schoolinspirations

I write to remember that I’m a writer.

I write to relish in a community of others who are all doing the same.

I write to remember and relish in the moments of daily life – the right now.

I write to take risks – try a poem, choose words carefully, write on vulnerable topics.

I write to document my thinking at that one moment each day in March.

I write to connect with others – hoping that my words connect with others by way of offering support, a similarity, or an inspiration.

I write to take a moment for myself.

31 days of writing – 7  years in a row.  7 years of March memories in the books. Literally. I can’t wait to publish this year’s edition! 

Nearing the end of this writing challenge, I’d be remiss if I didn’t document all of the details that I’m attending to for my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah (about one month away!). These have been the most significant slices of life this month (even though I haven’t written about them all, it’s been my reality).

RSVPs – following up on meal choices and those who haven’t responded.

The program for the ceremony – does it match the actual order of the ceremony?

The candles for the candle-lighting – of course I had to do something different and make them PRETTY with colored sand.

The list for the candle-lighting – does it correspond to those who will actually be in attendance? Did we miss honoring anyone?

The slideshow for the candle-lighting – not on my list, on my hubby’s list. Therefore, still on my list.

The songs for the DJ – haven’t even started this yet. On my hubby’s list. See above.

The table arrangements – started, not complete – still waiting for final RSVPs.

The table cards – not started, see above.

The appointments for hair, make-up, alterations, rehearsal.

The food for the Friday night before, the breakfast before the ceremony on Saturday and the food for the Sunday after.

The list of things to bring to the catering hall: sign-in board & markers, baskets for the bathrooms, kiddish cup, mason jars, table cards, socks for dancing, goodie bags for favors, photo memory books.

Well, at least I’ve listed it… now I just need to DO it! But, one year from now, I’ll be able to look back on this slice and know that we did it and all it was all wonderful and worked out!!

Right now, I’m in-between rushing.

Rushing to finish one thing

before starting another.

Right now, I’m doing something

I need to do, while putting off

something I need to do, but don’t want to do.

Right now, I’m squeezing in

precious time with students,

important meetings with colleagues.

Right now, I’m closing up the school day

and starting the “mommy part” of my day.

Right now, I’m done slicing.

This summer I will celebrate my 16th Wedding Anniversary. We’ve been together for 19 years. Seems crazy.  On the radio this morning callers were sharing their own proposal stories. I’ve told mine before, but never written it down. So, here it is, for posterity.

It was April 20, 2000. We had been living together in NYC for a year and had met in August of 1998.  When we met, in a NYC bar, we realized that we had been living only a block away from one another. When I eventually moved into his apartment, we literally rolled my furniture up the block and around the corner.

Anyway, April 20, 2000, I had just returned to the apartment after  heading to the gym after work. It was a weekday.  He came home from work and asked me to take a walk in the park with him. I didn’t want to. I had done my workout for the day, was in my gym clothes and truly didn’t want to get off the couch! But, he convinced me that it was a nice evening and that he really wanted to go for a walk. So off we went for a walk on a beautiful early evening in NYC. No shower, gym clothes, sneakers and all. Not glamourous.

We meandered our way through Central Park and up to Belvedere Castle. Along the way I remember that he was asking me if I wanted to get married – just sort of conversational. Me, having no clue, said, “Yes, someday.”  Shortly after that we reached the Castle, stood looking out over Central Park and he dropped to one knee and said something like, “could someday be today?” as he showed me the beautiful ring he selected for me. Of course, I said YES!

Between the raindrops today

sadness creeps.

It pools in puddles and sidewalk cracks

grey skies, a chill in the air – too fitting.

Sadness has come to this school community,

mother nature knows.

Between the raindrops today, we

are thinking

praying

remembering

and honoring

a life lost too soon.

First, came the palate expander, for her.

Then came the retainer, for her.

Then came the braces, for her and the palate expander, for him.

Then came the retainer, for him.

Now the braces are coming off, for her.

The retainer is done, for him.

The braces are going on, for him.

So many

metal mouth milestones.

Last night, I learned of the sudden death of an acquaintance. It happened out in public and will deeply effect the entire community, as it should.

I can’t stop thinking about her. Although I didn’t know her well, I did know her. I saw her yesterday sitting at her desk, wearing her school tie-dye shirt, smiling. I’m sure she didn’t think that when she left her desk for the day that she wouldn’t come back.  I remember seeing this quote on Facebook recently, “Most of the people who died yesterday had plans for today; dont take life for granted.”  She had plans for last night and she had plans for today. She had plans for Sunday and Monday and many tomorrows.

I hugged my kids a lot tighter last night – all the while thinking of her young kids who wouldn’t be able to get one more hug from their mom. It’s hard to even go there.

And so, today, I’m going to take it slow and revel in the moments that are being created today. I’m going to appreciate what I have and who I share it with – because you truly just never know.

Keeping her and her family in my thoughts today, and hugging my own kids a lot tighter.

I love to travel. I love the planning, the anticipation of going, going and putting my photographs into a photobook. But there is always a question – what memento will I take home?

Over the last few years, I’ve taken to trying to find a charm for my charm bracelet to buy from each place I travel. Originally I was adding them to my other charms, but now I’ve made a separate travel charm bracelet. I love wearing that bracelet and thinking about each of the amazing places and trips that they represent: Alaska, San Francisco, England, LBI, Ireland.

I forgot to get one last year in Barcelona. Fortunately, my parents are there now, so I’m hoping that they will be able to find one for me so that I can add it to my collection. My trips bring me so much joy – they are wonderful memory makers. I love that I can wear my memories in my travel charms.

This morning, my Ukranian housekeeper arrived to clean our house. She is so sweet. She comes every other Thursday, cleans my big house and all of our mess and makes the house look presentable (even if it only stays that way for an hour!).

She speaks very little English and we often communicate through pointing and choppy conversations in English.  Today though, I wanted to tell her that my husband wasn’t home (he usually is) and that another visitor would be coming to the house later in the day – I didn’t want her to be startled.  I started talking, but she didn’t understand. So, I pulled out my computer and used Google Translate to type my message. It translated it to Ukranian for her. She read it. She almost cried. She thanked me profusely. She high-fived me. She loved it.

It is truly amazing what technology can do and for all of the times that it gets a rap for tearing people apart, here’s one example of how it brought us together!

We are, organization and cleanliness-wise, a reaction to our parents and how we were brought up.  My grandmother was the  neatest, cleanest, don’t-leave-a-crumb-on-the-counter house keeper.  My mom and dad’s house in contrast, was a lived-in, clutter-friendly, don’t-cry-over-spilled-milk-and-messes home. My house is in the middle of those two – or at least I thought it was.

I tried to keep it more clutter-free than my mom’s, but it often feels impossible.  The counter holds today and yesterday’s mail, homework, a notice that I have to sign, charging cords, grocery lists and more. The sink is filled with dirty dishes despite the fact that I feel like I am ALWAYS doing dishes, emptying the dishwasher, filling the dishwasher and placing clean dishes. The bench in front of my bed  holds clothes worn during the week (too tired at the end of the day to put them away). Shoes (from all of us) are scattered around the house and in the bedrooms.

My 12 year old daughter hates it. Her room is perfectly clean and organized ALWAYS. She loves to organize, label and watch videos on organization tips and tricks. Exasperated by our overflowing pantry, she encouraged me to clean it out and reorganize it during our last snow day. The results are impressive.  And now, she has challenged me and the rest of my family to see how long we can keep or pantry organized and labeled. So far, 1 week later, we are still OK! Let’s see if we can keep this up and if so, maybe this organization bug will creep over to the sink section of my kitchen!