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!

From my chair I see

From my chair I see 
a darkened living room - even the Christmas tree is dark
Mr. Thought's slippered feet at the chair where he is asleep
Not one, but two blankets on the floor
Not one, but only 2 dog toys on the floor 
A sweatshirt hung over a chair
A pile of sleeping dog on the couch
My laptop battery power dipping below 15%

Behind me I can't see the the kitchen
with a counter full of 
a collapsed gingerbread house
leftover sugar I missed when I attempted to clean up
paper with scribbles, a set of markers
a jacket, a pile of new socks, a flash drive
a lego magazine, a bag of gum, a water bottle
a bottle of mod podge and one of tomato juice
a box of Christmas wrapping trash, an old paintbrush, a coloring book
a sink full of dishes,
and more...
and more...

I'm not going to turn around
I'm not going to turn around
I'm going to turn on the Christmas lights, 
sit next to my sleeping dog
and read.

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.

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!

It’s Christmas Eve. My favorite day of the year. When I was young, Santa came on Christmas Eve because we left early on Christmas morning to drive to my grandma’s.

Getting ready for Christmas Eve dinner, setting the table, I have always loved the anticipation! I got dressed up.  I had the job of slicing pickles and putting them in a little dish with a little fork. I helped set the table. Our Christmas candles were out – santa shapes, I think. The memory is faded, but the feeling is still there…special candles.

As my mom’s family arrived, I’m sure I raced to the door to welcome them in — and to check for gifts tucked under their arms.

Dinner was in the dining room. The house wasn’t big  and the dining room was right next to the living room. My grandpa, his girlfriend, my aunt and my uncle would be there for dinner, and as the only kid at the table, I know I was a little bored and a lot anxious. Every so often I would jump out of my seat to go check if there were presents under the tree. I would shush people when I thought I heard boots on the roof. Dinner felt like years.

Suddenly, I would hear bells jingling. I’d jump from my chair and run to the living room. There would be the gifts. Magic. Every year. Magic.

Merry Christmas!

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!

Twas two nights before the holiday - my birthday as well
Not a creature was healthy, one by one we fell
The stockings and tree were up, the gifts were wrapped
In hopes that by Christmas, the germs would be zapped

The children were taking turns with the virus
While visions of sleep passed on, right by us
And mamma passed out saltines, and ginger ale too
While we all patiently waited to feel healthy anew

When the holidays come, in just two days time
I hope we can spring from our beds, feeling just fine
We'll fly down the steps, and drink the coffee we need
Who will be the first to feel 100%? Who will take the lead?

Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teachers

I think it’s time for another “Fortunately/Unfortunately” summarizing poem– learned from Sara Holbrook (@saraholbrook) at a wonderful inservice years ago. With many apologies to Sara Holbrook, I will try this again (I did it for a slice a couple of summers ago and then again last March.) First write using the words Fortunately and Unfortunately… Then revise taking out extra words. Here we go! 

Wow. It seems I’m a once a month slicer instead of a once a week slicer.
Fortunately, I am writing
Unfortunately, I am tired
Fortunately, the kids are asleep and the house is quiet
Unfortunately, that is rare

When I drove into the garage, the Christmas tree lights were off and I knew it was time for a Fortunately/Unfortunately.
Fortunately, the lights went back on and I saw my smiling son at the lightswitch
Unfortunately, he was turning the lights on and off and making a chewing motion, “The puppy chewed the lights.”
Fortunately, my husband remained relatively calm as he searched for the broken strand
Unfortunately, it was an annoying puzzle of lights, wires, branches and ornaments

I started loading the dishwasher, grumpy to do the chore once again.
Fortunately, the kitchen smelled like apple pie.
Unfortunately, my 10 year old said “Doesn’t that smell good? I made a scrap pie.”
Fortunately, I remained calm
Unfortunately, he made more dirty dishes

The big kids took the dog on a much-needed walk, and I went to help with the tree puzzle
Fortunately, the dog walk meant the dog wasn’t there to bother us as we worked
Unfortunately, the ends were hard to find, the ornaments kept falling
Fortunately, my youngest son sat and read a chapter book –A chapter book!
Unfortunately, the electrical tape was yellow, the plastic gate was ugly

Later, after dinner, but before the wild ruckus, the scrap pie was served.
Fortunately the big kids liked it
Unfortunately there are still scrap pie dishes to be done
Fortunately the boys read to each other after dinner
Unfortunately it got loud after that with wrestling, fort-building, piano playing “fun”

After school work and playtime, we snuggled in to read a few holiday books.
Fortunately it was before 9:00
Unfortunately It was almost 10:00 by the time I got back downstairs
Fortunately I was still awake…enough to work, to write
Unfortunately, I need to go to bed

TAKE 2:

Wow a once a month slicer
I am writing
I am tired
the house is quiet
that is rare

Drove into the garage, tree lights off
lights back on
my smiling son at the light switch
making a chewing motion, “The puppy chewed the lights.”
husband relatively calm
searched for the broken strand
a puzzle of lights, wires, branches and ornaments

I started loading the dishwasher
the kitchen smelled like apple pie.
my 10 year old said “Doesn’t that smell good? I made a scrap pie.”
I remained calm
he made more dirty dishes

The big kids took the dog
I went to help with the tree puzzle
dog wasn’t there as we worked
ends hard to find, ornaments kept falling
youngest son sat, read a chapter book –A chapter book!
the electrical tape was yellow, the plastic gate was ugly

After dinner, before the wild ruckus, the scrap pie was served.
big kids liked it
still scrap pie dishes to be done
boys read to each other
got loud after that with wrestling, fort-building, piano playing “fun”

After, we snuggled in
read a few holiday books
before 9:00
almost 10:00 I got back downstairs
still awake…enough to work, to write
I need to go to bed