Monthly Archives: March 2023

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SOLC Day 2: A Moment in Second Grade

March 2023 SOLC–Day 2
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

We were gathered at the rug in the midst of a discussion about types of fiction: specifically, realistic fiction, fantasy, and fables. (Oh, my.) We were looking at a couple of books and trying to decide which category they fit into. Some of them were a bit tricky. At this particular moment we were focused on fantasy.

T raised his hand, “Well, if a book has talking animals, it would be fantasy. Because in the real world animals don’t talk.”

Several students nodded in agreement or signaled that they had had the same thought.

“What about Mercy Watson?” V asked. “She doesn’t talk, but she sleeps in a bed and dreams of toast.”

“Is Fly Guy fantasy or realistic fiction?” M piped up. “He mostly just says ‘Buzzz’.”

S’s hand popped up, waving wildly, and he simultaneously blurted, “Well, some animals talk. Parrots talk.”

“Well, that’s true, ” I began, but S kept right on going. He was clearly determined to prove his point.

“Parrots do talk,” he repeated.

Lowering his hand, he tapped X, who was sitting next to him, on the shoulder.

“Do you want to be a parrot?” S asked him with great enthusiasm.

X, who clearly had not been followed the conversation, jerked to a more alert state and peered at S.

“Huh?” He looked like a confused chick with his sleepy eyes and tousled downy hair.

“Do you want to be a parrot?” S repeated.

“Oh, OK,” X answered promptly. (He clearly had no idea what was going on, but was game.)

“OK,” said S He prepared himself, shifting on the rug, sitting up straighter and looking straight at X.

“Hello,” he said clearly in his best parrot voice (which sounded uncannily like his regular voice).

“Hello,” replied X in a similar fashion.

“See,” declared S triumphantly, looking around at the class with a satisfied grin.

And he rested his case.

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SOLC Day 1: A Mindful Moment in the Snow

March 2023 SOLC–Day 1
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

Late yesterday afternoon, I bundled up and slipped outside into the snow. Immediately, the cold flakes hit my face and I couldn’t help smiling.

Why hadn’t I come out earlier? 

All day long the snow had been falling and I’d been watching it from inside. Happy to be watching the birds. Warmed by the steady heat of the wood stove. Enjoying the drowsy, PJs-all-day, snow globe kind of day. 

Now, the feel of the snow on my face animated me, and I set out to wander. Before too long, I noticed that I hadn’t been the only one out and about. Fresh deer tracks led across a back trail, weaving between trees. 

How long ago had they passed? Had they been watching me? Had I inadvertently startled them? Were they still there?

I paused and scanned the trees, waiting for long hushed moments. I heard nothing but the soft sound of my breath. I saw nothing moving other than the drifting snowflakes.

After a bit, I walked further into a clearing out back. The falling snow was striking against the contrast of the deep green of the tall pines. The branches of the smaller trees bowed gracefully under its accumulating weight.

I wandered on, my attention caught by one thing after another. In the back field, remnants of wildflowers cupped collected snow in delicate chalices. 

In a marvel of textures, the bark on the pine trees boasted soft pillows of snow amidst its collection of scalloped green lichens.

Once I’d had my fill of wandering and wondering, I walked back to the front yard and looked across the smooth expanse of white. Suddenly, I wanted nothing more than to lie down in the middle of it all.

Why not?

I waded out into the yard, found a good spot, sat and then lay down flat on my back. I turned my face upward. I thought of making snow angels as a child, but that had no appeal. Today felt like a still kind of day. So I simply lay there, arms by my side, watching the flakes fall in spirals from the grey sky. A hypnotic ever changing swirl of grey and white. They appeared one flake after another after another.Collecting on my coat, my face, my glasses.

I lay quietly watching for a long time. Mesmerized. Then I closed my eyes. Through my coat, I could feel the cushion of mounded snow. The distant cold solidity of the ground. I felt the flakes land gently on my cheeks. Felt them settle and melt from my body’s heat. One after another after another.

In that moment I knew I was exactly where I wanted to be. Doing exactly what I wanted to do. Utterly content.