National Day of Writing

Today is the National Day of Writing. At the school I work in, all of the students in grades K-2 went outside for an hour this morning in the beautiful fall sunshine to draw what they saw in nature and then write a story about it. I loved getting these pictures while they were busy at work.....

What did you write about today?

Our Dad

Written by my sister, Adele.

Our Dad

He never missed Huntley and Brinkley on the news. I can still see him perching on the end of the easy chair by the fireplace; eyes on the TV for the latest updates.

He truly loved his mother and father.

He ate anything that mother put in front of him.

He loved meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

He carried little money and wanted for little.

He built our home, a project that spanned a number of years. His Dad worked alongside.

He was an expert at telling jokes and at remembering them.

He always read all of the jokes in the Reader’s Digest first.

He was never interested in buying the “latest thing.”

He never bought a new car. Practical.

He loved working outside. Mowing, trimming. Coming in for iced tea breaks.

He loved to work hard.

He built a lot of things. I am blessed with many of them. You had to be careful of what you might want him to build, because the minute you told him, the car was on the way to Tinsmans.

He made people laugh. Our son Tom often makes a remark that sounds just like what Dad would say.

He adored Mother.

Farmer’s Club was a favorite night out for Dad. All those desserts and casseroles, coming down the line to be served to you. All those friends to talk to.

He was never late for anything.

He loved boat rides on Mirror Lake. Dad always new just when to slow the engine to get around the big rock underneath the surface right before going under the bridge.

He pushed us to do the best we could at school. A “C” required an explanation.

He helped me through advanced math class in high school. I’d cry out of sheer frustration and we’d keep at it until I eventually “got” it! I never would have passed the course if not for him.

He loved visits on the porch with Mark and Ed on summer evenings, talking until darkness fell, candles were lit, and the dessert came out.

He cried when Jim left for Vietnam. He and mother were so concerned about his safety, and very proud of his accomplishments as a pilot. We all were.

Dad, Happy 91st birthday. We miss you and love you. October 20th will always be a special day, because that was the day God brought you into the world!

"You can't cross a sea by merely staring into the water." - Rabindranath Tagore

Up until this beginning of this week, I had been staring into the water for a very long time. This whole blog began as a space for me to record the journey towards possibly (hopefully) getting a children's story that I had writtten published. Somewhere along the way, I put that on the back burner and my blog turned into the telling of other things, which was fine. A recording of family events, a funny story here and there; things of that nature.

But recently it was nagging at me that I'd let myself slip away from my original goal - the pursuit of publication for my children's book manuscript. The closer I got to the completion of the task, the more overwhelming it seemed and the more doomed I felt. There was a definite fear of failure that held me back from going any further- with my manuscript tucked safely into my laptop, there was no chance of rejection because it hadn't gone anywhere yet to be subject to that possibility.

So this past week I jumped in with both feet. I decided to push through the barrier in my life that I was feeling, and proceed with things I knew I needed to do. I joined SCBWI, the professional organization for children's writers and illustrators, worked up both a cover and a query letter to send to publishers, joined a critique group, and was more fulfilled and giddy than I've been for a little while. And yes, it required quite a bit of my free time this past week- Tuesday and Wednesday nights found me hard at work writing and revising and researching, but I got it DONE. Done, for me, is a good thing. I feel much more like the Snoopy up above now- hard at work, pounding those keys. Great feeling.

I'm proud of what I've accomplished this week, and I respect myself all the more for it. No, I'm still not a published author, and yes, my manuscript is still safely tucked in my laptop. But it's about to come out of there and enter the real world- the world where it can fail or stand on its own merit, the world that can be harsh and real and cruel if it wants to be about something I find to be a passion and a hobby. But that's a chance I have to take.

Let me ask you this- and I'd really love to hear from some of you - have you ever gotten stuck up against a wall of fear that inhibited your ability to proceed towards a goal? Did there come a time in your life where you were about to see if you could pass muster and it positively paralyzed you? Maybe you were like I was - afraid to find out if you really have what it takes to do what you really want to do. In actuality, that's a great place to be. Because it's where the rubber meets the road- where heart meets life. Fear not. Press on and do it.

I live in an artsy town - it seems to be a mecca for aspiring artists, photographers, musicians and craftspeople. Today one of the streets was roped off and they held an Arts and Crafts Festival- it was a lot of fun, and I got to take advantage of the photo opportunity.

'Twas a fun afternoon!

Table for Two

It all started with some morning emails. "Hey, nobody but you and me home for dinner tonight" I typed to my husband. He shot back with , "Steaks on the grill?" I quickly replied, "Yeah, can you pick them up after work?" And he sealed the deal with, "I'll do it up." My husband is a wonderful planner, and a fantastic cook. I knew with that last communication that I was in for a treat. But how much of a treat I didn't realize just yet.

I got home first, and trying to keep my hunger at bay watched some Oprah, then some Dr. Phil, all the while knowing he'd be home a little later than usual because he had to make a stop at the store to pick up the meat and maybe a little something to go with it. I could taste those juicy steaks now - yum! Pretty soon I heard his car in the driveway, and within moments he was in the kitchen with some grocery bags.

I could tell he had a plan. "Have something to keep you busy for a little while?" he asked.

Sensing that he had some very good plans up his sleeve, I quickly exited the kitchen and went into another room to make some phone calls and catch up on a few things. I was happy to let him unleash his wonderful creativity in preparing the evening meal!

In the midst of working on some papers, my cell phone rang beside me. I looked at the screen and it read, "Steve". My husband. And he was calling me from....where???????? Curious, I flipped open the phone and tentatively said, "Hello?"

"You can come on out to the garage now," was the reply. "Dinner's ready."

My anticipation was steadily building as I was starting to realize that possibly he had done a little more than just grill up two pieces of red meat on a flaming rack. Imagine my surprise when I approached the garage only to be greeted by my smiling husband opening the door for me, symphony music filling the room from the Bose speakers, and seeing tucked in the back corner a beautiful table for two done up with rustic table and chairs, fresh flowers and candlelight!

I think it was at this point that I started squealing. This was wonderful and so unexpected! He really surprised me. As I got closer to the table, I could see a beautiful plate of cheese and crackers, strawberries and grapes. This was no ordinary Thursday night dinner- this was my thoughtful husband knowing just what I like and making it so special for me. Outside the sliding glass door next to the table was the grill with two wonderful-smelling steaks sizzling away on it, along with zucchini cooked to perfection.

He was pleased. I was thrilled. Only he could take a corner of our soon-to-be-finished garage and make it look like something out of Country Living and top it off with a delectable menu. I quickly told him I needed to go get my camera and get some pictures of how fantastic it all looked! He finished up the steaks, I photographed in the ever-darkening light, and finally we sat down to a delicious, slow paced meal with background music and good, uninterrupted conversation.

After a wonderful dinner, we decided to sit on the sofa we had out there and just enjoy the green, woodsy view out the back window for a while as the sun was setting and the day was coming to an end. Eventually one of us would need to go pick up our son from youth group; eventually the dishes would have to be washed; eventually the dog would have to be let out. But none of that needed tending to right now, and we were just enjoying the relaxing time we had together. I loved him for making such a special, romantic and wonderful dinner for us to share. He loved that he got to really surprise me and show me a wonderful time. And we both agreed that maybe this empty nest thing staring us in the face isn't going to be so bad after all.

For the Love of Theater

Already today the wood stage floor is bare. The seats are folded up and sequestered under their protective cloth tarps. The set has been taken down, and the dressing room tables - which were full of makeup and jewelry and hairspray just last evening -have been cleared off entirely. The whole theater has a distinct quietness about it.

I know this because I was just there this afternoon - stopping in to pick up something that I'd left behind after last night's final performance. I say "final performance" as if it was a long running play - it ran, in fact, for only two nights; we had Opening Night, and then we had Closing Night. That's it; all done.

But ah, what a glorious two nights it was! To watch everyone and everything come together this past week was nothing short of wonderful. Rehearsals were enjoyed by all as we stayed and watched each other put on our one-act performances, cheered each other on and laughed at all the funny, funny moments delivered so well by some of the finest local talent around. Many sentiments of "Great job!" and "Break a leg!" were heard each weeknight as we came together in preparation for opening night on Friday. There was a definite excitement in the air.

Finally, Opening Night arrived. And what we once knew as just a rehearsal stage with empty seating became alive as the padded chairs started to fill with a real audience, and as we peformers heard how many minutes to showtime, all the while bustling behind the curtains backstage trying not to be seen by the paying guests.

8:00 came, and the stage was ours to transform. And transform we did. For two and a half hours on that one square wooden floor, the audience got to visit 4 different habitats. The main stage became a king's castle with its three-story princess tower; then a high rise New York City apartment, then an experiment room that kept three human subjects locked in, and finally a front porch to a halfway house (which, as one of the characters stated, was really halfway to nowhere).

I soaked it all up. I took it all in. It was one of the most enjoyable things I've ever been a part of. And I was amazed at what an audience and a little imagination can drum up. Laughter, entertainment, deep meaning and sheer wit make for a wonderful night where the outside world can be dimmed and quieted for a little while, and the only thing that matters is what's happening right in front of your very eyes.

We had Opening Night; then we had Closing Night. Just two performances. Show's over- everyone's gone home. But for those of us who were part of it, the memories will last a long time.

To anyone walking across that now-empty stage this afternoon, it would have looked like nothing more than just a polished wood floor with some chairs on either side. But not to me. I know better. I now know that it can be more; so much more. I guess that's the magic of theater.

The Summer of My Great Content

You've heard of the perfect storm....this was the perfect summer. I was recounting why with my husband just a little while ago. Quite a few factors came into play to make the summer of 2009 my most memorable yet.

I think one of the biggest reasons is that all three of my children were home. And not only were home; 2 out of 3 of them came home. There's a big difference. For many years they were home- and my daily task was to keep them entertained, drive them places, lifeguard the pool, slather on sunscreen and kiss away mosquito bites. That's all changed now as they are 21, 19 and 15 years of age respectively. And when some of them live at college and are away from me for most of the year, it's a treat to have them all back under one roof again. (and that roof better be mine if they know what's good for them.)

Secondly, since I work during the school year as the assistant librarian for two elementary schools, I don't work in the summer. It's an incredible treat. The summer of 2009 I got the chance to be a full time mom again - something I hadn't had the luxury of staying home and doing for the past 9 years. And I absolutely loved it! I find that full time mothering to older children sure is a lot easier than to toddlers.....

Thirdly, everyone seemed to have a great plan for their summer and kept really busy. My oldest took classes at community college in the mornings and worked at the supermarket in the afternoons, while playing music and hanging out with friends in the evenings. My daughter was a camp counselor and was gone all day Monday-Friday for eight weeks, which left her happy but tired in the evenings. My youngest seemed to have plenty to keep him occupied and got to sleep in late and swim and play music with friends. A bike became his new passion, and he finally hooked up with some employment late in the summer that will carry through the rest of his high school years. I'm loving the fact that he's got semi-transportation plus his own cash. Life is good.

The busy-ness of my offspring found me, at times, with free time (days) on my hands. This was truly a gift. Looking back, I believe it enabled me to have enough alone time to think, pray, reflect and ponder, which positively filled my tank. I feel like this summer I've been nourished and replenished through the time I was given with which to pay attention to my own growth and walk in this life.

I wanted to be sure I recounted this all somewhere, as it really has been a wonderful time. And as children are now literally driving away from the nest and going back to their college and high school lives that don't necessarily include me on a daily basis (although I've assured each one of them that this is possible if they would prefer it that way), I bask in the glow of warm memories of many terrific hours spent together as a family this past season.

If words can evoke memories, for our family these will always conjur up remembrances of the summer of 2009 -

S'mores.

Hot tub.

Pool.

Mowing grass.

New patio.

Fire pit.

S'mores.

Community college.

Elbow Lane Day camp.

Bike riding.

Camping at Rickets Glen.

S'mores.

Canoeing.

Fishing.

Quesadillas.

Ikea.

S'mores.

New Florida room (thanks, guys)

Wicker furniture

Six Flags Great Adventure

Giant

and once again, just because we couldn't get enough ... S'mores.

You're the best- Dad and I love you.

'