Thursday, April 21, 2011
S is for Serenity
I hide away on the Algonkian; the trees and their leaves keep me from my neighbor's view. I sit on a chair feet up while reading a book or sitting and listening to the birds and water. It is the soothing sound of water bubbling and babbling over the tiles into the blue water of the pool mesmerizes me and creates this oasis of tranquility.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
R is for Rudolph's Nose
I am cursed with Rudolph's nose. It sounds like nothing but it is big to me. My nose turns bright red whenever I cry; I find it most annoying. Most people have normal noses; they cry tears come; they wipe them away. Not me, I have to announce to the world that my emotions are pouring out of me. Instead of wearing my heart on my sleeve, I wear my heart on my nose.
Q is for Queen of the Algonkian
I am the Queen of the Algonkian. My niece, Romy Jane Magid came to visit four years ago when she was in the princess stage of life. I was made Queen Jane and Uncle David was made King Davicus Maximus. Romy Jane is a pistol. She has a sharp wit and is drenched in drama. The King and Queen of the Algonkian were very amused with the princess. She entertained us for an entire week.
Princess Romy Jane loved our pool and wanted to swim most of the time. Her royal cousin, Mike was abused by her for most of the week. We were all bossed around for that matter. The princess prepared dinner for the king and queen and took pictures of us dining at the table she prepared. The Royal Princess RomyJane slept on a bed prepared for her on the floor of Mike's room so that she could watch the Royal Shows as she fell asleep.
The Royal Princess Romy Jane ate a strict diet of chicken nuggets,cheese pizza, Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, fries and green chips. She turned her nose up to all other offerings.
Mike accompanied Princess Romy Jane to Chuck E Cheese where she used her tickets along with all of Mike's to buy royal jewels. Pizza and water were on the menu.
Her mother, The Witch, came to take the Princess home to Long Island on the weekend. The Witch reported that she wanted to come again every summer and has almost every year. When anyone in her family teases that they might come with her, she starts getting moody and tells them, "You can't come to Aunt Jane's; there isn't enough room!" We are her little sanctuary and she doesn't like entertaining the idea of sharing that with anyone else.
Princess Romy Jane loved our pool and wanted to swim most of the time. Her royal cousin, Mike was abused by her for most of the week. We were all bossed around for that matter. The princess prepared dinner for the king and queen and took pictures of us dining at the table she prepared. The Royal Princess RomyJane slept on a bed prepared for her on the floor of Mike's room so that she could watch the Royal Shows as she fell asleep.
The Royal Princess Romy Jane ate a strict diet of chicken nuggets,cheese pizza, Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, fries and green chips. She turned her nose up to all other offerings.
Mike accompanied Princess Romy Jane to Chuck E Cheese where she used her tickets along with all of Mike's to buy royal jewels. Pizza and water were on the menu.
Her mother, The Witch, came to take the Princess home to Long Island on the weekend. The Witch reported that she wanted to come again every summer and has almost every year. When anyone in her family teases that they might come with her, she starts getting moody and tells them, "You can't come to Aunt Jane's; there isn't enough room!" We are her little sanctuary and she doesn't like entertaining the idea of sharing that with anyone else.
Monday, April 18, 2011
P is for Patricia
Patty is my older and only sister. I'm five years younger; it has been a rocky road that we have endured. We shared a room and of course, I was the five year old slob who toys were kicked under my bed for being messy. Patty sometimes used chalk to make a line on the wooden floorboards to delineated our halves of the room. I was easily bossed around. She dragged me by the hand to school, screaming at me to hurry up. We lived a mile from school and it was a tough walk in winter.
Our relationship has changed over time. Patty is the one who flew down to be with me after a devastating break-up with a boyfriend. She is the one who bailed me when a friend's father messed up my taxes and and I was slapped with a bill.
We are very different and yet sisters. Life has given us bitter times to share; watching our mother die and our father suffer through dementia. Last week she had a pre-op check of her heart and something was not right. The surgery was canceled and she was seen by two cardiac doctors. A stress test was scheduled, canceled and rescheduled. I called Friday morning to find out the results. I said, "Patricia how is your teeny tiny heart. I've been worried.?" "I'm fine." she said to my great relief. I'm not ready to give up my sister with each day she is more precious to me. I'm hoping she'll be around for quite a few more years.
Our relationship has changed over time. Patty is the one who flew down to be with me after a devastating break-up with a boyfriend. She is the one who bailed me when a friend's father messed up my taxes and and I was slapped with a bill.
We are very different and yet sisters. Life has given us bitter times to share; watching our mother die and our father suffer through dementia. Last week she had a pre-op check of her heart and something was not right. The surgery was canceled and she was seen by two cardiac doctors. A stress test was scheduled, canceled and rescheduled. I called Friday morning to find out the results. I said, "Patricia how is your teeny tiny heart. I've been worried.?" "I'm fine." she said to my great relief. I'm not ready to give up my sister with each day she is more precious to me. I'm hoping she'll be around for quite a few more years.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
O is for Over the Top
I met with a first grader the other day. I'm a reading specialist and I have taken her a for a short intervention. B had just returned from the playground when she walked into my room. I could see the emotions on her face and asked what was wrong. She burst into tears and started complaining in a shrill voice about a villain in her class who would not allow her to join his club. Her lip went down, her big tears streamed her face and she proceeded with mumblings and rantings.
I realized the reading lesson was over for the day. I took my hand and put it above her head and told her the drama was up here. She could talk about it calmly if she brought it down to here; a place closer to her elbow.. It was difficult for her to bring it down I suspect because she is accustomed to being over the top and out of control.
The lesson of the day became "If it's to be, it's up to me," I read her a book about a shy boy who makes friends by being brave enough to ask other children to play. B was engrossed and looking very serious as I read to her. When I finished the book I explained the saying, "B, you're the only one who can make B. happy. If you want to be happy, it's up to you.
"If this boy says you can't be in the club; you know he's being a mean, bossy cow." I told her. She got hysterical laughing at the word, cow. "Bossy cows boss everyone. Do you like playing with bossy people?" I asked. She shook her head, no. "Then when Villian Boy says you can't play, go look for someone else," I said. The drama reared back up to over the top and I stopped her again. B. who else can you play with?" I asked. "Carina," she said. "She thinks he's annoying".
When Villain Boy, says you can't be in his club say, Oh, well, so sad, too bad, I don't want to play with bossy people and find Carina. I had her repeat, if it's to be it's up to me and oh well, so sad, too bad and asked her if she liked playing with bossy people. From a reading perspective this lesson was a total loss, however, it was a strong life lesson.
Yesterday, I went to get her for reading time; she was by her teacher outside her classroom. I said, "B. what did you learn yesterday?" "I'm the only one who can make B. happy and if it's to be, it's up to me." "Awesome!" I told her. "Who likes to play with bossy people?" I asked. She said, "No one." "What do you say to people who don't want you to be in their club?" I asked. She fumbled trying to remember, "Oh well, so sad, too bad, I don't like playing with bossy people," we recited together. "Mrs. Cox, I asked Carina and she said we could play together." she said smiling ear to ear. "Okay, B, let's go read." I said.
I realized the reading lesson was over for the day. I took my hand and put it above her head and told her the drama was up here. She could talk about it calmly if she brought it down to here; a place closer to her elbow.. It was difficult for her to bring it down I suspect because she is accustomed to being over the top and out of control.
The lesson of the day became "If it's to be, it's up to me," I read her a book about a shy boy who makes friends by being brave enough to ask other children to play. B was engrossed and looking very serious as I read to her. When I finished the book I explained the saying, "B, you're the only one who can make B. happy. If you want to be happy, it's up to you.
"If this boy says you can't be in the club; you know he's being a mean, bossy cow." I told her. She got hysterical laughing at the word, cow. "Bossy cows boss everyone. Do you like playing with bossy people?" I asked. She shook her head, no. "Then when Villian Boy says you can't play, go look for someone else," I said. The drama reared back up to over the top and I stopped her again. B. who else can you play with?" I asked. "Carina," she said. "She thinks he's annoying".
When Villain Boy, says you can't be in his club say, Oh, well, so sad, too bad, I don't want to play with bossy people and find Carina. I had her repeat, if it's to be it's up to me and oh well, so sad, too bad and asked her if she liked playing with bossy people. From a reading perspective this lesson was a total loss, however, it was a strong life lesson.
Yesterday, I went to get her for reading time; she was by her teacher outside her classroom. I said, "B. what did you learn yesterday?" "I'm the only one who can make B. happy and if it's to be, it's up to me." "Awesome!" I told her. "Who likes to play with bossy people?" I asked. She said, "No one." "What do you say to people who don't want you to be in their club?" I asked. She fumbled trying to remember, "Oh well, so sad, too bad, I don't like playing with bossy people," we recited together. "Mrs. Cox, I asked Carina and she said we could play together." she said smiling ear to ear. "Okay, B, let's go read." I said.
Friday, April 15, 2011
N is for Northern Virginia
The first time I drove to the area was in 1981 for my interview to teach Catholic school. My friend, Mike came with me. I can't even remember exactly why he came. However, I do remember the Beltway which was a pretty scary road for someone from Cortland, NY, home of the Annual Cortland County Dairy Parade. This event with cows walking down Main Street and "Dairy Fairies" waving with cupped hands in formal gowns wearing long white arm length gloves sitting on hay bales on a hay wagon being pulled by a large tractor paints a picture for you of the shock this area gave me.
It was flat. I didn't like flat. I grew up on rolling hills, painted green with white and black spotted cows. Northern Virginia is huge. Those were the days of paper maps, written directions, and pay phones; we were roughing it. I got the job, taught school, met my husband and by then, it was too late to turn back
Thirty years have flown by. The Beltway is bigger, scarier and cut up with construction everywhere. My mom used to say that you can never go back. She was right. At a point in my life, I was presented with the opportunity to go back to New York. My life was in Northern Virginia; I didn't want to go back now it is my home.
It was flat. I didn't like flat. I grew up on rolling hills, painted green with white and black spotted cows. Northern Virginia is huge. Those were the days of paper maps, written directions, and pay phones; we were roughing it. I got the job, taught school, met my husband and by then, it was too late to turn back
Thirty years have flown by. The Beltway is bigger, scarier and cut up with construction everywhere. My mom used to say that you can never go back. She was right. At a point in my life, I was presented with the opportunity to go back to New York. My life was in Northern Virginia; I didn't want to go back now it is my home.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
M is for Mom
I miss my mom; she died two years ago. She was my best cheerleader, confidante, and friend. We didn’t lose her suddenly. She slipped away from us and disappeared before our eyes. When I went to see her, she was there behind her beautiful blue eyes that held me tenderly since my birth. Radiation took her hearing and sight by the end but she still was the lovely, gentle soul who raised eight of us. She showed us the grace that had always been hers even at the end of her life. For a long time, I reached to call her to tell her something but caught myself. Mom is in my heart and my memories. I can close my eyes and hear her voice, see her hands, her freckly hands and arms, feel her soft touch. She gave me the best of her and pushed me to beyond my own expectations for myself and helped me believe in me.
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