handwritten on May 27, 2019
Memorial Day weekend this year was a basket of sunshine soul whimsy. Everywhere we walked, there were people riding their bikes and whistling, eating good food and drinking their cups of sunshine. Sunshine dripped from the sidewalks and the rooftops with red white and blue pride. Shorts that were stars and stripes spreading patterns across every apartment building in the city of Pittsburgh.
There was a vibe today of true red and white and blue pride. And I would like to think today was a reminder of the pride we have for each other. The pride we should take in being excellent people. The pride we should have when carrying out our vocations and our love and our hearts full of inspiration...
handwritten on May 26, 2019
A great person always thinks of others. A brilliant person goes out of their way to think of others wherever they are in the world. Whether you are a teacher, a mentor, a friend, a family member, it is so important to remember to think of others and support them in their passions wherever we are. We were in Buffalo visiting our family members and my mother happened to have a student currently in her class in Buffalo at the same time. Her older sister (whom my mom also had) was in a softball tournament. And so as a passionate person does, my mom made it her mission the minute we stepped foot in the house to attend that game.
The game was cancelled on Saturday and so she texted to find out...
handwritten on May 25, 2019
As a kid, we used to see how fast we could spell Mississippi. It has a rhythmn to it. A taste of sweetness. Those letters slide off the tongue like a whimsical passing of the breeze. In Buffalo, NY, there is a place we used to visit as kids called Mississippi Muds. How's that for alliteration? And this place is the definition of whimsy. Just picture a somewhat worn down diner looking stand with a tarnished banner that says "Mississippi Muds." There is a place for you to eat up above outside on a deck overlooking the water and the clouds as they pass by. We sat down to a loving conversation with bees buzzing passed us as we enjoyed an ice cream and sweet potato fries with honey. It's just a...
handwritten on May 24, 2019
I have never been one for transitions. And I say this with complete honesty and no shame.
I almost bit a hole through my lip during my transition to kindergarten, there were tears at the end of 1st grade when I had to say goodbye to one of the most fantastic and vibrant teachers (one who ironically happens to be retiring this year.) I remember getting choked up at my last soccer game on the school team, my final jazz band performance in High School. You know-I think even as a young child, even though I could not articulate it, I just knew that the beginnings and the ends were hard. They were hard because often times I was enjoying life so much that transitioning into something else was...
handwritten on May 24, 2019
I think begin stuck in a place is sometimes the best thing for our souls.
My parents always made car rides enjoyable for us as kids.
I actually used to enjoy long car rides to the beach where my mom played books on tape. And we ate tasty snacks. My dad being the food king always had snacks in a cooler- sandwiches packed and ready to go. And on those longer car rides we sometimes played the "job game" or a "guess who" game in teams. It was a time to read books and listen to George Winston and think about important events that lie ahead or the school year we had just left behind. It was almost like sitting down to eat at a dinner table but extending it a few hours maybe even 6 or 7.
Even...
