Merely Day By Day

It's Tuesday!  Today is the Slice of Life Challenge.  I'm so grateful to the writers in this community for their continued support, inspiration, and friendship.  You can stop by Two Writing Teachers to join the conversation and discover links to the stories shared.   Recently I was speaking at a conference with a couple of my writing friends about our transitions into the world of digital writing.  As I talked to the group about the challenges writers face, one woman raised her hand.  She said what many of us have said before, "It's hard to find the time to write."  What caught my attention about this writer sitting in the audience wasn't that she had been diligently taking notes or the way she nodded as others shared or the fact that she mentioned time, it was the way she said it.  There was something about her tone.  Something about the way her shoulders slumped forward as she said it.  Something about the sadness in her eyes. ...

It's Tuesday so stop by  Two Writing Teachers  to join  tonight's link-up and conversation .  There's something about moving from blog to blog to savor the little stories that make us smile.   "Blood is thicker than water, but love is thicker than blood."                 --- Garth Brooks:  Thicker Than Blood On this Veterans' Day we honor the men and women who have served for our country; those people who believed in freedom and helped us to live as we do today.  Of course, behind all of those who served in uniform there are other stories.  Sometimes the story of a hero is beyond the battlefield.  Sometimes the story of a hero is built over years of making a difference in other ways.  This is the story of my grandfather who, not only served his country, but taught us all what it means to live to make a difference. Many years ago my grandma, a widow with two small boys, married this man. ...

It's Tuesday so stop by  Two Writing Teachers  to join  tonight's link-up and conversation .  There's something about moving from blog to blog to savor the little stories that make us smile.   via Personal Excellence blog As a teacher, I always wonder what my students will remember about me.  My hope is always that students will see their light reflected in my eyes; that I will in some way help them to see all that they can be.  In my years as a student I was fortunate to have many teachers who touched my life in different ways.  I like to think each one played a part in shaping the person I am today.  Today I stay in contact with many of these teachers who helped paint my childhood in possibility. Today I came home to the unfortunate news that one of my teachers just passed away.  It was sad to hear that my fourth grade teacher had lost this last battle, but he had triumphed so many times before.  Though he will likely neve...

It's Tuesday so stop by  Two Writing Teachers  to join  tonight's link-up and conversation .  There's something about moving from blog to blog to savor the little stories that make us smile.   "Don't sit too close to the television," our parents warned as if our eyes might fall out or rays might soak into us.  Maybe both things happened, but I seemed to make it through a childhood of mild television watching with few, if any, symptoms as a result.  It's interesting to live on the cusp of new technologies.  What did people think as they watched the first car owners drive past their homes?  Imagine the disgust as televisions began to replace radios.  What were they saying when computers first found their way to our desktops?  What about that hard rock-n-roll music that was sure to doom your soul? With any new technology or discovery there are gifts and concerns.  The eReader is no exception.  I had to laugh this week as...

It's Tuesday!  Today, and every Tuesday, Two Writing Teachers hosts The Slice of Life Challenge ( today's link ).  Thanks to everyone at Two Writing Teachers for establishing and supporting this amazing community of writers.   This week I spent my days moving from my first grade classroom to a small room I will be using as a home base while supporting primary readers.  I've been teaching more years than I care to admit; just a little over a quarter century.  Actually, that sounds worse than saying I've been teaching for 26 years.  I've taught everything from kindergarten to 6th grade, as well as worked as a Reading Recovery teacher and as a Literacy Coach.  Though I've held many positions, I've always been in the classroom for part of my day.  So, I've collected some stuff.  That's putting it mildly;  I've collected a lot of stuff. It took days to sort through everything, separating my materials from those belonging to the school...

Yesterday was the last day of the Slice of Life Challenge so today we are back to posting every Tuesday.  Thanks to Two Writing Teachers for hosting and inspiring us.   In January I chose my One Little Word to be DISCOVER .  As the first three months have passed, I'm not so sure it's about discovering so much as taking time to do things, to pay attention.  March has been a good month for finding time to discover. March was full of DISCOVERIES Great Places New Recipes New Books A New Fantasy Season And dessert.  Lots of DESSERT! My One Little Word:  Discover

It's the  31st day of the March Slice of Life Challenge .  The final day.   Thanks to the amazing  Two Writing Teachers team  for all of their support in this event. Reflections Today ends the third year I have participated in the Slice of Life Challenge.  I remember the first year;  it was really all I could do to sit down to write each day.  There were days I just didn't think I'd be able to get anything down to publish.  Year two was a little better, but still sometimes just thinking of what I would write was a challenge. When I joined in year one it was because I wanted to get back into the habit of writing.  Like getting back into exercise, I struggled.  After the challenge that year my ability to stay in the habit ebbed and flowed.  There were times I was writing and times I was not.  There were times ideas came easily and times they did not. The First Challenge:  Crafting an Interesting Piece Now...

It's the 30th day of the March Slice of Life Challenge .  31 days of writing.   Thanks to the amazing  Two Writing Teachers team  for all of their support in this event. This morning I awoke at my daughter's apartment to the sound of an unfamiliar bird singing outside of the window.  I pulled the blind open to try to spot the bird, but couldn't see it anywhere though its song was clear, strong, and unknown to me.  I looked at the flowering dogwood across the street thinking the bird must be somewhere in there and sighed.  Today was the last day of my spring break.  In a few short hours we'd be on the road home and back to the busyness of life. Though I looked forward to seeing my students and hearing their stories tomorrow, I lamented all I had not accomplished.  I still didn't have my taxes done.  My daughter's graduation invitation wasn't done.  My house was clean, but the windows, closets, and drawers looked ...

It's the  29th day of the March Slice of Life Challenge .  31 days of writing.   Thanks to the amazing  Two Writing Teachers team  for all of their support in this event. We watched at the window until we saw them coming down the road.  Finally the car pulled into the parking spot, backed to straighten, and finally came to a rest.  The car doors opened and I raced to greet them.  Soon my mom and Jerry were on their way up the steps.  It had been three months since we'd all been together so I was thrilled when they were able to drive to my daughter's to join us for a visit. There were hellos, hugs, and laughter as they came up the stairs and entered the apartment.  "Here are some cookies for the drive home," my mom said handing me a big bag of chocolate chip cookies risen to perfection.  I eyed the mountains of sweetness and thanked her, doubting these cookies would make it that long. Jerry sat down to chat with us ...

It's the   28th day of the March Slice of Life Challenge .  31 days of writing.   Thanks to the amazing  Two Writing Teachers team  for all of their support in this event.   It's also Poetry Friday so I decided to try a little poetry for this evening.  Poetry Friday is hosted by Mary Lee Hahn at A Year of Reading . Yesterday Stacey talked about a piece of writing that takes readers in a different direction  than they think they are headed.  I thought I'd try that with this poem. via Words on Image Tolkien Quote i start at the beginning of the path the first step a touch familiar i begin to wander enjoying all i see moving beyond the known i pause taking it all in, one discovery leads to another weaving soon i am  at a place where i must decide where to go next forward or back?   i choose and continue, before i know it i am lost straying from where i originated ...

It's the  27th day of the March Slice of Life Challenge .  31 days of writing.   Thanks to the amazing  Two Writing Teachers team  for all of their support in this event. The problem with reading, if we can say there is one, is that its hard to sleep when you have a good book.   Last night I woke up when I heard my daughter come in from work at 11:15.  I heard the knob jiggle, the door open, and her feet tap gently across the foyer floor.  She chatted with the dog for a bit and wandered into the kitchen.  I had the alarm set to check on her so I would have awaken no matter what.  Climbing out of my heated bed I walked in the kitchen to talk with her for a bit and then headed back to my room.  My book was calling me as soon as consciousness returned to my mind.   Since I am on spring break I decided I could read for awhile as I didn't necessarily have to get up early. Picking up my Kindle I went back to reading S...

It's the  26th day of the March Slice of Life Challenge .  31 days of writing.   Thanks to the amazing  Two Writing Teachers team  for all of their support in this event. Typically life is pretty busy and quick paced.  It seems weeks are spent racing here and hurrying there.  There is always something to be done, and never time to just stop for a bit.  This week is my spring break so I decided to put my calendar, lists, and deadlines aside to do a little meandering with my friend, Trish.  Since it is the 2 6 th, I thought I'd share my day in 6   six word stories. Every day should begin with coffee. Pie with friends delights the soul. My basket fills with fresh food. Yutzy's Farm Market Making meatballs from secret family recipe.   Plants enjoy light day and night.   Franklin Park Conservatory to see the light art of Bruce Munro Lesson:  put lists aside to meander.   ...

It's the  25th day of the March Slice of Life Challenge .  31 days of writing.   Thanks to the amazing  Two Writing Teachers team  for all of their support in this event. Spring break shopping Would someone please tell Mother Nature it is my spring break. I should not be wearing a coat or waiting for bright sunshine. I shouldn't see white fluffy flakes falling. I want to see green feel warmth see sun because it is my SPRING break.

It's the  24th day of the March Slice of Life Challenge .  31 days of writing.   Thanks to the amazing  Two Writing Teachers team  for all of their support in this event. Let's face it, the hot dog doesn't get the respect it deserves in our culture.  As kids we loved a good hot dog anytime, anywhere.  We'd pull them out of refrigerators and eat them cold right out of the bag.  They were delicious cut up and dipped in ketchup, on a bun plain, or chopped in Spaghettio's. There comes a time in our adolescence where we find out the truth about hot dogs.  Eventually the well kept secret can no longer be hidden; we find out the contents of a hot dog.  What...meat parts?  Ugh!  How did our parents let us eat them all of those years?  We feel cheated.  Lied to.  Let down.  After the truth is told, it is sometimes days, weeks, or maybe even years before we can eat a hot dog again.  Gone are the...

It's the  22nd day of the March Slice of Life Challenge .  31 days of writing.   Thanks to the amazing  Two Writing Teachers team  for all of their support in this event. It's spring break. If you are looking for me I might be writing fingers at the keyboard, cup of coffee at my side, searching for words, playing on paper. It's spring break. If you are looking for me I might be desperately avoiding wrestling with my taxes, laboring over FAFSA forms, cleaning cupboards, closets, and hidden piles, scouring floors, sinks, and windows. It's spring break. If you are looking for me I might be discovering places: meandering through the zoo , gazing at light shows , walking through the park, finding a new place to eat . It's spring break. If you are looking for me I might be putting responsibilities aside reading a new book, soaking in the sunshine (please let there be sunshine), spending time with friends and family, cel...

It's the   21st day of the March Slice of Life Challenge .  31 days of writing.   Thanks to the amazing  Two Writing Teachers team  for all of their support in this event.   It's also Poetry Friday so I decided to try a little poetry for this evening.  Poetry Friday is hosted by Julie Larios at The Drift Record . The Line Between The moon stands boldly in the blue black sky not ready to say goodnight. It watches the sun begin to rise on the other side of the earth. The sun peeks above the green of the world into the white blue sky. It smiles at the moon. Seeing itself in the moon's reflection. Driving down the gray paved narrow road I watch them play. Moon greets sun. Sun greets moon. The line between                      night and day. © Cathy L. Mere

It's  day 20 of the March Slice of Life Challenge .  We're more than half way through 31 days of writing.   Thanks to the amazing  Two Writing Teachers team  for all of their support in this event.   There are probably things you shouldn't confess to on a blog, but here we go anyway…. Picture from Tralfaz Archives My husband likely thinks I'm crazy as I run out of the room where I am writing because I heard the name " Tony Orlando " on the television set.  Suddenly, I'm ten again.  I used to stay up so I wouldn't miss the Tony Orlando and Dawn show.  I loved to see him sing.   I can still picture the album which played over and over on the record player my parents got for me. Those were the days before reality television.  The days when you had three channels not 300.  Those were the days when you actually had to watch a show on the exact time it aired.  Though I was quite young I somehow managed to l...

It's  day 19 of the March Slice of Life Challenge .  We're more than half way through 31 days of writing.   Thanks to the amazing  Two Writing Teachers team  for all of their support in this event.   Before my husband and I were married I spent a lot of time at his parents' house.  His mom had a way of making everyone feel welcome in their home.   When she cooked, there might be four people in the house but, she cooked for an army.  It never mattered if someone stopped by because she always had more than enough food on the stove.  She was always ready to lend an ear, a hand, or whatever someone might need. After my husband and I got married, she would always introduce me to people as her daughter.  Somehow this just always made me feel like I was such a part of this family.   In the first years we were married, we spent a lot of time at my in-laws.  They lived close so it was easy to stop by or join them f...