universe puts the people, situations,lessons, and circumstances we need right in our path.Last week, the Universe brought someone back into my life,someone who had meant the world to me.She was my mentor, my hero,one of my favorite people of all time.I met her my first year…
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Suckiest Senior Night Ever
Last weekend, my daughter’s college soccer team celebrated their graduating seniors with a special Senior Night presentation and party. Seven girls and their families gathered on the field to be recognized one by one for their participation and performance. My ex-husband, oldest daughter, son-in-law and I stood on either side of our girl to show…
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Book on the Beach
I’m not really a summer beach girl – I don’t like the crowds,the heat, the sand, the burn -but I do love the shoulders-the early morning and evening,when I can walk for mileson the firm, wet sand,gazing out at the endless sea,stooping down to collect shells,splashing through the lapping waves,watching gulls swoop and dive,admiring the…
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Fall Haiku
The peak of beauty,Red barn complements your hue,Glorious showing.Photo: Flemington, NJ. 10.22.24 by LA
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Apple Picking with Newlyweds
A few weekends ago, I spent a glorious afternoon,unusually warm for October,apple picking with my daughter and her husband,during their first weekend visit home since the wedding.I marveled at both the novelty and the ordinaryof the newlyweds and their interactions -light banter, playful competition, silly teasing,mixed with snuggles and handholding and kisses.Watching them read the…
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Spooky Town
I love to walk around my little town and I easily log two dozen miles a week. Lately, I’ve really slowed my pace to take in the top tier decorations on display. Each street seems to be outdoing the next, everyone upping their game from last year. I take pictures as I go and send…
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Extra
Last week I received flowers from a friend,a fellow teacher, fellow mom, navigating a difficult time at home. The flowers came with a card.Curious, I opened it to understand why I was the recipient of such generosity.Inside, the card thanked me for being there for her,for giving extra doses of friendship,at a time when she…
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Liminal Spaces
A friend of mine mentioned the concept of liminal spaces to me and I was hooked! I read everything I could find and went down lots of rabbit holes! I brought it to my writing group and we’ve spent three sessions on it so far! The idea of that threshold between where you’ve been and…
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Beach Weekend
Beachweekendgetawaywith a dear friend,who is also my co-mother in law, soto speak, as her son marriedmy daughter this past summer. Wewalked and talked, sat and laughed, ate a barpie, read books, pet the dogs, and shared deeply.Taking in the salty air, morning dew, crashing waves, and orange sunsets withthis sensitive, thoughtful, kind, andcaring woman was…
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MRI
The MRI came back and the news wasnot good – ligament tear and tendontear, plus high and low sprains of theothers, and still the awful swelling and bruising, the foot unable to bear weight after five weeks oncrutches-pain.Shehas beena troopersince the soccerinjury that putan end to her seasonand to her running training.Her spirits have been…
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Daisies
While out for a walk Sunday morning, I saw a patch of the happiest, prettiest, cheeriest daisies I’d seen this season. They made me smile. So much so that a few houses later, I decided to turn back and capture them with my camera. Daisies have made me smile since I was a little girl.…
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I Miss My Mom
Visiting my daughter in Miami,We walked a block in the rain,To a little place she likes to eat,To order food and bring it back to her place.As we were checking out,(She in front of me as I was more indecisive,)I handed her my credit card to pay,But as I approached the cash register,I saw her…
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All Grown Up!
Each time my gaze swept the gym,I caught her watching me, staring even,And finally she showed me a shy smile,Which I returned with a big one,Not sure who she was,Or why she kept looking my way.A few weeks later, she was there again,And again she watched, and smiled when our eyes met,But this time she…
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Vizcaya
On my recent trip to Miami to visit my middle daughter, we spent a rainy, humid Saturday morning exploring the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. I’d wanted to see it the last two times I’d visited, but this third time was the charm. Grateful for the rain that cooled us, we began our adventure by taking…
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Braid
When I was in middle school,My friends and I would braid each other’s hair,Pigtails, one braid down our backs,Two braids of just the front pieces with the rest down,Overnight braids to have waves the next day,Then French braids as we got older,With more complicated styles,More complicated patterns,But always with the same feeling,Hands in hair,Twisting and…
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Baby
I cry and you come,I reach out and you touch,I hurt and you soothe,I hunger and you nourish,I thirst and you quench,I frighten and you calm,I coo and you respond,I frustrate and you give me words,I approach danger and you rescue,I’m curious and you show me,I tire and you rock me.I am vulnerable, soft, delicate…
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Remarkably Bright Creatures
Just finished reading the novel by this name,Written by debut author, Shelby Van Pelt,About a Giant Pacific Octopus named Marcellus,Who is a remarkably bright creature,Observing everything in his surroundings,And making connections that only the insightful could,While feeling boredom and discontent in captivity in an aquarium.Marcellus notes that some humans can be remarkably bright creatures, too,But…
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I’m Leaving on a Jet Plane
My personal item’s packed,I’m ready to go,I’m standing here outside my door,The dogs at the window wanting to say goodbye,But the dawn is breaking,It’s early morn,The uber’s waiting,He’s hit his horn,Already I’m so excited,I could die.So I’ll hug me and smile for me,Tell me that it’s time for me,To hold my girl and never let…
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I’ve Become a Bird Lady
I’ve become a Bird Lady,I didn’t see it coming,A hobby for the older set?My love for it is stunning.I caught it from my sister,When visiting her home,Outside her picture window,Was an avian foster home!On the trip back to my house,An Amazon order I placed,Bird feeders, dishes, on tall poles,This new craze I embraced!The birds all…
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I Wore My Daughter’s Pants Today, the Sequel
So last week I wrote a poem,(It rhymed and everything!),About wearing my daughter’s pants to work,And feeling sappy and sentimental,Melancholy with missing her,Explaining how it made me feel close to her.I wore my daughter’s pants again this past Saturday,But this time there was no bittersweet,Nor cosmic connection,But rather a desperate plea,From a desperate mom,Walking through…
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Two Year Anniversary
I woke this morning,At a hotel in Connecticut again,Having slept so well,With my daughter in the bed beside me,Her injured leg propped on three pillows,Feeling grateful I could do this one thing,To ease her pain and bring her comfort.So why did I feel a pit in my stomach?This pressure in my chest?A feeling of dread?And…
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I Wore My Daughter’s Pants Today
I wore my daughter’s pants today,I didn’t think they’d fit,They didn’t squeeze my waist at all,And only glanced my hip.Remember how they looked on her,So cute and hip and WOW!I love the soft, soft corduroy,I dress for comfort now.My youngest girl with vibrant hair,She’s grown and on her own,But when I wore her pants today,It…
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Autumn 2
I saw Autumn,her fierce and fiery shawlswooshing and swaying around her,turn away from Summer’s handholdand walk confidently toward the uncertainty before her. photo: Frenchtown, NJ. 11.7.23 by LA
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Autumn
Open windowushers crips autumn airinto my burrowas I nestle deeper,inhaling Fall’s vigorand exhaling Summer’s fatigue.
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The Universe Hears You
I truly believeThe Universe hears you-Your deepest needs,Your readiness for growth,Your silent fears-And sends you messages,Through people, texts, emails, nature, clouds,Animals, words, signs, reflections, chance meetings.Today I read Deja Rae’s words-“…by standing strong in your truth, you naturally weed outeveryone and everythingthat doesn’t align with you.”I knew the Universe had put those words before me,Reminding…
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Without Music Prompt
What would your life be like without music? Who found who? Did I find music or did it find me? I can’t remember a time in my life when there wasn’t a soundtrack. From my mother chanting and singing nursery rhymes to my older siblings blasting their albums to music class in nursery school and beyond,…
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The Garden of Inspiration
This past weekend I went for a long walk in town. I began the long, but gradual uphill of a street I walk several times a week. With each step, I was seeking clarity, peace and self regulation. Between a break up, my daughter getting badly hurt in a soccer game, and a crisis in…
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Self Love
A few years ago, while shopping on a winter weekend getaway with my then boyfriend, I found the most beautiful sign that fit us perfectly. Well, at the moment he was acting a bit off, but I bought it anyway, thinking things would improve and I would hang it. Dating on and off over the…
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My Favorite Types of Food
What are your favorite types of foods? Breakfast foods, lunch foods, dinner foods, snack foods, and dessert foods. Or simply put, yes!
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Prompt: how often do you walk or run?
How often do you walk or run? Every. Single. Day. One or the other or both. It’s my time to connect with the natural world. It’s my time to be present, curious, and observant. It’s my time to gain clarity by processing what’s on my mind. It’s my time to see neighbors, houses, gardens. It’s…
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The Bud
Another piece of writing I unearthed while organizing the basement. I’m guessing about 7 years old. Fertile soilA bit of waterA bit of sunlightJust enough to sproutBreak through the soilSo unsure but hopefulFeeling the possibilitiesSeeing the wayThat so many have navigatedFeel some warmth, but why the cold?Crave the water, but less and less quenchedIs this…
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Fall
It’stime tolet go…letgo of fear, pain,shame, anxiety,control and certainty.Fall is beckoning us. How?By following the exampleof the trees, who are getting readyto let go after a blaze of glory.Photo: Flemington, NJ. by LA
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Story
What’s your favorite word? I am in love with so many words that I don’t think I could ever choose just one as my favorite. My word of the year for 2024 is story, so I will write about that one. This year, I have focused on getting to know my story, accepting my story,…
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Trust
It used to be given,Not something to earn,But crossed once or twice,And I’ve come to learn. I’ll only trust those,With consistency,Actions, words and time,Accountability. It’s not that I’m naive,Or even gullible,Because I’ve given chances,To the irresponsible. My heart is compassionate,It loves bold and strong,But I’m done giving to those,Who would do me wrong.Will I grow…
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Out of the Mouths of Babes
I began my teaching career in 1991. Single and childless, my students were my world. I spent countless hours prior to and beyond the school day planning, organizing, photocopying, arranging the room, writing them notes, making photo albums and communicating with parents. I also began keeping a notebook of funny or poignant things they said.…
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Money
Watchit go,bleeding frommy pockets. Homeownership is sowonderful until it’snot, until the roof leaks, thedryer stops working, the basementfloods and the bills just keep rolling in.Like anything, it takes work to maintain.Etheree poem from 1 syllable to 10
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Roof
Roofleaking.A quick fix?No, not likely.She’s getting older,just not up for the jobanymore. No telling howlong she’s been up there. She’s not thefirst, either. Best to put her to restand replace with an eager new rookie.An etheree poem, moving from 1 syllable to 10.
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These Bring Joy
What brings a tear of joy to your eye? Letting things be,My daughters three,Being outside,A thoughtful surprise,Kindness and care,Daring to dare,A 5 mile walk,A long, deep talk,My extended family,Pups all snuggly,An organized shelf, Loving myself. photo: Henry and Spencer, 8.31.24
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A birthday interview
Interview someone — a friend, another blogger, your mother, the mailman — and write a post based on their responses. As per the prompt, I have chosen to interview someone, and this someone is on the cusp of a birthday. Tomorrow, my puppy turns two. Here are some excerpts from our interview: Me: How do…
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These Two
These two,Like adorable, fluffy bookends,They can be found on either end of the couch,On either side of me in bed,Or perched on the porch ottoman,Taking in the sights and sounds of the street.These two,Like children frozen in time,Never aging beyond toddlers,With boundless energy,Unceasing curiosity,And a pesky penchant for mischief.These two,Like old friends,Loving me as I…
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The ABC’s of Self Care
I picked up this great little pamphlet the other day at the doctor’s office called “The ABC’s of Self-Care.” It had a cute picture and word for each letter. Some of them really resonated, other’s weren’t for me. I decided to create my own: Ask for help: There is a recording in my head that…
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Recipe for Love
What’s your favorite recipe? 1 rounded cup communication 1 cup compassion 3/4 cup consistency 1/2 cup empathy 1/2 cup honesty 1/3 cup vulnerability 1/3 cup kindness 1/4 cup listening 1/4 cup curiosity Add all ingredients and mix well, blending them thoroughly, though some lumps may remain. Pour the batter into a heart mold and warm…
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A New School Year
Tell us about the last thing you got excited about. The last thing I got excited about was spending the whole day in my classroom yesterday, setting it up for the new school year. I am in a different room this year, so I inherited a lot of stuff. I enjoyed incorporating what I can…
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Voice
Sh! Be quiet! Don’t say that!How dare you? How could you? Who are you to speak up?Yours is only one way of looking at things,And probably not the most astute.You sense the mood,Feel the mood,Meet the mood,Oppose the mood.And so the mood owns you!Your mind races,But then is numb.Point out the positive?Commiserate?The mercury adjusts.What if…
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Tea
Teabrewingin the pot -English breakfast -waking my senseswith its strong aroma.I pour it into my mug,the one with all the dogs on it,and hold its warmth between my two hands.This morning ritual that soothes my soul.This evening ritual that soothes my soul -comforting warmth between my two hands,in a mug covered all in dogs,I pour…
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Growth
What motivates you? I’ve read so many wonderful and thought-provoking responses to this prompt. They have motivated me to answer for myself! What motivates me most often – in any and every aspect of my life – is that I love to grow and growing is how I love. This is not my phrase, but…
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Gardening My Heart
Today I plant my sorrow,In a tightly bound seed, Soft within, cased in a hard, brittle shell,Balancing it gingerly in my palm,Clasping my fingers around it,Holding it close one last time.This grief has been my companion for a lifetime,And a part of me can’t bear to part with it.I hoe the soil, removing the weeds…
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Hope
What positive emotion do you feel most often? I’ve come to a place in my life where I no longer label my emotions as “positive” or “negative”. I allow and welcome all my feelings, and believe they deliver important information to me. I do my best to sit with them and not push them down…
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The Way Forward
People seek connectionsConversation sparks perspectiveAcceptance increases toleranceDiversity is our strengthHumanity supports humanityOur strength is diversityTolerance increases acceptancePerspective sparks conversationConnections seek peopleThis poem was inspired by Anthony’s Crazy Love and Life Lessons in Empathy’s poem, PEOPLE NEED PEOPLE. Photo: Greenwich, CT. 9.30.23 by LA
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Dad and Daughter
A picture sent in the family chat,That keeps us all connected,And a part of each other’s lives,Stopped me in my tracks.I love seeing all the images,Nieces and nephews with their own babies now,The happiness, joy, wonder, and frustration,That come with parenting.But this picture,This one moved me,A dad and his daughter,Out walking and talking.It took me…
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Crosses
I love to walk through cemeteries,Searching for the oldest headstone,Noting children and centenarians,Guessing at origins of family names.I find these spaces beautiful,Not morbid or scary or depressing.I am contemplative on these walks,Curious, Considering, Conscious.During yesterday’s walk in my local cemetery,A large cross made from rough finished stone caught my attention,And I stopped to admire it,…
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Peaceful Path
What brings you peace? The place I feel most at peace is walking along a path…anywhere, any type. I love being in nature: hearing the ground crunch beneath my feet as I follow the bends and straightaways, taking in the plants and trees dressed for various seasons, glimpsing water to one side, spotting chipmunks, deer,…
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Water Support
Not long after sunrise, My kayak slid into the water,Surrounded by a dozen others,Paddling slowly out to our buoys,Along the swim portion of the triathlon course.With each stroke, I moved farther away from shore,From the pulsating music,Shouting DJ, public announcements,My eyes set on the vast expanse of the glassy lake.A lake at sunrise,A thing of…
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Never Leave Home Without It
What is the most important thing to carry with you all the time? I think the most important thing to carry with you at all times is mindfulness. Knowing what I’m doing while I’m doing it is crucial to staying in the present moment. When I am mindful, I can both look at a situation…
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Messiness
Dear Love, what would you have me know today? Bitty, I want you to know that your “messy” is also a message to others. Working through issues in real time shows others that they can do the same. It gives hope and encouragement and normalizes the process, not the product. You know this because you…
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Snoop Dogg & Martha Stewart
Scour the news for an entirely uninteresting story. Consider how it connects to your life. Write about that. I am obsessed with everything Olympics. I’m not reading, writing or emptying the dishwasher with any regularity because I’m locked in on everything from trap shooting to my beloved tennis. It was while watching dressage that the…
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Joy and Happiness
List 30 things that make you happy. According to Brene Brown, Happy is a human emotion brought on by circumstances and is external; it represents a freedom from care and worry or good fortune. Conversely, Joy is a spiritual connection, constantly tethered to the heart; a joyful life is made up of moments gracefully strung…
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Spiraling
Spiraling down the staircaseOf the Monument to the Great Fire,I channeled the fear, anguish and lossThe people of London experienced in 1666As their city burned for days-Homes and businesses destroyed,Beautiful architecture damagedBut with luckily few lives lost.I thought of the homelessness that followed,Of the baker on Pudding Lane, where the fire began,And the conditions ripe…
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Formality
What traditions have you not kept that your parents had? My mom loved the holidays-any holiday! Christmas was her favorite. She had boxes and boxes of decorations, many of them handmade by her. They covered every surface in our home, hung in windows and were the cloths and mats on every table. But she was…
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Prompt response: typical?
Was today typical? There’s really no such thing as a typical day for me. Although I have routines and rituals, I try to be present to recognize the atypical, from a new bird at my feeder to a new story from a colleague, to a throwback song on the radio to a surprise text to…
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Triggered Brain
“Zzzztt!”Button pushed,Blood cold,Heart racing,Mind swirling,Trauma reignited.No rational thinking,No reality check,No pros and cons,No now or then,No phoning a friend,Just fear.Safety,Find safety,Quickly,By any means,On your own,Get out now!Photo: Hopewell, NJ. 7.8.24 by LA
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Field Trip
Yesterday, I took a field trip with a dozen colleagues and something like 160 kids to an aquarium one hour and nearly 45 minutes from school. We rode packed inside school buses that had no air conditioning. There are sooo many reasons why this 55 year old woman should not be riding a school bus…
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Who I Am
I read this line today,”Who you are while in extraordinary pain…is not who you are,”And I felt a shift deep inside me,A part that exhaled loudly, sighing, “Phew!”A part that shouted, “See?! I told you!”Another part that said, “I needed to hear that.”I am one who blames myself,Holds myself highly accountable,Feels guilty, overly responsible,And shameful,About…
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Creativity
As a child, every day involved creativity,Opportunities to design, invent, innovate,Ways to amuse, delight and entertain myself,Finding inspiration all around me.Some found my interests and activities weird,Others offered “helpful” advice,And between the discouragement and the conformity demands of middle school,The space for creativity began to constrict.As a teen, comparison robbed me of creativity,Always thinking someone…
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Flow
Inside of balance is a notion that we can detach and just Let it be,And inside of letting it be is moderation, with nothing withheld and nothing in excess,And inside of moderation is surrender, giving up the need to control outcomes,And inside of surrender is flow, giving up that resistance to change,And inside of flow…
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ER Visits
“Where’s the pup?” my partner said,And panicked thoughts raced through my head.For Spencer is never not by our side,He never gives us a berth this wide!I ran upstairs and there he was,Over by his crate becauseHe’d stolen peppermint bark to eat,Find it a yummy treat!An Internet search did not look good,And a call to the…
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The Lighthouse, Part 2
I saw her through the window with her short grey hair,A surprise, as I didn’t know anyone lived there.Our eyes met and I could see she was standing at her sink,Her hands at work with something.She mouthed and gestured that this was private property,We mouthed our apologies in response and turned to leave.But then she…
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The Lighthouse, Part 1
He navigated on the left side of the road driving from the right side of the car,Operating the manual transmission with his non dominant hand,Finding that old clutch/gear shift groove,So that I relaxed into the passenger seat on the left side, Which meant I held his other hand with my other hand,The opposite of back…
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I’m back!
It’s been a long time since I’ve been here. I’ve taken a bit of a break for, well, life! My school year was coming to an end, my district budget cuts took my position away (not my job there, but specifically what I do), and I travelled. At first I was anxious about being away…
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Collection
I want to collect and embody pieces of my people,The traits and mannerisms and behaviors that I admire.In no particular order,I place my orderTo elevate and rise up.From my oldest, I embrace her passion,Not for her job or her income,But for her love of books that expand her thinking,For cheeses, that expand her palette,For tennis…
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Treadmill
Her eyes look down,As feet cover surface,Faster and faster,Sweat dampens forehead,Heart beats stronger.She’s moving forward,Moving on,Leaving it all behind.Her steps ease,Heart finds its resting rhythm,Eyes look up and around,Conveyor belt slows to a halt.She’s right where she started,No movement,No distance,Right where she started.Is this what being stuck feels like?
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Forgive Me
Can you possibly forgive me? For what do you seek forgiveness?For all the times I rolled my eyesat you internally or behind yourback? Do you think you were my first teenager?But it was so disrespectful, so callous and mean. Yes, but it was also normal and necessary. You needed to develop your own thoughts, ideas…
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Regret
“I’m sorry. So, so sorry,” I think to myself at least once a day these days. I’ve finally had the breakthrough I’ve been looking for in trying to reconnect with my dad and access all the feelings and memories we shared. But I keep circling back to middle school me, high school me, too cool…
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Dad
Remember his morning routine, the same actions in the same order,Remember the spoonful of sugar he sprinkled over the mound of his All Bran- Shredded Wheat mix,Remember the newspaper, read front to back page each day, absorbing the news of the world, the very thing he taught you to read from,Remember his suits, worn 5.5…
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Humidity
“You have magic hair!” my student exclaimed, pointing to my rapidly rising, busy, frizzy head of hair that had lost its sleekness and was now expanding by the second. “Humidity hair” is what I’ve always called it. And not affectionately or with that child’s delight and wonder. Smooth styles turn sizzly, curls go cuckoo. Some…
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As
As wide-eyed as little me, capturing fireflies and setting them free in her cathedral-ceilinged living room at night with all the lamps out, sitting cross-legged on the floor and watching them appear first here, then over there. As creeped-out as that same little girl, laying awake in her bed hours later, feeling the imagined footsteps…
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A Mind in Bloom
A thought,An idea,A question,The mind in bloom.Awareness,Analysis,Critique,The mind in bloom.Creativity,Innovation,Experimentation,The mind in bloom.Problem solving,Growth evolving,Perspective revolving,The mind in bloom.
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Free
Her head was filled,Filled with dreams and destiny,Fantasies and friction.It danced with love and liability,Guilt and giddiness.She closed her eyes,And let go,Catching and releasing the thoughts,As they came.It was as if her mind was bursting,Blooming into life,With all the creativity and chaos,The dalliances and delights,That once she had suppressed,And now intentionally released.She was free,At last.
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Help
She loves to be of help,And lend a “listening” ear,And if you cry or yelp,She’ll pull up close and near.She says it’s all for you,But is it just for “me?”Because you’re a person whoCan validate her need.For when she lends a hand,It’s how she gets control,She’ll help you hatch your plan,To protect your “fragile” soul.And…
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She
She sits,Her naked body upon a carpet of lush, green grass,Gazing out at the distant storm.Jagged lightning stabs violently at broiling clouds. She could just make out a sad and weary eye, caught in the chaos.A stray curl escapes her shoulder length hair,Glances across her cheek.Arms upon her knees, she bends one up toward her…
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The One Walking Toward Us
The only one who can see our pain,Is the one walking toward us,Not the one in front,Nor the one behind,Nor even the one by our side,Though they walk in the same direction.But what will the one walking toward us doWhen they see our pain?Will they walk on by, eyes straight ahead,Or take a pretend call…
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Mistakes
It feels like life and death to you, Therisk of making a mistake. But what’s the greatestdamage it could do? Could an honest mistakereally be so egregious that youcan’t admit it, can’t own it, can’t face it? canyou imagine a scenario where you makea mistake and welcome the knowledge you gain? inwhat Universe can you…
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Outside the Box
Don’t be so binary. Don’trely on labels to tell you how to think.Can you imagine the freedom of stepping outsideyour comfort zone, your neat way of looking at theworld and seeing people for who they really are, not the boxwe try to cram them into to feel safe? Thinkabout the freedoms you will have, likeexpressing…
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Folly Beach
Folly Beach at sunset,Hand in hand they walk,Bare feet in cool sand,Pointing out a playful gull,A scurrying crab.He stops and turns to her,Then drops on one knee.Surprised, but not entirely,She takes in his words,Says “Yes!” and jumps into his arms.They kiss,While a woman aims her lens their way,Careful not to intrude,As she captures their moment,For…
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Systems
Thesystemwithin meunites the partsof me that yearn tobe understood; none arebad. They all have a purpose.Together they have helped me thriveAnd sometimes just stay safe and alive.Their synthesis is an act of self love.
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Kissing Booth
Strolling down a quaint streetIn a quaint town,I spot a kissing boothOn the sidewalk.Knowing he would oblige,I push him toward it.He hops insideAnd his eyes shift up to the right,Feigning shyness and embarrassment,(When I know that’s almost impossible-He’ll do anything for a laugh).I step up and ask for a kiss.He leans forwardAnd I catch him…
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Jan
My friendJan is never farfrom my thoughts.She makes life sweeterby puzzling through it with me.By puzzling through it with me,she makes life sweeter.From my thoughts,Jan is never far.My friend.
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Pod Squad
At the beach,The Squad gathers~Spending time together,Laughing and bonding,Making sweet memories.Making sweet memories,Laughing and bonding,Spending time together,The Squad gathersAt the beach.Photo: Brigantine, NJ. 4.6.24 by LA
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Miami
Sun~strongerthan at home,stinging my skin ~so pale from winter’slayers, that kept out thecold. The air around me, asif sizzling with hot energy,closes in and makes it hard to breathe.But then the breeze off the water cools me.Miami, alive with spicy flavor,sensuous scents and vivid colors,has invited me to stay abit and take in her beauty,so…
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These Keys
“It’s an adventure!” he proclaimed,The drive south toward the end of land,The “southern most point” it is named,The history upon soft sand.Parallel to the old railway,Islands first seen by DeLeon,Amidst the cerulean bay,The tourists would come for the con.Restaurants, turtles and beaches,Key West has it all by the load,Views beyond horizon’s reaches,The real tip is…
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Springtime
Abundance of color and lush greeneryBlossoms to my left and right as I trodCarefully along the mud-soaked path,Delighted by the smell ofEarth awakening.Ferns and fronds tickle my ankles as I Gaze up in the treesHanging with tight buds ready to reveal theirInnermost selves to the world,Juxtaposing their dormant state with their wild growth.Keeping my feet…
The Journey Inward 