Posts

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        September 11, 2001   8:00 a.m. It was my first year as a teacher. I was hired through a special literacy initiative in the Philadelphia School District. I reported to my location as instructed by my hiring documents. First to the main office, then to the off-site building where the kindergarten was housed. It was a Presbyterian church -- a sign that I belonged here, maybe. Before converting to Catholicism for a girl (not my mother) my father was Presbyterian as I suspect many Scottish people are.    8:15 I went to the basement and looked around. The classroom was huge and was a child’s wonderland. Cubbies were lined up in an L shape creating an alcove in the entranceway to the classroom as well as a defined space for the teacher’s planning area. This space contained an adult-sized table with six chairs, a teacher’s desk, some bookcases including a big book storage unit, and a variety of supplies. This is where we planned our week, day, hour. Kid sized tables were on one side of
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Grief

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Stages of Grief Sometimes I hear a song That I yearn to share. Sometimes I have a project And I feel it’s so unfair. Sometimes I need advice The grief is too much to bear. Other times I remember My love of music is due to you. Other times I recall You gave me many tools. And then I am reminded Grief fades and joy shines through. Forgetfulness  I forgot to say I love you That last time we spoke And now I’ll never get The chance  To say those few simple words But that moment of forgetfulness  Had a positive result Because now I remember not To just to say the words But to show that love Every day And to express how my love For you Has filled me and has Spilled into the lives Of so many others
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The Park

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  Growing up a block away from Pennypack Park, we naturally spent much of our time there.   While  most city kids were hanging at shopping centers or on street corners or in playgrounds, our  crowd hung out in the  woods.     On any given day, any season of the year, you could usually find at least a few of us somewhere in the woods. During the summer, we were at the Pavillion or on a grassy patch under a large oak tree near the waterfall. In winter, we went to our “clubhouse” which we built from pilched materials from a nearby construction site. They were building an upscale apartment complex which had buildings with six units for rent but also had townhomes which you could purchase.     Upon entering the park on our side of the neighborhood, there was a steep incline which leveled off to a narrow path. Follow the path across a small streambed, which was usually dry unless it had just rained then turn to cross a small, wooden bridge.  After crossing the bridge you could go s
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One Of Those Days

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One of Those Days Cheryl was having one of those days. She woke up late thinking she hit the snooze but mistakenly hit the off button. Something went wrong with the toaster and every piece of toast was burnt, even when she’d turned down the dial to the lightest setting. She’d decided to unplug it when it sparked on the last batch which she popped up herself. Susan missed her bus and Roger, whose alarm never even went off, had to drive her to school because Kevin was not awake yet. Kevin’s school was closed due to a mold issue and it was Cheryl’s turn to stay home. Roger stayed home when Susan had the flu, so this week Cheryl would use PTO. After the morning rush, things seemed to calm down, but then the cat got sick and was throwing up all over the house. Every room she went into had a hairball or a pile of half-digested food. She called the vet and got a late-afternoon appointment and the recommendation was not to feed the cat until after the visit. She finally got to sit down for a m
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Sailing

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  At first glance It looks like we are Sailing into the storm But a closer look Reveals that we are Leaving the storm And heading for Fairer skies
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Love Poems

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A Kiss You kissed me after dinner  I could taste the raspberry cheesecake We shared on your soft lips. That kiss reminded me Of the tender young love We first shared all those years ago. I don’t need roses or diamonds Just the sweet romance of sharing that Cheesecake donned with Shaved chocolate and raspberry sauce.  It All Makes Sense It doesn’t make too much sense I said a bit incensed. We didn’t have that dance. We didn’t take that chance. But we took other chances, said you, And that dance wasn’t all that we knew. The music took us through The good times and bad times, too. One song doesn’t define you and me Our life has been a symphony Other times a cacophony, But together perpetually. And then it all made sense The vows we took, their relevance, In good times and in malevolence, We remain lovers and best friends.  A Gift To be with you A minute, an hour, a day Perpetual bliss A touch, an embrace, a gentle kiss To be with you Morning’s aglow Awake with happiness Sunshine, warmth,
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The Wildflowers

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The Wildflowers “There is magic all around us,” her mother would say when they went on their walks together. She didn’t really believe, though. She said she could see it. She said she could feel it. But she couldn’t. No harm in make believe, she would think, but she was talking about her mother’s make believe not hers. She was a more practical sort, a more show-me kind of girl.  “There, Sandra, can you see it? Can you see it in those flowers,” her mother would say as she pointed to a stand of purple wildflowers. “Yes, mommy. Yes, I see it,” she said as excited as her make believe would allow. But all she saw was a bunch of green with purple tops. Not big blooms with wide petals like the tulips, but tiny little bursts of purple. Not the deep purple you see on pansies but a redder purple like an orchid. “There, Sandra, that bird, can you see it? Can you see the magic?” “I see it, mommy. I see the magic.” But she never saw the magic. She just saw some broken light blue eggshells and a rob
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