I miss the good ol’ days

I miss barbies
on the floor with Keely
where we built whole villages and had entire dramas play out for hours

I miss Kings Quest
on the old IBM with the joystick
and listening to Madonna tapes over and over until all lyrics were memorized

I miss drama class
at the Art Center with Margie
who walked up the steps from the snack machine with me before we took our acting exercises very seriously

I miss long walks
in the neighborhood with Rachel
when walking was the only way to have freedom and we would talk and laugh

I miss college lunch dates
at the Hub with Sara
where we piled salad, sprouts and ranch into plastic containers and chose a roll with care

I miss Must See TV
on the couch with Greg
and all the characters- from Friends to ER – that we had to check in with each week

I miss teaching
in the 6th grade hall with the Wolves
because once a Wolf, always a Wolf and if you were ever a Wolf, previously known as a Wolverine, you know what I mean without this verse of poetry

I miss late night get togethers
in my living room with Kris and Mardi
who would sneak over after my kids fell asleep, and patiently stay if I had to nurse a baby back to sleep

I miss traveling
to New York with Kris and Mardi and Krista
and the growing traditions of dinner and walking and the constant search for a perfect piece of pizza for Kris

I miss staycations
that were really vacations with Sara’s family
when the kids piled up to watch movies or play games and the grown ups talked and Jason made the drinks

I miss backyard fun
which was actually inside at Kathleen’s
when we gathered together to enjoy fine wine and also BBQ chips but best of all, each others’ company

I miss the good ol’ days
which I get are also happening right now
while I reflect on the good ol’ days from before

Sometimes I like to write with a mentor text closeby… This one came to me when I thought about how the friends and enemies of writers have an interesting thing to think about every time they read . . .

With apologies to Carly Simon… please sing this slice in your head – or out loud if you so choose. (Click for a reminder)

You’re so Vain

Such a witch

You walked into our life like you were taking a bow with a wink
Your dress strategically dipped below to appeal
Your nails they were pink
You had one eye in the mirror, as you watched yourself cartwheel
And all the friends dreamed that they’d be your partner
They’d be your partner and

You’re so vain
You probably think this slice is about you

You’re so vain (you’re so vain)
I bet you think this slice is about you
Don’t you don’t you?

You had me several months ago when I was quieting my hunches
Well you said that life was really grand and you would never pull any punches
But you lied you stole you lied some more
even to those you loved
I had some dreams they were clouds in my Dunkin’ clouds in my Dunkin’ and
You’re so vain

You probably think this slice is about you
You’re so vain (you’re so vain)

I bet you think this slice is about you
Don’t you don’t you don’t you?

I had some dreams they were clouds in my Dunkin’ clouds in my Dunkin’ and
You’re so vain
You probably think this slice is about you
You’re so vain (you’re so vain)
I bet you think this slice is about you
Don’t you don’t you?

Well I hear you went and cut your hair
And your life is going well
Soon you’ll forget about the damage, the despair
you caused to those in your spell

Well you’re where you should be all the time
And when you’re not, you’re an underworld spy
Or the wife of an old friend wife of an old friend and

You’re so vain
You probably think this slice is about you
You’re so vain (so vain)
I bet you think this slice is about you
Don’t you don’t you don’t you?

You’re so vain
You probably think this slice is about you
You’re so vain
Probably think this slice is about you
You’re so vain

Sometimes there’s too much to write.

Classical Time Travel

I am listening to Classical Study Music for Concentration
To try to concentrate
Only I think I had these songs on a tape I used to fall asleep to

So instead of working I am remembering
A cassette with a distinct red and blue stripe, labeled “Piano”
And a best friend

We loved to use a tape recorder to record silly things
Jokes and songs, I guess
You had to press two buttons at once to record

One day we recorded on top of the piano music
Just a little bit,
accidentally

Every time I listened to that music to fall asleep
It would click off
And switch to the loud squealing laughter of young girls

It was fast, but it worked
As time travel back to childhood – even after I moved far away
I wonder where that tape is now

Part of Slice of Life by Two Writing Teacher

Nothing is happening here.
It’s like Rapunzel’s tower – only if Rapunzel had 3 kids up there with her.

We are missing travel especially
We all want out of this house, out of this town –
Our last travel was in March.
We drove to Georgia, with a few extra Clorox wipes for the cabin.
and drove back with official word that school was remote,
and unofficial word that if we saw toilet paper at a store on the drive back to Pennsylvania,
we should buy it.

March.
March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
10 months.
No wonder I’m thinking about Rapunzel in her tower.

“Nothing is happening here.”
She might have said
Or maybe her witch said it.
Does Rapunzel’s witch have a name?
At this point the actual fairy tales, fractured fairy tales
villain-side fairy tales
and Into the Woods
All run together. 

Rapunzel’s witch was not really stuck in the tower, right?
She came and went.
No. No. I’m not actually jealous of the witch!
I’ve always felt bad for her –
An aging woman, desperate for love and youth
Misunderstood

But, I mean, she came and went as she pleased, right?
She used her power to trap Rapunzel
She was a predator.
An aging, desperate predator.
I wonder if she would have stayed -quarantined in the tower with Rapunzel
If there were covid 19 at the bottom

But Rapunzel?
She was stuck.

March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
10 months.
No wonder I’m thinking about Rapunzel in her tower.