It is not so easy to gather the good things of this week that was also filled with heartbreak for families I don't know, but I hope that somehow peace will come for them. I also understand it was hard for many of us from afar as we heard and watched the news. And I kept remembering the quote from R.J. Palacio's Wonder: "When given the choice between being right and being kind, choose kind." And although many did not choose kind, some did, and I celebrate that.
I had a great time participating in the PB10for10 hosted by Cathy Mere and Mandy Robek last Sunday. And I celebrate that I found many of the books recommended at my library, and have many of them already checked out! Fun to be able to read the books, and fun to save money too!
My granddaughter Ingrid had her tonsils out Monday. I stayed with her Tuesday and wanted so much to find some way to take her mind off how much it hurt. Books helped, but only for a little while. Mostly sleep is to be celebrated this time. We knew no matter how much she was told that it would be a shock, and it was. I celebrate that she's better, that having it done will result in good things for her, but it's not been an easy week for her (and her parents).
I continue to celebrate my wonderful colleagues. I went into my school several times after Tuesday, and had great beginning conversations with several. Creating big plans that will help our students grow in a variety of ways is just fun.
And, among all the books I read, this time I celebrate one book. Someone recommended Ralph Fletcher's Ordinary Things, Poems From A Walk in Early Spring, with gorgeous black and white sketched illustrations by Walter Lyon Krudop. It is special. I thought of so many of you who write of your walks through words and pictures, the tiny things that make you smile. This is that kind of book, filled with what Ralph Fletcher saw, then wrote about, on his walk. So I celebrate the finding of it, and then, I opened the book to read, and found that it is an autographed copy! I am thrilled. Here is the rest: Fletcher signed and wrote a note to a Lorrie, and as I read, another small piece of paper fell out, a note showing that "Lorrie" had passed it on to an "Allana". I wish I knew why each gave the book up and it ended in a used bookstore, but I'm glad it did, because now I have the pleasure of it. The opening poem ends with "Each footstep is like a word
as it meets the blank page
followed by a pause
before the next one:
step, step word . . . "
Like our days, right? Step, step, word!
Ohhhhh. What a wonderful find! I love the lines of the poem.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Loralee. So happy to share it, too.
DeleteSpeedy healing for Ingrid. It is uncommon, at least in our area, for children to have tonsils removed. Mine were taken out when I as in first grade and amazingly, I still remember it! Celebrating kindness in a world of hatred is so difficult. Thank for reminding us that kindness is still there and still needs to be celebrated. And what a find in Fletcher's signed book. I love all his work and having a signed copy would be the best. Have a great week, Linda.
ReplyDeleteI understand about the tonsils, but this time, the breathing needed relief. I heard that the new person in charge of the police in Ferguson was going around the neighborhood giving hugs. It's part of what I mean about kindness. What a good thing he did first! And hope you might find the book at the library or somewhere. It, like all his books, is a good one. Thanks, Leigh Anne. Hope you have a good week, too.
DeleteYour celebration is perfect the ups and downs. Love how you incorporated stories in all your life events. My favorite line is "It is special. I thought of so many of you who write of your walks through words and pictures,
ReplyDeleteThanks Maria, the book really did seem like a poetic post!
DeleteThank you for sharing about that poem book. It sounds like serendipity that it ended up with you. I will definitely look for this book. I hope your granddaughter is feeling better. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI hope you can find a copy, too, Andrea. I enjoyed it a lot. Thanks for the wishes!
DeleteI love how your celebrations recognize the pain in the world too. It's been a hard week! Looking for things to celebrate, I believe, helps us survive weeks like this one. Loving the book you found in the used book store! Awesome!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle. I felt it was good to acknowledge the week for what it was, filled with so much sadness. Good to look for the celebrations this time especially.
DeleteYour opening paragraph...we all need to remember to choose kindness and love. Hope your grandgirl is recovering well. I have to find that book of Raplh Fletcher. I have it somewhere. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteSo happy to hear that someone else has the book, Jone. Hope you find it! Yes, it is a week to find that being kind is the best action anyone can take. Hope your week is good too!
DeleteThank you for your wonderful post - you always manage to find so many things to celebrate - both large and small. I was touched by your search for kindness amidst the sadness. I also loved your discovery of Ralph Fletcher's book. I know many of his but not this one. Your book has been on quite a journey - being passed along to different people! Planning the year with colleagues - one of my favorite things to do! We are still on strike, though! : ( Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI keep watching for you and Carrie, Adrienne, hoping to find progress! I hope it's soon that you find a way to get to the important thing, teaching the kids! Thanks for coming by!
Delete"Step, step word" So true!
ReplyDeleteGlad there were celebrations amid a crazy week. It is so hard to see little ones in pain. We go through this every time my daughter lengthens and it is hard! She had her tonsils removed when she was 4 and the recovery is hard, especially the first week. But then it gets better, but the food gets hard, no crunchy foods! I remember she had a baggie of goldfish crackers with her when we went for her check up. She just couldn't wait to have crunchy foods again! Have a great week!
Yes, the crunchy, & delightful, snacks are no more for a while. We all hope she'll be feeling her old self soon! Most everyone has said a week for better, & two weeks for really good. Thanks for sharing your experience, Michele.
DeleteI love the way you opened with thoughts of the "big picture" - that you chose to think of and celebrate the wise choices that were made in that picture last week. Poor Ingrid - sleep and ice cream will perhaps offer some small solace for now.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tara. It's been quite a week, hasn't it? I almost want to ignore the news, then feel irresponsible for ignoring it. Step by step I hope everything improves...
DeleteI love all your reasons to celebrate. It's a good way to live and be thankful. Wonder is such a beautiful book- love the quote. And by now, I hope your granddaughter is pain free- and eating ice cream? Do they still do that- or am I showing my age? :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Iza. You're right, ice cream or anything cold is the prescription, but even those things don't help right away. The throat is just so, so sore. But she is better, and will be okay, and breathe better! That's the good part! I love Wonder, too, & am inspired by all that R.J. Palacio has continue with her book.
DeleteThanks for sharing your celebrations and your finds. I may have to check out that book. Poetry never hurt anyone. I should add more in my life!
ReplyDeleteThere are many wonderful poetry books out there, Earl. And you can find them at your store? Have you heard about the new J. Patrick Lewis book coming soon? It sounds great, too. Thank you!
DeleteLove the serendipity of the Ralph Fletcher book. I think I would love this one, too. I hope Ingrid's recovery continues and that you have a great start to the school year. Here we go again!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Margaret, yes, into the year we go! It'll be good to see how our first day with staff is with our new head. We're going to the foothills for an adventure together! It's an exciting way to begin, I think.
DeleteGoing with your staff on an adventure together - what a wonderful beginning! I hope Ingrid is continuing to mend and that her throat is feeling much better by now. Thanks for mentioning the sadness in our world this past week. I've ached for the families and for so many touched by tragedy. I think I might have to do a future SOL about books that are inscribed. I won Guys Write by Ralph Fletcher from a blog giveaway. I need to request Ordinary Things.
ReplyDeleteI don't have many books that are inscribed, but a few. I never thought about a post for that, Ramona. What a fun idea. Yes, the sadness permeating the week was tough, even for many not directly connected, except there are issues we must all address and take action in, I think. Ingrid is better, but it's hard to see her hurting so much. Thank you!
DeleteThank you for the book recommendation. I love Ralph Fletcher and have missed this one.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for the connection to choosing kind. Quite appropriate, and so sad that others don't own that response in difficult situations.
I hope you can find the book & then enjoy it, Julieanne. As for choosing kind, I feel that I would, but I also have never been in such a challenging situation, so am hopeful that others will begin to find ways to be kind instead of fearful. Thank you!
DeleteI had my tonsils out when I was in 2nd grade so I really feel for your granddaughter. I hope this week is easier for her and your family who is caring for her. I love Ralph Fletcher and have never heard of this book. Sounds like a winner! Enjoy your week!
ReplyDeleteJennifer
Thanks, Jennifer. My daughter and granddaughters did visit for a little while today, & Ingrid is better, still with eating challenges. It will get better, I'm sure. Hope you find the book!
DeleteLinda, your post lead gently to the last line when I had to stop and ponder for a brief moment. "Step, step, word."-an encounter with my own awakening this week. And so my family went back to the beach for a short time and there it was-a moment of reflection on a windy beach. Your Ralph Fletcher book is quite a find.
ReplyDeleteSo nice for you to get away for a while, Carol. I'm happy you connected to these special words from Ralph Fletcher. Thanks for telling me!
DeleteCHOOSE KIND! Something to hold on to...Poor little Ingrid - I'm glad she's feeling better! I, too, enjoyed PB 10 for 10! Your Ralph Fletcher find sounds like a gem!
ReplyDeleteThanks Holly, PB10for10 was certainly lots of fun and the list I compiled is huge. Hope you find the Fletcher book sometime.
DeleteThank you for including #pb10for10 in your celebrations. It seemed so long ago with starting work this week, it didn't even cross my mind to celebrate. YIKES! I'm glad you were able to help your granddaughter when she was under the weather, grandmas are always the best.
ReplyDeleteWell, I loved your #PB10for10, but although I was only in a little bit this week, it does seem like a long time ago, Mandy. Thanks for your wishes. Ingrid is better, and will get better each day. I think I helped a little, but it was Tuesday, just lots of TLC when she woke up.
DeleteI don't know why it matters so much, but the author's own hand having touched and inscribed a book really does make it special! I have quite a few now, and I'm always pleasantly surprised to open them and find the signature--"Look, everyone--the poet signed this book as a present just for us!" My best find is a beat-up old copy of The Snowy Day that I found in a discard pile at my old nursery school, signed by Ezra Jack Keats, with whom I share a birthday!
ReplyDeleteHave a great year, Linda!
Like this book, It is a nice surprise to open a book and find an inscription. How wonderful about having A Snowy Day signed! Thanks, Heidi. Hope your year is special, too.
DeleteLinda, we have had some awful local news in the past week that I did not address in my post, but your post is a powerful reminder that even amidst horrible actions, there are people choosing kind. I am glad Ingrid was able to find relief in sleep this week! I bet she will not remember the pain most from this experience, but rather the love with which she is surrounded!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about your news, too, Christy. It touches us always even if not directly connected. I enjoyed hearing all about what you've been doing, especially about your Etsy shop! Best wishes in that!
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