Just something extra.

I found a picture of my horse.  I had hoped to post it with my slice about my saddle, but couldn't find it.  Well, here's the picture of my best friend for 11 years.  We lost her at the age of 21.

31 out of 31 (I missed two so it should be 29 out of 31) SOL

We have come to the end.  I've been pondering this last SOL all day, thinking to myself; you've got to come up with something really cool for today's last Slice of Life.  Well, that didn't happen, but I did spend some time thinking about the journey.  Here's a rambling list of my rambling thoughts:

• It's not easy to write EVERYDAY.  This makes me think; how do my students feel?
• I have no idea when to use a colon or semi-colon.  This made me realize colons and semi-colons while I was reading.  Reading improves writing.  Now I'm on the hunt for those pesky punctuation marks.
• Writing involves taking a risk.  This is important because life is about taking risks and one does not grow as a person unless they take risks.  
• I revise immediately, almost sentence-by-sentence.  Might the reason for this be that it's difficult for me to express myself in writing.  (I just changed that sentence.)  I'd rather talk any day.
• I'm a copy cat.  I see a style or an approach to a writing task and I mimic that example.  I need somewhere to start.  
• My poor spelling abilities prevent me from writing more.  It's a HUGE frustration to have a thought and not be able to put it down on paper because I cannot spell a word I wanted to use.  This makes me think; if it's hard for me than how do my students feel?
• I can't write on the fly.  It takes me several attempts before I feel ready to put my writing out there.  Writing is a painstakingly, time consuming task for me.
• Writing is HARD and the teaching of writing is even HARDER.  

We've come to the end of our time together (so to speak).  It has been an incredible month. Thanks to everyone who commented on my slices and especially the encouragement about my parents' divorce.  You are all an amazing group and a true inspiration.  Thanks for taking this walk with me.  See ya on Tuesdays.  

30 out of 31 SOL

Again, I was inspired by Ruth and her inspiration from Rebecca Cooper. 

Remember Kelly-

• You live life full throttle; it's part of who you are.
• Life is about possibilities.
• You define who you are; not society.
• It's okay to let go.
• You can make a difference.
• You don't have to be anybody, but yourself.
• Life is not about being perfect.
• You're loved by many.

29 out of 31 SOL

I hit the doorbell button and pulled open the back room door at the same time, hoping to avoid the plops of rain dropping from the sky.  Wiping my feet I knocked on the door, "Hey, it's just me," I said as my dad rounded the corner into the back room.

"Come in, come in... you don't need to knock," answered my dad with a shake of his head.

"Well, I wanted to make sure you weren't sleeping or something," offering some kind of excuse because I'm still adjusting to my dad living in our rental house.    

"No, I wasn't sleeping, just watching the game," explained my dad.  "What are you doing out-and-about in this awful weather?" he asked.

Kicking off my boots, "I needed a break from reading student papers, so I drove over to see Jeff.  Do you have any pretzels or chips; something Jeff could eat as a snack?"

Jumping on my request, Dad yanked open the cupboard, "I've got cookies, chips and M&Ms," listed dad as he touched each item in the cupboard.  Not surprised that dad's cupboard was full of several junk food options.

"Oh, he's not fussy.  Here, let's put some cookies and M&Ms in a container," I said while digging around for a lid.  "Whoa, that's plenty," I continued as I noticed Dad adding more cookies to the container.

Good comes from life's challenges.  Have I come to terms with my parent's divorce?  No, and honestly I'm not sure I ever will.  Instead I've chosen to focus on the silver lining; getting to know my dad differently.  I'm building a relationship, on a different level, with my dad who worked two jobs, at times, to provide for his family, who I took for granted as a teenager and young adult and who seems to be adjusting to his new surroundings.

 

28 out of 31 SOL

  

I love to shop!  Okay, I said it, plain and simple, I really love to shop.  To explain why might take too much time and I'm not sure I'm ready to get to the root of that problem.  Well, I don't see it as a problem, but that whole topic is a different conversation.

Anyways, I have a few things that I seem to buy often.  Yes, the obvious shoes (five new pairs in NYC alone, don't roll your eyes, they're New York City shoes) and clothes, but two other items seem to linger at the top of the list: books and pens.

Books for the obvious reason; I'm a reader, writer (kind of) and an elementary teacher.  But why pens?  I'm using the word pens here very loosely.  The category includes: ballpoint, gel, markers, highlighters, really any kind of writing instrument.  

Today I had to return a few items I'd purchased at the office supply store and walked out with over $14.oo worth of new writing instruments.  I justified part of the purchase because it was a two-for-the-price-of-one pack and the pack was on clearance.  What a deal!  

I convinced myself that I needed new pens because I'm acting as a copy editor for one of the sixth grade teachers, so I felt if I had new pens to use this weekend when I was editing it would make the job more enjoyable.  I compare it to ironing; if you have a new iron to use or a new can of finishing spray it makes the task more enjoyable.  It's all about self-gratification, is it not?  

Did I really need new pens? Of course not, but like I said it's all about making life's tasks enjoyable.  So, today I proudly admit I have a problem; I buy way to many pens.  Pens are a writer's media, right?  

27 out of 31  SOL

I scanned the waiting area of gate 9 hoping to find a seat that was close to the gate.  I spotted a vacant seat at the end of the row; perfect.  With a stride of certainty I made my way to the selected seat.  While I was settling in I noticed a young, pretty female in the seat next to me.  I noticed she seemed to me watching me; a quick glance, a slight turn of position in her seat.   I opened my newspaper and buried my eyes in the paper.

She closed her laptop and turned to me.  "I'm going to leave my stuff here while I use the restroom.  Is that okay?"  she asked.

My eyes darted left and right to verify she was asking me.  "Sure," I mumbled with a shrug.  She stood, dropped her laptop on the seat and headed off down the concourse.  

Now let's get serious, I'm all for making conversation, but the Federal Aviation Rules are very clear about leaving bags unattended.  I've never thought that meant you just ask a stranger to watch your belongings.  Why did she just leave her computer and carry-on with a complete stranger?  It wasn't like we'd spent 15 -20 minutes visiting, getting to know each other.  We'd never shared a spoken word until her request.

I tried to go back to reading my paper, but the situation just wasn't settling.  I studied the laptop and my mind began to wander.  Am I reading more into this?  The minutes ticked by.  I made another attempt to read my paper.  The urge to turn and look down the concourse pulled at me.  Was she coming back?  How long as she been gone?  Should I tell someone that she has simply walked away from her belongs?

Okay, you're over reacting and talking to yourself.  I returned to my newspaper, irritated because I rarely get to sit and enjoy the paper, and now I'm freaking out in my head and can't focus on the paper.  Where is she?  My heart began to race.  Deep breath and relax.  Repeat.  Minutes continued to tick by.  Inconspicuously I slid 15 degrees to the right, hoping to look behind me to see if she was coming back.  No luck.  

Sitting up straighter I began to search for someone to tell.  I noticed several airport personnel in the area.  Which one should I tell?  Should I report this unusual behavior?  Stop, I shouted at myself, you are way over reacting!  Anxiousness was clouding my judgement.  Just as I was finding the nerve to report her strange behavior, she returned.  Exhale!  Whew, off the hook!  

I returned to the paper.  

"I'm going to go get a hotdog.  Would you like something to drink?" she asked while digging her wallet out of the front of her carry on bag.  

With a wave of the hand and a quick, almost unnoticeable shake of my head I signaled no thanks.  No words left my lips.  Shocked and stunned, not so much by the fact that she offered to buy me a drink, but that she'd left her wallet in the front of her carry on with a complete stranger.  

Weird.  Very weird.

 

25 out of 31 SOL

Why is traveling so exhausting?  All I did today was sit in a shuttle van, sit at the airport, sit on the plane, and sit in the car on the way home.  I'm glad to be back in the comforts of home. Although I absolutely love New York City I'm a country girl.  

What a mind-bending, physically taxing six days.  Due to exhaustion and the fact that I have to function at work tomorrow I'm cutting it very short on my slice for today.  I'm pledging to get refocused for the remainder of the month.

Here are the words that have not left me since Saturday.

"We write by the light of the books we have read."  Richard Peck

Good-Night, Sweet Dreams