I'm Still Here -- Just Tired

I'm fine, really I am. I've just had a very hectic two weeks that left me drained and to baffled to post. I got an urgent call from Mom on the 6th saying I needed to come to Amarillo -- they were putting Daddy in the hospital so off I went. I was there a week (he is doing fine, home now, getting stronger) and then this week has just been racing from one thing to another as some weeks can be. Hopefully things are calming down and I will feel like reading and writing again.

Thank you for continuing to lurk out there and for those who have asked about me or sent well wishes. You are great. Really you are! You are great. :)

My last day to work is May 1. I hear those memes a calling, yes they are calling my name. So you will be seeing lots of me shortly I'm sure. :)

I Was Accosted by a Monster Mouse

Several years ago --- I just realized that several years ago I must have had a life because most of my stories come from *several years ago* --- Anyway, as I was saying I was class sponsor for 7 seniors in a small rural school in the Texas panhandle.

One of the ways we raised money to take a big trip at the end of the year was to run the concession during basketball games. Of course at the beginning of the season we had to clean said concession stand even though it was supposedly cleaned by the previous years group.

On the day we had decided to do this cleaning we found thing in pretty good shape except for the evidence that mice had been playing around in the store room --- fortunately there had not been any food stuffs stored in there, just some equipment that could be cleaned with bleach water.

The kids were troopers and put on the rubber gloves and did a great job pitching in, working and getting things done.

But --- there is always a but isn't there --- they got to playing around and visiting and their language became a little less than appropriate with several mild curse word being tossed around. I went into lecture mode about appropriateness of language. About how the language they used was a reflection on them, their family, the school.

It was at this exact moment that one of those dear little rodents decided to make an appearance and ran across my foot. Yes, it ran right across my foot. And as it did in a blink of an eye, I jumped back as if a huge monster had just accosted me, and squealed, "OH SHIT!"

The kids all started laughing and repeating my lecture back to me about using cuss words. All I could do at then was to laugh and assure them that that was an appropriate time to use such language (even though it wasn't).

"Rats" I Needed a Hug

Earlier this week while teaching a reading lesson a student looked at me and asked, "Does it hurt when a rat bites you?"

I was caught totally off guard because we were not discussing anything remotely close to rats. I'm not sure what I answered or even if I did. (I've learned to just ignore some random questions -- I think you can understand why.)

But that question has had me thinking about rats and mice. Those rodents haven't been a big part of my life and for that I'm thankful, but they have on occasion played a part.

One incident was many years ago when a mouse was caught in one of those old fashioned mouse traps that closes on the mouse's head and kills it, but leaves the mouse and trap there for you to deal with. I was a young mother at the time with a very ill husband.

I remember hearing the trap spring and knew I would have to remove the mouse. When I first looked under the sink the mouse was still moving and that in itself really *wigged me out*. So I decided I could let it just wait a bit before I did anything.

After about an hour I looked again and the mouse was still so I got the dust pan and the broom and was going to sweep the mouse into the dustpan and take it - trap and all - out to the trash can in the ally. I put the dust pan down and started to sweep, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Try as I may each time I reached for that mouse with the broom I would start shaking and gag. I couldn't do it. I could not sweep that mouse up. All I could do was cry. I had three little girl, a sick husband, and a dead mouse. I could deal with the girls, and I could deal with a husband who was going through radiation after having a kidney removed because of cancer, but I could not deal with that dead mouse. I just couldn't do it.

Finally I went next door with the story of my dilemma and this sweet little lady came over to help. She of course, swept the mouse up disposed of him and then did something that has stayed with me for all these many years.

This dear lady wrapped her arms around me and held me tight. That is what I needed more than anything. It was that hug that gave me strength to deal with so much more. Whenever I think I can't deal with anything more. I think of her and that mouse and that hug.

Beautiful Days

This is one of those days. A day when you have to be outside. A day that calls for a cold drink and a good book and the sun. Substitute the computer for the good book in this case.

I'm sitting outside in the sun letting my body sock up as much of the warmth as it wants. I know it is bad for me, that skin cancer is one of the leading cancers, but right now I don't care. (This must be why smokers continue to smoke even when they have watched someone close to them struggle to breath. So I don't need that lecture right now.) I need to enjoy this peace this serenity.

The sounds of a peaceful Sunday afternoon. I lay and listen and watch as the bees swarm in the Mexican heather. Enjoying the warmth of the sun on my back and legs. The coo of a dove reaches my ears. And the chirp and twitter of birds.

In the distance I hear the whirr of some one's lawn mower. Not to close to be disturbing, but a comfort that others are about. Voices drift in and out as people go about chores in their yards. The sound of children playing occasionally can be heard, but nothing disturbs the peace.

I watch as a butterfly flutters across the meadow as I sit and soak up rays on my chest and arms. The warms of the sun piercing to my heart and putting pleasant smile on my lips.

Cars slowly drive by. The usual rushed pace seems to have slowed for the beauty of spring. One solitaire bike rider makes his way around the corner.

A breeze stirs my hair above the visor I wear to protect my eyes from the brightness of the sun refreshing my mind and spirit.

I welcome you, spring, with your promise of summer and heat and busy hectic days. But until then I'll enjoy you.

100 Word Challenge -- Myself

For Velvet Verbosity's 100 Word Challenge this week I produced a bit of nostalgia -- the memories of raising independent daughters -- that stubbornness that turned to determination in all three of my daughters which seemed to have served them well as they pursued education, career --- life.


“Do it myself,” were the words used by my two year old as she pulled her shoes out of my hands and flopped on the floor to stuff her chubby socked feet into her boots.

I watched trying not to look at the clock because I had started late getting her ready. We went through this battle regularly. I know she wants to do every thing on her own. Why had I pushed her so, why hadn’t I kept her a baby?

However, as I watched her determined face I felt a certain pride knowing it was that determined stubbornness that was going to carry her far in life.

Here's to March

When teaching in a regular classroom I always had certain bulletin boards that I put up each year. Ones that just seemed timeless -- and since I had a new group of students each year the bb was new to them even if I had seen it for 5 or 6 years.

One such bulletin board was a monthly calendar -- for the month of March I always put up the little poem *Here's to March
And Good St. Pat
And winds that blow
Both kite and hat.*

A simple little poem that captured the essence of March in the panhandle of Texas. The wind is going to blow at least 20 of the 31 days if not more. Forget flying a kite though. The wind will be blowing 20 to 30 mph not the gentle breeze needed for kite flying. Hats and hair are impossible. Hats don't stay on and hair is always going to look messy.

I've decided this poem would actually be good for the entire state of Texas since moving to the Gulf coast region. We have had so much wind this year. More than I remember in the previous 5 or so years we have lived here, and I've heard the daughter who lives in Fort Worth complaining of wind more this year. I won't even talk about the daughter who is in Amarillo who mentions wind a lot. I'm sure if I had family out west (Midland to El Passo) they would have the same complaints.

Wind, wind, wind. I'm so tired of wind!