He’ll get a lot of 1’s on his report card next week. 1’s for “Does Not Meet Expectations.”

He began the year as he ended the last. Quietly. He managed his daily transitions from our classroom to the Learning Lab to weekly Speech Language sessions. He shut down when things got too tough. Retreated. Quiet. 

At morning meetings, he rarely added his thoughts to class discussions, needing encouragement even to say “Pass” when his turn came around. Limited eye contact. He struggled in the classroom with math, and often refused to look at the Ed. Tech there to help him. He rarely engaged in the work. Sometimes he couldn’t sit still. Sometimes he sat and stared at his desk. 

Somewhere along the way, maybe late in November, things started to change.

He’s flowered.  An odd word choice perhaps to describe a 10 year old boy, but it’s so apt. He’s simply opened up to the world. Now he laughs more, interacts more. His language has bloomed. Perhaps that was the key. 

He’s reading at home most nights now. Remembers to check in with me in the mornings about what he’s read. Has a couple of favorite authors. A favorite series. Still, he’s reading levels below the benchmark.

In Math, his confidence has blossomed. He raises his hand frequently to participate. Sometimes he’ll try to explain and finally say, “I can’t explain it,” but most of the time he’s finding the words to share his ideas, his strategies. He’s demonstrating far more understanding. He’s participating almost every day.

Now, I have to remind him to stop chatting. To stop class clowning. I had to move his chair up to the front row to split up his new and active social dynamic.

A teacher and I talk about this and laugh, “Be careful what you wish for!” we say. But we smile. Broadly. 

Still, he’s getting a lot of 1s on his report card, even though he’s exceeded oh so many expectations.

“There’s a woodpecker nesting in the tree above my office,” Kurt announced as he walked in. “I’ve seen it a bunch and it’s out there right now.”

“Really?! What kind?”

I think he answered me, but I’m not sure, as I’d already rushed outdoors, grabbing my camera as I went. I scanned the cluster of trees near his office, my eyes running swiftly up and down each tree trunk.

Where was it?

Was it there?

Or maybe there?

Yes! Yes! Sure enough, there it was! A red-bellied woodpecker!

Aren’t they gorgeous? That beautiful red head and black and white barred back is such a stunning combination. They actually have a faint blush of red on their bellies (Can you see it?), hence their name. (You’d think they should be called a red-headed woodpecker, but if you look those up, you’ll see why that name was already taken.)

Red-bellieds are one of my favorites and we’re lucky enough to see them regularly. Two summers ago we had a family of them visiting the feeders almost everyday. I was frequently drawn to the window to watch the parents forage at the suet feeder and bring chunks back to the three loudly-impatient babies who waited on an adjacent branch. Then they’d all swoop back off toward the trees. I never could determine which nesting cavity their tree was in, though I knew approximately where it was and I’d searched.

This past fall and winter we lost a lot of old trees during windstorms. Many of them clearly had been used for nesting cavity birds. We’d still seen the red-bellieds throughout the winter, but I’d been a little worried that they might move farther afield during nesting season. So, was this the bird Kurt had been seeing, or was it just visiting? Soon enough I had my answer.

• 

• 

• 

I settled in to watch this one hard at work. Over and over he pushed his head deep into the trunk and pulled out bits and pieces of wood. (You can see some in his beak in the last photo.) He was at it for quite some time!

Since then, I’ve been doing some research and it sounds like the male excavates the nesting cavity and then tries to entice the female. Oh, I do hope he’s successful! The nesting cavity is easily visible from the driveway and I’m already anticipating happy hours watching the family grow and taking photos along the way!

So, if all goes well, we’re expecting…baby woodpeckers!

First, I survived!
(You can read about my pre-vaccine anxiety here)

• 

• 

All in all, I’m counting it a win 🙂

I’ve spent most of last weekend and the past week indoors, so I’ve been yearning to be out and about. I’d tentatively planned to drive down to the marsh this morning. I really needed to get out of my own frazzled mind. To lose myself in nature and photography.

Juniper, my cat, dutifully woke me at 4:30 am, so I could make it for sunrise if I was motivated and willing to forego my morning writing. But still I hesitated. It’s a 45 minute drive down to the marsh which meant I’d be gone for about 2 1/2 – 3 hours. It was supposed to be cloudy, not partially cloudy, but full on cloudy. Also, there was a nasty blowing wind icon on the forecast, and when I checked, it said the wind chill was 20˚F. That wouldn’t be awful except that yesterday’s temperatures in the high 50s apparently drained my tolerance for even the thought of cold.

Not going anywhere sounded enticing. Relaxing.

But getting out sounded healthy. Rejuvenating.

I dithered.

Tick.
Tock.

Dithered some more.

Tick.
Tock.

As I turned over the pros and cons yet again, I glanced at my watch. Oops. I’d missed the window to make sunrise at the marsh. Well, that was one way to make a decision. Suddenly feeling more focused now that my options were limited, I decided to drive down into “town” to visit the river as a consolation prize.

And what a lovely prize it was!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

“I’m thinking of taking out a personal ad!” I announced in a rush as I blew in the door after work yesterday. “Have you ever written one? How do they go anyway?”

My husband, pretty secure after 30+ years of wedded bliss, just looked at me quizzically. I explained, laughing, that after continued frustration on-line, frantically trying to capture an elusive vaccine appointment (see yesterday’s blog), I’ve decided to change my approach. With this context, he was 100% on board and even helped with some abbreviations. (Thanks, Kurt!) Here’s the rough draft (regretfully revised to take out those abbreviations that cracked us up but might be a bit too provocative):

ISO Good Times With A BBV*!

I’m a 50-something MWF**. A bit frazzled these days, but at my best, I’m a fair amount of fun. I enjoy large gatherings, public transportation, and touching my face. Tired of the on-line scene and compulsive hand washing, I’m seeking a long-term relationship with a BBV*. Preferably not too hot. I’m not the type to discriminate. I will consider all offers, and I’m willing to travel to meet up. I’m hoping for hugs and hand-holding, mask-less walks on the beach, and maybe even some romantic, candlelight indoor dining! No need for casual conversation. I’m looking to add some adventure to my life! Let’s make a date! Soon!

So what do you think? 

*BBV=big beautiful vaccine
**MWF= married white female

Everyone’s talking about it and it’s hard to know exactly what’s true and what to do.

“I hear you can get on a wait list if you call directly.”

“They said on the news there won’t be as many doses available this week.”

“You have to log in at midnight to find new appointments.”

“I hear the school is going to send an e-mail with a link.”

This past weekend, the message from a friend came in early.

“Just scheduled both doses!”

“What!? Where? How’d you do it?”

“Walgreens. It refreshes at 7am. You have to make an account beforehand and get ready to go right at 7. Have a list of zip codes and be prepared to leave your area.” This was followed up by another quick message, “Oh…and enter lots of zip code options. You’ve got to be willing to travel.”

“OK. Thanks! I’ll try tomorrow.”

Next morning…7 am…it begins.

I log into the Walgreen’s site.

04008

“No appointments available within 25 miles of Bowdoinham, Maine for next three days.”

04011

“No appointments available within 25 miles of Brunswick, Maine for next three days.”

04101

“No appointments available within 25 miles of Portland, Maine for next three days.”

After attempting 5 or 6 more zip codes, I switch over to our local grocery store chain, Hannaford.

04008

“No appointments available within 50 miles of Bowdoinham, Maine.”

04011

“No appointments available within 50 miles of Brunswick, Maine.”

I keep at it, entering zip code after zip code with no success.

Then this happens:

What!? Are you kidding me?

This process is really taxing my recent effort to “keep it positive”.

Sigh.

There has to be a better way.