handwritten on January 7, 2019
I will begin this post by saying-the book Frindle is a must read. Sure, I am a third grade teacher, but this book truly brings whimsy to another level. Particularly, whimsy in memory. Without ruining the plot, I feel a brief summary is needed to do this post justice. Frindle is a book about a youngster (in fifth grade) who begins to test the waters with his English teacher's love of the Dictionary. Mrs. Granger, with fire in her eyes but always a grinning soul watches her student grapple with the English language through a social experiment using the word Frindle instead of (pen.)
The ending chapter always leaves me in a puddle of tears as an exchange of letters and gifts are sent back and...
handwritten on January 6, 2019
I began this morning a bit more tired than usual, but I found myself at 8:30 service in the Northside. I was a bit disappointed when I noticed the choir was not in attendance today, but my attention was turned quite quickly to a single choir member who began leading the service with just a single voice.
His voice was so pure and so mesmorizing that most people in the audience found themselves just overwhelmed with feeling. Very few voices were singing along. I have never felt so focused. My mind almost felt like tunnel vision-focused on the rising and the falling of pitches, wondering where his voice was headed. I hope in a later blog I can remember the exact song in which life was hanging...
handwritten on January 5, 2019
My husband (and myself) are what I consider to be unadventurous eaters. I would say, since the start of my husband's residency, when the opportunity arises for both of us to go somewhere together, we also pick the same place. I usually end up ordering Dan Dan Noodles Szechuan Style (a peanut butter noodle.) My husband usually ends up getting the Braised Beef noodle soup. And sometimes, if feeling extra whimsical, we branch out and get either dumplings or a small appetizer to enjoy. Now, going to the same place I have always considered rather "unmagical." Every time, we discuss other options and every time those other options are pushed aside for our favorite place. Yet, every single time we...
handwritten on January 4, 2019
There is an intense change in the atmosphere and environment on Fridays. I have a long list of reasons why: Last day before the weekend, personalities are more amicable, the opening of a door, the shutting of a week, closure, fulfillment, leaving behind disappointment, pride, walking away....
People are perhaps more relaxed on Fridays. The tension of a new school days waits for two days while the weekend ensues. Or, perhaps people simply dislike what they do and so Fridays are a reminder that all things do come to an end. A break is on the horizon. Maybe we are lazier on Fridays because our bodies have already started thinking about our outside work environments. Maybe this is lazy. Maybe...
handwritten on January 3, 2019
Technically, this post is day three of whimsy. Already I have failed because I fell asleep last night before I was able to complete my post. Nevertheless, I had these thoughts in my mind yesterday and so I am still counting it as "on time" maybe even "early" though maybe a bit "late." Timely, this post is because it already reflects the anxiety of the word time. And Whimsical is (I have learned) perhaps the only state of being that must be free of time or thoughts of urgency or lateness or the anxiety of not knowing when or how circumstances will fall. Ironically, we had planned a surprise grandmother party for one of my colleagues who would soon be a grandma-to-be. The day in which the...
