She entered the room quietly,

sitting by herself.

A complex emotional life

bubbled below the surface,

but her face remained emotionless.

Today, she worked diligently

outlining an essay.

The quiet space around her

felt like a moat other students

were unsure if they wanted to cross.

I stopped by her desk to check in

and she asked my opinion…

“What do you think? Am I on the right track?”

A glance at her jottings revealed

a clear understanding of the task.

“Such original thinking…very compelling,”

She looked up and beamed.

Her smile,

a bright light cracking the surface

she worked so hard to construct.

A girl at the next table looked up,

“What did you write? Do you mind sharing?”

 

I teach

because I have faith

in the power of community.

Yes, I love reading and writing.

But, equally important,

are the moments of true

human connection

I witness everyday

in my classroom.

Our friend Rachael invited us over for a cup of tea.

“Hello!” Rachael said as she welcomed each of us in with a hug.

On this chilly, bright afternoon, five friends gathered to catch up. We all used to work in the same school but Rachael’s path took her to a new job two years ago.

With chai tea steeping in our cups, we talked books, students and everyday life.

“What books have you loved this year?”

Titles rolled off of our tongues as we laughed and smiled. There is nothing like a gathering of kindred spirits. Reading connects us and friendship will keep us in touch for years.

Five hot cups of tea sat on the table, warming our souls. Thank you Rachael for the invitation!

What is the subject?

What is the predicate?

Really, who cares what makes up a sentence?

Grammar seems tedious and rule bound

to my eighth grade students preparing for

a state standardized writing exam.

We are much happier looking at

the beauty of grammar in…

that startling opening line

or the devastating last words

of a beloved book.

We know the author revised and revised

to ensure every carefully placed comma

created just the right mood

to lodge the sentence

in the reader’s heart for good.

 

One of the benefits of having dogs is getting out in the neighborhood. When I was young, Sunday afternoon meant kids out on bikes and adults gardening, walking or dropping by to say hello. Wedding receptions, graduation parties, and holidays were a welcoming affair that often flowed out into the street.

Today, the world feels busier and technology often keeps us glued to our desks or kitchen tables on a Sunday. I have two young dogs who love to walk. During the week, dog walkers and I combine for an average of 3-4 short walks a day. On weekends, though, the dogs and I can wander.

On this Sunday, the pups stop to smell things and greet other dogs. I notice houses and gardens that whiz by outside my car window during the week. Neighbors wave hello.  Dog greetings means I get to catch up on the latest human news.

My dogs help me look up from my life and see the connections possible right out the front door.

 

The steady hum of conversation

simmers down when the trio enters the room.

A few scattered handclaps join a heavy note

of anticipation.

The drummer is a legend.

At 78, one wonders if the set will be too much.

On saxophone, a rising star.

And, at center stage,

a jazz master settles behind the keyboards.

Stage lights dim, whispered conversation

vanishes

Then the first extended note unfurls.

Jazz is an intimate, improvised experience.

As the music builds and the trio melds,

it is easy to imagine

the universe has aligned just for you,

your very own anthem penned

on the night air.

 

For many, the first day of March signals the heralding of a new season. March can be chilly one day and balmy the next, but the world is surely moving toward spring.

As I walked outside on this dark chilly March morning, I was pelted by a hard sleet. The front walk was glassy and my dogs and I stepped gingerly into the yard. A coating of white beads, like the space age Dippin’ Dots ice cream kids find at mall kiosks, peppered the yard. As a teacher, I immediately wondered about the safety of bus routes and sidewalks.

A glance at my phone revealed schools are closed. A short burst of wintry mix at just the wrong moment is giving students a day of respite. I hope my students enjoy a day unencumbered by deadlines, practices, or any kind of stress. It is a good day to curl up with a book 🙂

For me, the unexpected day off allows time to write, reflect and read. On this first day of the Slice of Life challenge, I am typing away at my kitchen table with a good cup of coffee and two pups looking at me from the couch. Outside, birds are waking up and the cars are glazed with icy snow. As the sun comes up, I can see the roads are safe and I can venture out whenever I want. But for now, I am thankful for a quiet morning and a chance to write.

What a relaxing way to start March!

 

The challenge: Write 31 slices of daily life on my blog

The fears:

I would run out of ideas,

time,

inspiration,

energy…

 

Keeping me going:

Reading posts about ordinary lives lived in far away places,

Chatting with friends about the craft of writing,

Sharing struggles to post late at night or in the wee hours of the morning,

The orange stickers Sally gave me to mark each slice on the calendar,

The joy of writing

 

Sweet reward:

Slices of life offer a chance to peek into the world of another. These missives brighten my day, broaden my world and help me reflect on my daily choices. I am truly thankful.

 

I recently finished two YA fantasy books sitting on The New York Times teen bestseller list. Both books feature strong female characters and well developed fantasy worlds. I highly recommend both books.

I should note, fantasy is not my first genre of choice. Give me a biography or historical fiction book and I am in heaven. However, students today are fortunate because there is plethora of new, smart, engaging fantasy books on the shelves.

At the NOVA Teen Book Festival a couple of weeks ago, both Tomi Adeyemi and Dhonielle Clayton spoke about the craft of writing fantasy. Adeyemi, a Harvard grad who studied West African mythology found the spark for her book in a poster of strong African warriors. Clayton talked about personal experiences that lead to her book.

While both of the books carried me along from start to finish (at times with a racing heart), the most powerful part of these books for me is found in the author’s notes at the end.

The Belles is about a fantasy world where six beautiful, magical sisters have the power to change everything about a person’s appearance. Set in a fairy princess-like environment, The Belles reveals a society driven by beauty and the fashion of the moment. At the end of the book, Clayton adds a long note about the genesis of the book. She talks about questions of self worth when she compares herself to the images in magazines and in her own world. Clayton cut out pictures of lovely eyes, hair, skin color, body type and pasted the random parts together to try to create just the right mix. Society’s fascination with ideal beauty weighed heavily on Clayton.

After reading her note, I saw The Belles in a whole new light. The book is a commentary on today’s obsession with appearance. What a brilliant way to help young people think about what they value! I was bowled over by the way Clayton used fantasy as a subtle mirror for all of us.

Children of Blood and Bone concludes with an author’s note as well. Adeyemi’s fantasy novel is about a kingdom ruled by an iron-fisted king who banished magic and ruthlessly kills anyone who is part of the communities and tribes where magic presided. The main character, Zelie, watched the king’s men murder her mother, a women with powerful magic and now fights to return magic to her world. The book is fast-paced and even with its 527 page total, I read it in a couple of days.

Adeyemi’s endnote was a surprise. If you had asked me to make a modern day, real world comparison, I would have looked at the Nazis who viciously targeted people based on origin. However, Adeyemi notes, “Children of Blood and Bone was written during a time where I kept turning on the news and seeing stories of unarmed black men, women and children being shot by police. I felt afraid and angry and helpless, but this book was the one thing that made me feel like I could do something about it.”

Children of Blood and Bone is not a commentary on history, but rather a look at modern tragedy. Adeyemi goes on to talk directly to the reader and adds, “If you cried for Zukaikha and Salim (characters in the book), cry for innocent children like Jordan Edwards, Tamir Rice, and Aiyani Stanley-Jones. They were fifteen, twelve, and seven when they were shot and killed by police.”

I commend both Clayton and Adeyemi for writing first-rate fantasy books. More importantly, I appreciate the reflection they offered me as a reader. I am reminded again…books are powerful things.

 

For weeks leading up to a trip,

I plan and consider how to spend

the days away.

Reading, resting, visiting, exploring…

I make more plans than

there are minutes in the day.

However, as I turn the key

in the bolt to our front door,

I breath in the comforting scents

of home.

Cozy slippers,

the well-worn corner

of the kitchen couch.

Travel is invigorating

but home is essential.

Tending a fire takes attention.

As logs burn and melt under

the glowing heat of the fire,

a careful eye must judge

the right time

to add another log

to a shifting stack.

Bright golds and yellows jump

when hungry new flames

envelop the sides

of the welcome, blanched log.

Warmth radiates and eyes return

to the pages of an open book.