So Reclined

I had every intention of leaving my house early today-- working out, running errands, getting a Christmas Tree. 

But... I walk every day, and so maybe more vigorous exercise can wait another day or two. Plus, we're set as far as staples go, and the tree? Well, okay, I really do want my tree up, but the weather was cold and gray, and there were other holiday errands to do that only involved reclining in my Stressless chair with my lap top. 

Oh, somewhere around 3 PM I cleaned off the deck to prepare for the lights we'll string out there, and we decluttered a bit and scooted the living room furniture to make room for the tree when we get it (tomorrow!). Then around 5 PM we bundled up and headed out into the early darkness for that daily walk, which was magical! So many lights and decorations, 2020 has got at least that going for it. And back home, I made soup for dinner and returned to my chair to rest up for the productivity that is sure to surface

tomorrow.

Wish You Were Here

I enjoyed the bonus pix some kids posted to the first Chat Snap of the week so much that I made the second Chat Snap a photo by itself. 

Take a picture of something red or green at your house and post it, I asked, and the kids delivered, if not always in the way I expected. In addition to an elf on the shelf, holiday lights, markers, pencils, notebooks, blankets, and hoodies, they also posted images of green mouthwash, red deodorant, video game controllers, lighted keyboards, computer cables, paint, donuts with sprinkles, parakeets, solo cups, and grass outside the window. 

It was an interesting glimpse, literally, into each student's world, and I loved it. 

I was not the only fan, either. "This is my favorite chat snap yet!" posted one kid today. (I appreciated her growth mindset demonstrated by the use of the word 'yet'! She's right: there will be other great snaps!)

"Same!" replied another, and the likes kept rolling in. 

I was happy, but hardly surprised. Clearly we all appreciate connection and community where ever we can find it these days. I'm just glad we found it in English class.

One Day at a Time

How oddly the time passes lately! 

It's hard to believe that one week ago we were celebrating Thanksgiving, that tomorrow is the end of another school week, and that in two weeks and a day we will be on Winter Break. In other measures, it has been 3,996 days since I started this blog, 2,172 days since the first post on our family's selfie blog (Hi, Mom!), and 2,042 days since I started logging my weight and meals every day. This year's 100 Day Writing Challenge started 277 days ago, and my daily sit ups are going strong, but the mediation has fallen off. (I need to get back to that! Just 10 minutes, Tracey! You can do it!) I'll repeat my brother's wisdom that the days pass slowly but the time flies by.

Today I read that, upon his inauguration, President-elect Biden will ask the public to commit to 100 days of mask wearing. That would be from January 20 to April 30, 2021. Maybe it seems easy because I already wear a mask whenever I go into a public place, but still?

You can do it America!

Here Comes the Surge

After Thanksgiving Break it had been a while since I had "seen" my students, and so I set aside a longer period of time than usual to converse and connect with them at the beginning of class. 

"I'm warning you," I said, "I missed you guys last week, and so I'm going to ask everybody a follow up question to your Chat Snap today. I just want to hear your voices!"

I guess they wanted to use their voices, too. The question of the day was simply What was the highlight of your break? and the answers were predictable: food, family, and video games. But with a little prompting? Oh my! Some of the kids talked more than they have for the entire year put together, and in addition to pies and turkeys and Christmas trees, there were also pictures of kittens and parakeets and pugs in sweaters, and tales of family game nights and holiday movie marathons.

Unfortunately, there were also several reports of Black Friday shopping, huge family gatherings, and sleepovers with friends. I'm sure everybody thought they were being as safe as necessary. My own family ignored the CDC warnings not to travel. Of course we took precautions, but we also took our chances. I'm glad we did, and that makes it hard to begrudge others the same comfort and joy.

Even so.

I Think Not

I laughed today when I read that President Trump's longest serving cabinet official is... Secretary DeVos of education infamy. Holding her office in all the hurly burly of that administration may have been the closest she'll ever come to lasting a few years in a classroom full of kids, never mind actually doing them some good. 

The joke seemed a little too good to be true, and so I did a little research on my own. DeVos is actually only the second longest serving cabinet member of this administration. Six out of fifteen secretaries made it all the way through, their seniority determined only by Senate confirmation, and guess who was actually confirmed first? Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation, who also happens to be Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's wife.

Coincidence? 

Season of Light

Just as expected, with Thanksgiving 2020 in the books, Christmas lights have started twinkling everywhere. Last night on a walk through the neighborhood we saw a dad and his perhaps three-year-old daughter strolling hand in hand admiring the decorations. "I'm just so excited!" the little girl cried, dropping her dad's hand and dashing forward. "Look! There's some more lights!"

I have to admit I understood the feeling. There is something quite thrilling about colorful lights, especially as the days grow shorter. Perhaps it is the promise of Christmas and all that holiday brings, but it could also be a little more primordial: in darkness we are drawn to the light. Tonight as we walked home from picking up Lucy, the full moon rising added even more spectacle to the array of shining snowflakes, glowing candy canes, brilliant icicles, bright trees, and even Yoda in a Santa hat. Undeniably, my step lightened and my mood lifted, and the hours spent in front of the computer dropped away.

Concerned, I turned to Heidi. "What are we all going to do in January?"

The Good Genes

Richard and Annabelle had an argument while we were at the beach last week. They're teenagers and siblings, so it was bound to happen. "You got all the bad genes in the family!" Richard spat at his sister in the heat of the disagreement. 

I thought about his observation this evening when I called my aunt to catch up and wish her a belated Happy Thanksgiving. "I'm really sorry I'm calling so late in the weekend," I said. "I feel bad."

"Don't ever feel bad about that," she told me. "I am the world's worst caller! I have no place to complain."

"Well, I am the world's second worst caller, then!" I replied. "But it's nice to know that I come by it honestly."

As our conversation drew to a close I said, "Well, I'm going to let you go. I know it's your dinner time."

"That's right," she agreed. "We're having turkey noodle soup tonight."

"Does it have tomatoes in it?" I asked, because that's how my mom always made the soup after Thanksgiving.

"Oh, yes!" she answered. "It has to have the tomatoes!"

"Wait until I tell Courtney," I laughed, mentioning my sister. "She HATES the tomatoes in the turkey soup!"

"Where did we get her?" my aunt asked.

"I know," I said, "and she's a pretty good phone caller, too."