Just Do the Math

 Today was a shopping day for me.  I live about 45 minutes from any store that you would recognize so it takes a little planning and plotting to gather in supplies. It also takes most of the day! I love a good bargain and today I was able to find some great buys.  Easter supplies for our annual egg hunt were on my list.  I found prizes and basket stuffers at two of my favorite dollar stores. There were books, kites, toys and decorations only one dollar each.  Here’s a few of my one dollar finds:

The best bargain of the day was the five cartons of Coke I purchased at CVS Pharmacy.  This week’s sale had five cartons for fifteen dollars.  I bought five and used a ten dollar gift card that I had from my last purchase of laundry detergent, and toilet paper.  That reduced my total to $5.90.  They gave me back five dollars in rewards for the next purchase I make.  To make this work you have to shop for just items on sale.  Don’t be distracted by the other items in the store--don’t even look!  As my daughter, who sometimes combines coupons and sale prices to reduce her total to just change, says, “Just do the math.”

Can you see now?

Without my glasses  or contacts I can see clearly about a foot in front of my face.  Anything beyond that point is a big blur.  I think I was born with this near sighted condition because I knew I could not see well, but I thought that was the way everyone viewed the world.  When I was seven years old my second grade teacher, Miss Irene, realized I could not see the chalkboard.  She reported this to my parents and they immediately took me for glasses.  I remember how clear they made the world and how excited I was to see new things!  As a teenager I changed to contact lens.  Thankfully my vision was able to be corrected and for many years I enjoyed the 20/20 sight that other people took for granted.  Then, fifty happened and that close vision which was all I had began to diminish!  It happens to all of us.  So today as I type this I have my contacts in my eyes and my reading glasses on my nose.  It takes both of them to correct my close vision now!  The upside to this sad situation is I get a lot of exercise walking around looking for my glasses! Has anyone seen my glasses?

Who needs a nap?

I am staring at this blank page today having real trouble making myself write my slice of life.  The longer I stare the heavier my eyelids become.  I need a nap.  There are a lot of reasons for my desire for a Sunday snooze.  This morning I chased around my almost two year old grandchildren.  They are faster than me so sometimes I am actually running to catch them.  They know no fear!   It could be the time change it seems to have messed with my schedule all day--up too early, not hungry at lunch time--what time is it anyway! It could be a left over exhaustion from outdoor chores yesterday.  There was raking and burning and chasing of above mentioned young ones.  What ever the reason I’m getting sleepy, I’m not gonna make it without curling up on the couch.  So I’m giving in, I’m going to borrow the words of Charles M. Schulz who said “Learn from yesterday, live for today, look to tomorrow, rest this afternoon.”

Removing Winter

This week has been cold, with dreary days and an icy wind.  There was even a little snow, but this morning the sun is brightening up the place.  It’s funny how the sunshine can make you feel like you have more energy and gives you a hopeful feeling.  It’s streaming in my living room and calling for me to come out.  The forecast says the temperature will rise to 68 degrees today.  That is perfect for the task ahead. The winter winds left us a gift of sticks and branches scattered across the backyard. They have to be removed so we can mow the grass that is on the way! So my keyboard is going to be lonely today because I’m going outside to keep the daffodils company!

The finger touch

I have twin grandchildren.  A boy and a girl.  They are the only twins I have really spent any time with, except of course for former students.  I had always heard about twins having a special language or ability to communicate with each other so I watch for those things. There is one unique thing they do that we have named, “the finger touch”.  We believe it means I love you!  Before they take a nap or go to bed each one holds out their pointer finger and the other one does the same.  They lightly touch and then wave at each other.  It is such a simple, sweet gesture and I never tire of watching them “finger touch.”  What is even better is when they let you in on it!

Helping others

I drove by a young lady this afternoon who was standing at the edge of a busy intersection holding a sign.  It said, please help my family in large letters and underneath was written the words, bills, diapers and something I did not have a chance to read.  My light was green.  I went on my way to the interstate where I had a two hour drive ahead of me.  That gives you time to think.  I wondered about that young lady.  It would really wound my pride to stand beside the road and ask for help.  But, would I do it if my family needed help?  Then the question creeps in my mind, did she really need help?  As much as we would like to think that no would would--many people make a good living by panhandling.  I hope that life gets easier for that young family and they get help.  Maybe someone will direct her to an agency that can help.  I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. I want to help out when I can but I am always torn as to whether the stranger asking is really needy. I suppose I am feeling a little guilty for not helping.  After all if you give someone a gift, how the gift is used is up to them.

At the last minute

The only thing that saved me from dropping out tonight was a little snore! My grandson ask me to lie down with him after his bedtime story and we both dozed off.  I was thinking that I would never be able to make a post tonight and was feeling unhappy with myself for only lasting five days.  Exhaustion was going to keep me from writing, next thing I knew I was awakened by the snoring--don’t know for sure if it was mine or his.  So, I am going to make a grateful post tonight.  I am separated from my grandchildren’s everyday lives by a two hour drive, but I make that drive often and so do their parents to our home so that we can spend  time together. Today one of the three grands has been with me almost every minute.  You can only imagine how many times they have called out, “Nana.”   We have played and read and sang and danced but all this fun left me a little tired.  Now that I took a few minutes rest, I think I can finish a post and go back to bed.  I am calling this a grateful post because I realize that many grandparents today have very long distance relationships with their grands.  Skype and FaceTime make it easier but it is not the same as a real hug.  I also know many grandparents who are having to take on the role of parent to their grandchild.  It’s hard, its exhausting and stressful emotionally and mentally, and surely a financial strain.  So I am thankful tonight that I spent the day with the three best kids on the planet, just because I wanted to!

Flat Stanley

Most of the thirty four years I spent in the classroom were spent teaching fourth graders.   They are my favorite age--still young enough to love you and old enough to be mostly independent.  I read aloud to them every day.  After lunch the students were allowed to buy ice cream and while they were eating ice cream I read chapter books.  One of our favorite stories was Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown.  During the early 90’s the state of Tennessee began a program called 21st Century Classrooms and technology became part of our curriculum.  You can only imagine our delight when my students and I found the Flat Stanley Page and joined in the fun.  We were able to connect with other classes and our Flat Stanleys began to travel all over the United States.  We became very creative with the project making felt Stanleys who traveled about with changeable clothes and their journals.  Just yesterday I found a Flat Stanley app for my iphone.  I have not had a chance to explore it fully, but I can’t wait to revive Flat Stanley with my grandson. Flat Stanley lives again!

What makes you scream?

I live in the woods.  This means sometimes a mouse gets in our house.  The little rascals can come in the smallest places.  Right now my husband has one in his truck!  He saw it one day last week while driving to work.  He stopped and tried to get it out, but no luck.  That night he set a couple of traps.  The mouse ate the bait and went back to his hiding place.  The mouse is still there.  I will not get in that vehicle until the offender is gone.  You see, a mouse terrifies me. My husband always says, “Why are you afraid of such a little thing, how is it going to hurt you?”
I know it is an illogical and irrational fear but they just make me quiver. I try to remember this when one appears and I try to remain calm.  But I always end up being the crazy lady fleeing in terror to the nearest chair and screaming!

Limited Availability

This little boy is six years old, such a special age.  He loves his nana and wants to spend time reading, walking in the woods, doing crafts and making brownies with me.  He is full of wonder and excitement about life.  He is polite and kind and wants to learn new things.  I know it won’t be long before he outgrows me.  His friends and other activities will become more important to him.  Oh, he will still love his nana but I know what is going to happen.  He is an offer with limited availability, and I plan to take full advantage of it!

Never too old for a good picture book

Are we ever too old for picture books?  On Dr. Seuss’s birthday I am thinking about his stories I read as a child and the ones I read to my children and grandchildren.  My personal favorite is Horton Hatches an Egg.  My oldest grandson loved to hear One Fish, Two Fish when he was just a baby.  There are so many lessons to be learned from Dr. Seuss.  The Lorax teaches us about conservation.  Horton teaches us to be loyal and true to our word.  Oh the Places You’ll Go encourages us and reminds that you can be anything you want.  Children love the books.  They like the rhyming words and the silliness.  But I think maybe the lessons are for us --the grown kids!

Stepping out on faith

I am having commitment issues with this.  Every day--can I do it?  I’ve been reading the slices for several years but have never contributed.  I blog but inconsistently.  Last month I did a photo a day without missing one time.  It wasn’t that hard, but writing every day seems more challenging to me.  I don’t know why. I have much to say and you know retired educators have lots of time on their hands! 
What pushed me on was a quote: “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” - Dr. Martin Luther King
So, I am going to jump in.  I may not make it to the end but I will be mad at myself if I can’t rise to the challenge. I am going to have some faith in myself. I’m stepping on the staircase!

(With this post I am joining with others on the Two Writing Teachers Blog to write a slice of life story every day during the month of March. I can do it!)