March 2023 SOLC–Day 25
A huge thank you to Two Writing Teachers for all that they do to create an amazing community of writers and a safe, welcoming space to write, learn, share and grow.
http://www.twowritingteachers.org
I hear the birds outside, calling. I’m choosing to think of it as a dawn serenade or even a cheery “Good Morning!” rather than as a reminder that the feeders are empty–an avian rebuke of sorts.
The small splash of last summer’s red nail polish on the tip of one big toenail? It’s a cheerful memento, rather than an embarrassing indication of laziness.
Those spider webs in the window? Not evidence of sloth. No, they’re an effort to foster a natural habitat, to provide refuge, or perhaps an investment in natural bug eradication measures.
I’m weaving my world into different patterns today.
Thinking about the spider webs, I remember the time my son’s teacher laughingly shared with me how my son had shared with his class a story of us stopping our dinner to watch a spider wrap its prey. (Clearly, web has been part of my decorating motif for a long time.) I suspect she was thinking of this as one of those unfortunate revelations kids make to their teachers–the ones that would cause parents to cringe if only they knew. You may have heard some of these yourself, the ones that can make future eye contact challenging: “My dad walks around in his underwear and farts all the time.” “My mom’s reading Fifty Shades of Grey.” or “My mom has handcuffs in her room. She says it’s in case there’s ever a bad guy.” But, while his teacher was, perhaps, considering my poor housekeeping efforts, I chose to think of it as a time we fostered wonder and flexibility.
Anyway, this morning, after a week of long, long days and too much focus, I’m allowing myself to drift. You may have noticed already. I was late to rise (10 hour sleep celebration! Woot!) and ignored the pull to get up and out and greet the sunrise. Instead, I’m allowing my body and mind to be slow, to wander where they wish. To ignore the to do’s and simply to be. At least for the moment.
Yesterday at recess a second grader zipped her coat around a playground structure pole. She took each empty sleeve in one of her hands. Then she danced. An easy-breezy graceful dance. Her eyes half-closed, her body loose and relaxed, she and her coat dipped and swayed around that jaunty red pole. Utterly content in the moment that she’d created.
That’s how I want to be today. I want to drift along, see where the tide of the day takes me and mix metaphors wherever I want. To wander. To wonder. To create my own enchantment. To spend my day easy-breezy, eyes half-closed, loose and relaxed.
Wish me luck!
Nix the comfort zone 
I wish you more than just luck! You deserve this day. I wish you contentment and rest, slow and easy, calm and soft.
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Thanks, Mary Lee. I was both drifty and productive. It was overall pretty lovely!
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I love the tone of this post, an intention for your Saturday! Maybe you will float around and notice even more spiderwebs in your house or you better check on those crocuses! I like your vibe this morning and I’m excited to see where it leads you!
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I managed to hold on to that drifty intention for most of the day, and honestly got a lot done. Interesting…
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I hope you have just the kind of day you described – I would like that kind of day, too. I loved the image of the second grader dancing around the pole holding onto to the coat sleeves. I could picture it in my mind – and I will hold it for a long time to come. Enjoy this first weekend of spring!
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That image is one I’ll definitely hold in my mind. It’s something to aspire to!
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This is such a great post. It has exactly the flow and mood that your words describe. It got off to a great start with this line: an avian rebuke of sorts
and it just continued with line after line and image after image, the paused dinner (totally with you on your interpretation, not the teacher’s), the examples of kids’ awkward revelations. (the handcuffs!), and finally the incredible image of the kid dancing with her coat. Thank you for this. I hope your day continues breezy. It really made for a great read.
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Thanks! It just sort of flowed this morning and I enjoyed writing it. It’s been a drifty, breezy day and I’ve enjoyed almost every moment of it!
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Lovely! Love this line: I’m weaving my world into different patterns today. AND I love that little girl dancing with her coat. Yes – that is the JOY of childhood. I think you should turn that moment into a poem! Just wonderful!
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“I’m weaving my world into different patterns today.” What a perfect way to be on a Saturday after a week of “long, long days and too much focus.” I hope your drifting day was wonderful!
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I love this post and all the examples you give of allowing life to weave into different patterns and to be able to drift. I love the unfortunate examples of remarks students make about their parents and I especially love the story of the girl who zipped her coat around a post and danced. How cool is that?!
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