Geeky pleasure

 I started taking classes again recently, as in last night, recently.
 
I am one of "those" people when I am a student. I am the annoying, sit in the front, notebook ready, hand poised for question answering, did all the homework kind of student.  I can't help it.  I love it so much.  And, since I freely admit it, I think it makes me somewhat tolerable as a classmate.  Trust me, you want me as your group partner!

 All day today thoughts of education were on my mind.
~Imagine these in little thought bubbles~

I know people who have fought to be educated.
I know people who have left their families to be educated.
I know people who have to struggle to learn even the most basic things.

I know that I love to be in a classroom, engaged in conversation, learning from my classmates, thinking about things differently, suffering through the cognitive dissonance, groaning at the syllabus review.... oh,  the geeky pleasure of it all!

Why do I love it so ridiculously?
I love the  moment when either as a student, or as a teacher,  something fits as a little golden "tidbit" (as my dear friend likes to say) into the intricate weave of intellect and the person is changed.
I love that  "eureka" moment, shouted silently or out loud when it finally makes sense; when the equation is balanced, the argument made, the point delivered, the right question asked.

The opportunity to learn- a blessing to me!

 
P.S- Today I had all of these thoughts and also left my gym bag in the driveway instead of putting it my car before I went to work. Yep. Ridiculous,  but true.  As Victor Hugo once said,"“Common sense is in spite of, not the result of, education.”  Obviously. :)








 
 

Dip and Dill

 I have a dear friend and former co-worker who did a wonderful thing each time it was a co-worker's birthday.  She would find out that person's favorite treat and make it (homemade make it!) and bring it in to share.  Over the years we worked together, I enjoyed a wide variety of cookies, cakes, and other assorted goodies.  The best part of the whole birthday experience was that she took the time to really find out what you, the birthday girl/boy, really wanted as a treat.  She labored, I can't even imagine how many hours, over the smallest details like shredding carrots for a special carrot cake or finding just the right card to bring a laugh out loud laugh.

She and I went through a lot together.  She helped me, mentored me, let me cry on her shoulder, and then, when she really knew me, she made me my special birthday treat.

Spinach dip.
  extra special in a big bread bowl on a fancy plate with a container to take home spinach dip!

I loved her for it and looked forward to it every year. Cake schmake, show me the dip!


Today another dear friend, and current co-worker, brought me a large jar of dill pickles.  Heaven!  It meant so much to me and reminded me of the spinach dip from long ago and not because they are both tasty treats!

I had this thought.

To have people in life that know you,
really know you...
not just the good stuff
not just the bad stuff
but the in between details that make you you
and they continue to like you a lot
even with  all that knowledge

that is truly a blessing.


Lord knows, I have been dippy. I have also been pickled (no comment). And, through it all, I have been blessed.

Everyday miracles even in a jar of gherkins! :)

Sometimes you just need to see yourself....differently

  Self-perception has been on my mind a lot lately.

My sister and I share a mind set that most of the at-risk kids we teach and help are struggling from a warped self-perception.  They live out the self fulfilling thoughts like ," I am a bad kid.  I am worthless.  I am mean."  Our job is to make them see that they are contributing and successful members of the community who have had a rough time and that rough times pass.

  My sister texted me a picture of she and her students working at the local soup kitchen this week.  My heart cheered.  Here it was--- a snapshot of possibility. The kids were making sandwiches, smiling, and working together for the good of others.   A stranger looking at this picture might mistake the kids for honor roll students, members of a Key Club, or a youth church group.  Each time she catches them being who they really are and shows them the evidence, they are nudged down the path of a different self-perception, a new reality.  I love my sister because she is my sister.  But the teacher in me loves her because she sees what others don't and pursues it relentlessly on behalf of her students' futures.

I have been thinking about self-perception in a different context also.

 I made two decisions this week regarding self-perception.

1. Knowing that how I see someone impacts significantly how they see themselves, I want to try to see everyone with more loving eyes.

2. Knowing that my own internal critic is tough, I want to try to see more of myself through the loving eyes of others.

The ability to see yourself and others differently... an everyday miracle  with lasting results.

Goodbye Tears

We had family up from Texas to spend some time. We spent many hours just hanging out, eating like rock stars, playing, and telling the old family stories. 

Last night, we said goodbye to them.
My young nephew, a truly sensitive soul, got very sad.
"I hate goodbyes," he said as a few large tears dripped from his eyes.

"Don't worry,time passes quickly and we will see everyone soon," his mom said. 
"Don't be sad, summer will be here before you know it," his uncle said.

His cousins hugged him and tickled him and the tears receded, only to return every few minutes as the time for the real goodbyes got closer.

I snuggled in close with him for a few minutes and I wanted to say, "I get it kiddo, I am going to miss you guys so much too! Summer seems a long way off and grown ups always say stuff like that."

But I didn't want to fuel his tear production.

So, I said, "I love you so much!"
He said, "I love you so much too!"
And he gave me an extra squeeze.

He knew that I knew that he was right. Goodbyes are tough.Tough enough to warrant some tears sometimes.

The bond of family- another everyday miracle and a blessing to me.  (come on summer!)

The story of Rudolf

  A beautiful woman wearing antlers with bells and a long sleeved green shirt came up to me this morning in the vitamin aisle of the grocery store.  I was staring so intently at the vitamins that it seemed to me that she just appeared next to me smiling broadly.  As soon as I looked up, she said, "You know I really should have a red nose."  I said, "Why?"  She said," Because Rudolf is as old as me and I am 72 years old and I think people should see the old Rudolf." And then we both started laughing.  I told her I agreed and wished her a merry Christmas and turned back to start shopping again.  But she stayed next to me.
  "If you have a minute, I could tell you the real story of Rudolf," she said.  I told her I would love to hear that story and she proceeded to tell me about the author of the original Rudolf story and how someone did a kind deed for him and his daughter and then he shared his good fortune with his whole neighborhood.  While she was talking, people were shopping around us and looking at us oddly. (She was a very animated and talented story teller.)
  " I heard that story on the radio last week and I can't get it out of my mind," she said.  I nodded in agreement and told her it really is a wonderful Christmas story. "And then yesterday," she continued holding my sweatshirt sleeve intently, "Yesterday I heard the story of a woman who saw a Salvation Army ringer who was cold and went and got him a cup of coffee and a gift card."
   "That is also a sweet Christmas story," I smiled at her and again wished her a merry Christmas and turned to go.
   But she held on.
   "So, I went to Walmart and saw that the ringer there was very cold too.  I couldn't afford a gift card, but I went and got him a hot cup of coffee with two sweet-n-lows, two sugars and two creamers. I didn't know how he liked his coffee so I got him the works!  He was so happy!  He thanked me and then I walked away." 
  "You are so full of the Christmas spirit!" I said. 
  " Well, I am trying to plant the seed of Christmas spirit in one person each day.  I try to pick someone who will really listen.   Now you have the seed you have to plant it in one person each day."
   With that, she turned and walked away humming and jingling her antlers.  I returned to shopping and haven't stopped smiling since.  I felt so blessed that she picked me!

Christmas seeds to celebrate!  Blessings in the vitamin aisle. :)

Pantyhose in the fridge

  Yesterday was a very busy day and I ended up grocery shopping quickly and throwing bags hither and yon when I got home, hoping that everything that needed to be in the refrigerator found its way there prior to jumping back into my car for a late meeting.
  This morning when I got up, I went to get the half/half for my badly needed cuppa of joe. Instead of my creamy coffee condiment, I pulled pantyhose out of the bag. 

This thought popped into my head and I just smiled and smiled.


"Yesterday I was blessed to do a job that makes a difference with people that I care about.  I worked hard.  I fought for the underdog.  I also put my pantyhose in the fridge. Not bad MacLuckie, not bad at all."


Bonus blessing: I get to be really "chilled out" today. Brrrrr.  :)

Running with the Moon

  I just got back from running with the moon.  It beat me of course, but made an excellent running companion.
   I know it isn't always the wisest thing to run so early, in the dark, by myself.  But, I love it.  I love breathing in the cool air, skipping if I want to, and watching my neighborhood wake up.  It is funny to learn the early morning habits of your neighbors (super loud disco music alarms, who sneaks out for a smoke before the family wakes up, etc).  I send out thoughts for a good day to each house as I pass by- it makes me feel a little like the heavy footed Tinkerbell of my block.
  I had a thought this morning as I rounded the corner back to my house.  How blessed am I to live in a place where I can run in the dark?

Very blessed and grateful.
 
Although the moon always wins our little race, it is a gracious winner. ( Sometimes, I let the stars win too just so they don't feel left out.)

Running in the dark- luckie me!