I've been trying hard to clean out varied things from home, including books I can donate to the bookstore because I'm sure I'll never read them. They are enticing, but too many others are calling me, too.
This past week I've gone through all my teacher journals, yes, 25 of them! At the school where I taught, every student (and teachers), from the youngest to the oldest, kept field journals, incorporating field observations in words and sketches, along with book notes and writing drafts, etc., etc. I enjoyed the journey, but I cannot keep them all, though I kept a few, took a few pictures of pages, loved reading about the many, many trips my middle-school students and I took, the writing and reading we did, the wonderful fun we had. I removed the spirals when needed and took a box to be shredded. Yep, they're gone.
Here are a couple of pictures of how some pages looked. I had taped in lots of poems and kept a few, but I can find others I love, too. Those gone were chosen for certain reasons and now today, others call to me. I suspect you understand.
And then, again, more political fury arrived Monday night. Since 2016, things have felt uncertain, feel as if we cannot help enough. The list grows as you know, and this week, this Supreme Court leak. So amongst all the poems, I found this. One can interpret it any way one wishes but it seems to fit our oh-so-mixed-up world to me. (I searched the web for this poem and poet, but could not find it. And I have no idea from where it came.) But it's one I saved!
Blue Hum Ramble
Walking the grumby and humfallen sidewalks
along with my namby-panky neighborhood, I stummed
and fammled in my dringy, hamstruck brain
hows I didn't have a drim of an idea where
it was I was maundering and skilfing to.
Chris Bowman
Doesn't it feel good? I've been purging some too. Part of it is spring cleaning...but also, I need time for my mind to ruminate. I am more apt to be mentally productive if I'm doing something physically too. So, a trunk-load of stuff to Goodwill, full rubbish cans and a baby crib given to an expectant mother. It helps in these times. It helps.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm glad to have some things gone, will certainly keep at it. Thanks, Linda
DeleteMore culling is definitely required here. I too have been eyeing my teaching resources this week... But I can't yet bring myself to part with them. These are the units I've loved... This poem is a doozy. Definitely a keeper!
ReplyDeleteI've been "stumming" and "fammling" quite a bit this week. It was a relief to stop thinking about the political mess and go to the garden store to buy annuals that I won't be able to plant until Sunday when it will maybe stop raining. (Sorry...wish we could send you some...we're over an inch already. There's a pond in the easement and under our fence -- the iris have wet wet feet...) Maybe I'll use this rainy day to spend time in the basement sorting and pitching, inspired by you!
ReplyDeleteSuch cool words in that poem -- yes, it does seem to describe the topsy turvy state of things. Loved glimpsing your old notebooks; it always feels good to purge and pare down. Since I desperately need to do this myself, I appreciate your reminder that getting rid of the old makes room for the new.
ReplyDeleteYay for clearing away what we don't need anymore, Linda. I find throwing/giving away stuff clears my mind, except "my dringy, hamstruck brain" keeps coming back as soon as I read the news.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I have a "dringy, hamstruck brain." It's so hard to let things go. I'm glad you are making a dent. Next spring we move to a new building on campus. I'll have a smaller office and much less space. I'm going to take time this summer to clean out.
ReplyDeleteI love all the sounds in this poem! Thanks for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteI've been doing a lot of cleaning out too including saying good-bye to some of my journals. It was so hard, but they had to go. I also gave away half of my picture books. Most of those were in like-new condition. I love them, yet I knew they belong in the hands of children. Have a great weekend, Linda!
ReplyDeleteThanks, everyone. I'm glad to read you're each trying to purge a little. It is hard, and our "gringy, hamstruck brains" don't exactly help! (good excuse, right?) Wishing you all a great weekend, too.
ReplyDeleteI love that poem! Thank you for sharing it. "Maundering and skilfing" seems to describe what I do when I can't seem to accomplish anything!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you loved it, Joyce. Isn't it fun? Glad you came by to read!
DeleteLinda, along with a stingy brain, strained tired eyes make reading a longer process these days. Luckily for me. I purged boxes of old “stuff” before moving. There are still boxes waiting for me. The trash can has had its share of work. Reading your journal, I found a part on an aggressive coyote that caused havoc. Life is indeed mixed up lately. Happy Mother’s Day. Our plans got changed three times but we will celebrate love and life with our small family.
ReplyDeleteYes, my move years ago was helpful to clean out but now, time to do some more. That problem with the coyote was really scary, what happens when wild things are fed by tourists! Hope your eyes get better every day, Carol! Happy Mother's Day!
DeleteI read April 30th’s blog and found the dream inspiring. The climb is worth the struggle. (The comment would not take for some strange reason so I added it here.)
ReplyDeleteLast comment was from me-Carol Varsalona
DeleteI have comment approval for comments after a few days, Carol. Thanks for trying & your comment is now up!
DeleteNo. I cannot let go of my personal journals. They live in a hardsided wheeled suitcase in the event that I need to evacuate. First family, then cats; then Walkman purchased from eBay, cassettes and batteries for music to get me through the apocalypse; then my journals. But yes, Linda, I see exactly how this poem connects to the "Rookie" poem at Tabatha's, and how it's easy to feel unprepared, ungirded for all this new reality. Why I wrote about our being novices now, back in April. (And also I'm culling and purging the classroom at school. THAT is hard but pleasurable work.)
ReplyDeleteOh, Heidi, I understand, but it's now been 7 years since I retired & it was okay to let them go, & as I said, except for a few. "Unprepared for political woes" is what happens too often, I guess. I won't stop fighting for right! Best wishes for your endings!
DeleteSpring cleaning can be quite liberating! Enjoy!!
ReplyDeleteSuch an interesting poem! I especially like the sound of "a drim of an idea." It took me quite a while after I retired to start letting go. I still have way too many books (several go home with my grandchildren each time they visit), but I was able to part with the files I used in my classes and presentations with teachers.
ReplyDeleteThat poem is so whimsical, like a Lewis Carroll poem. Wonderful. It must be so hard to weed through and get rid of things. But then you get to find a few treasures.
ReplyDeleteI didn't mean to post anonymously. :) Janice
DeleteIt's okay, Janice. Blogger has made some changes in the recent weeks & it's making many crazy! I'm glad you like the poem. Yes, cleaning out was certainly a trip down memory lane, but I can be done with that & I still have lots of pics, too! Thanks!
DeleteIt's hard to do, but does feel good to clear away old things… I'm helping my mom do that now as she'll be moving soon, though she passes on much to me. Thanks for sharing the fun to read words in this poem Linda! And a perfect description of today in your words here, "oh-so-mixed-up world to me."
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are doing well of letting go of physical stuff, and it is good that this also helps with that other stuff which is less hard to let go of, because we need to engage to do what we can. Hugs to you
ReplyDeleteYour journals are treasures who served their time well. (This post really continues your found treasures project from NPM!) What a rich experience you and your students shared! I'm trying to make a dent in my home clutter, but find it challenging to do so at this point. Perhaps this summer! (she says with delusional optimism!) I love the poem you shared with all its wonderful words and head-scratching confusion. Sadly, it is perfect for these times.
ReplyDeleteI admire your ability to let your journals go. I have reams of papers I'm trying to organize, but I don't have your discipline. Bowman's poem certainly matches the spirit of the week. It has been a "Blue Hum Ramble." Thank you for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking the time on Mothers' Day to come by, Michelle, Sally, Molly, & Catherine. I needed to start this "teacher" purge & no worries, I still have much left. Glad you liked that "Blue Hum Ramble", felt just right to me!
ReplyDelete