Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers

I’ve challenged my 6th graders to a Slice-A-Day during our winter break…I will attempt to keep up with the challenge as well!

(I wish I had been slicing for my whole life — I would love to look back with more detail at what I miss,  what I love.)

I miss, I love.

I miss, I love.

the library table that stood in the living room of my childhood house — black-brown with tall thick spindle legs.

This is what I think of while I walk the dog today.

I miss, I love.

cozy homes, lamps shining behind partially drawn curtains, warm light, painted walls, carefully arranged furniture, families familying.

I miss, I love.

driftwood pieces, cutting pickles at Christmas, sunlight filtering through drapes, coloring, sledding, laughing with Keely.

I miss, I love.

pizza, sleepovers, falling asleep on long car rides at night — baseball games on the radio, coconut popsicles at the beach, sandy bathing suits.

I miss, I love.

unwrapping presents, anticipation, socks from grandma, pollyanna guessing games, watching Charlie Brown when it came on T.V.

I miss, I love.

walks in the blizzard of ’92 (or was it ’93?) snow days, that day the bus was late and Sara and I had hot cocoa and waited a bit before getting driven to school.

I miss, I love.

hysterically studying with Rachel, wood burning fireplaces, quiet days of reading, my mom telling me to practice piano.

I miss, I love.

being bored, having time, playing on the IBM, listening to Madonna, “True Blue, baby I love you…”

I miss, I love.

someone else making dinner, complaining about doing dishes, having a pink phone in my room, late night whispered calls, movies and popcorn with Greg.

I miss, I love.

that hat that Aunt Cynthia gave me,  my dad chasing me down with a bright orange hat, if I forgot to put one one, the way he packed my lunch, the chocolate chip cookies we all ate from the cafeteria.

I miss, I love.

spontaneous trips, road-trip snacks and music, conversations with friends, that time we drove to Florida — switching drivers in decreasing increments of time, trying to stay awake.

I miss, I love.

the way my children look when they are peacefully sleeping, the way my friends tell me it’s okay to appreciate my children most when they are asleep, the way the house is quiet sometimes (rarely).

I miss, I love.

the white round table in the kitchen of my childhood home, the tall chairs, the way we ate bean soup with saltines, childhood.

I miss, I love.

the hat I got for Christmas the other day, my kids opening gifts, my parents  visiting, my dog wagging his tail before their car was even visible.

I miss, I love.