"You are a leading lady, who is living her life as the best friend!"
- wise old man in "The Holiday"

Thanks Mom for taking me to Walgreens!

As you grow, you will need new shoes often,
and I would give you otherthings to stand on that are handsome and useful
and fit you well,
that are not all plastic,
that are real and knowable and leatherhard,
things that will move with you and breathe rain or air,
and wear well in all weather.

For beauty, I would buy a gem for you from the earth's heart
and a ring that is gold clear through
and clothes the colors of flowers.
I would cultivate in you a gentle spirit,
and curiosity,
and wonder in your eyes.
For use,
in your house I'd hang doors that are solid wood
without hidden panels of air,
set in walls built on brick more than one inch thick.
On your floors I'd stretch fleeces from black shee's backs
and for your sleep, sheets spun from fibers that grew, once,
on the flanks of the fields.
I'd mount for you on small,
clean mirror for a grinning glimpse of windows to the world,
with sashes and open hard,
but once lifted,
let in breath of pure sun,
the smell of day,
a taste of wold wind,
an earful of green music.

Now and always,
you will need to be nourished.
For your mind-poems and plays,
and words on the pages of thousands of books:
Beuteronomy, Dante and Donne,
Hosea and Hopkins,
L'Engle and Lewis.
For your spirit, mysteries and praise, sureties and prayer.
For your teeth and tongue,
real bread the color of grain at a feast,
baked and broken fresh each day,
apricots and raisins
cheese and olive oil and honey that live bees have brought from the orchard.
For drink I'd pour you wine that remembers
sun and shadow on the hillside where it grew,
and spring water wet enough to slake your forever thirst.

As you grow, the air around you
will be full of calls and strange directions.
Choices pulling at you and confusion of dreams.
And I would show you a true compass and how to use it,
and sun steady in its orbit and a way
through the woods by a path that will not peter out.

Soon you will know well the sound of love's voice
and you have, already, hands,
and a heart and a mouth that will answer.
And I would learn with you more
of how love gives and receives,
both, with both palms open.
I am standing here,
far enough away for you to stretch and breathe,
close enough to shield you from some of the chill
and to tell you of a comfort that is stronger,
more real,
that will come closer still.

- Luci Shaw

Magical Twilight!

There is something so enchanting about winter's twilight. As much as I love fall, these wintry colors as the sun sets make my eyes wide with wonder and my imagination soar. I find myself drawn to just staring at the colors and the way that the air looks, feels and smells. It's magical. I think when they talk about the fairy time in books, it's the winter twilight time that they mean.

This weekend I was at Twin Rocks and Saturday we went onto the beach for sunset...of course we had just missed it, but as we approached the water it was most remarkable. The tide was out, and the colors of the sunset were hanging there in the air...but because of the receding tide those light and shinning colors were reflected all over the wet sand, and in the ocean itself. It was so shiny, I wish there was a better word to use, but it was like the light was reflecting off of everything, not in a sparkely way, but just pure shiny light. I imagine it looks like a fragmant of the majesty of the Lord. It was exactly like Grandfather's Twilight, a book that was my favorite as a child...(and the second time I was reminded of it that weekend, Friday night the moon looked exactly like that pearl that grew and grew and grew in Grandfather Twilight's hand), the colors blended together: sky, ocean, wet sand, and created this palate of sheer twilight. I could only stand there in awe and stare. I couldn't pull my eyes away and I ended up gazing out until it was too dark to see the colors anymore. Before the light disappeared the waves crashed in the ocean along the shore, but because of the light all you could see was the foam from the cresting waves leaping against the colors every once in awhile. It was truly one of the most miraculous sights I have ever seen and I was once again humbled by the vastness of the ocean and the majesty of the Lord.

Graciously a friend of mine realized my moment and snaped a quick picture...it doesn't do the colors justice, but a piece of the magic is contained in the picture...at least for me.

Things That Intrigue Me and Draw Me In

Have you ever really truly looked at book titles? They are simply remarkable, and I always am floored and stop to think about the fact that someone or a group of someones sat and agonized for hours, days, weeks, months eve, over the perfect title for a book. A title is like an epitaph, it's supposed to magically encompass the content, and feel of the book in less than 10 words (usually!). Which is what we ask people to do on tombstones too...both seeming ridiculous to me. Sum up your best friend, or family member in 20 words or less go! It's the same thing with books...yet there are some that just draw you in...and the greatest thing to me is that what draws me in, doesn't necessarily draw another person in.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog

Holding up the Sky
Hot, Flat, and Crowded
Alphabet Juice
The River Home (so much potential)
The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao
Indignation
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
(just a few titles that have intrigued me as of late)

And books, much like people are immediately intriguing, or they are not that intrguing, but then you hear about the book, and someone tells you what it is about, or that you need to read it, and suddenly that seemingly mundane title now is exciting to you.
And then there's my favorite...the title that as soon as you hear it draws up thoughts, feelings, memories, just with the words of the book's name:

Anne of Green Gables (Anne in general)*
Narnia :)*
The Miraculous Adventures of Edward Tulane
Harry Potter
A New Coat For Anna*
The Polar Express*
The Hobbit*
The Brother's Grimm Fairy Tales*
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle*
Johhny Tremain
The Outsiders (Thank you Mrs. Belka)
Pride and Prejudice
Crime and Punnishment (Thank you Mr. Dolmatz)
The Witch of Blackbird Pond (Thank you Mrs. Snell)
The Secret Garden*

Just like good friends these titles conjure up a picture of something unique and special. Ah, for the love of books! :) (*Thanks Mom and Dad for introducing me to these treasures)

Little Known Fact!

Here's a little known fact for all you teacher people...if you don't cancel a sub before 8:00am, you can't do it at all! And if perhaps, the user of the technology device that schedules subs makes a mistake that you are unaware of until the morning, you still cannot cancel the sub...with that said, it's 12:36 and I'm sitting at Chapters, where I'm sure parents and teachers can see me and it will look like I'm playing hooky, which essentially I am...but forced hooky so it's not the same, at least that's what I think.

Here is a book that I saw today that intrigues me The Elegance of the Hedgehog. What a great title. I'm hooked and I want to read it, I'm half considering buying it so that I can read it at the beach, but then I'd have to stop reading 1984 which I was supposed to have done last weekend, Anne of Avonlea, and the Love and Logic classroom book that I'm also supposed to be done with. Not to mention the 3 others that I am in the middle of, but I keep taking "breaks" to finish other things.
Here's a book I haven't finished yet...The Bell Jar I haven't finished this because it's depressing...a fascinating kind of depressing, but depths of despair nontheless, and the last time I was reading it I suddenly found myself in this black and dark place emotionally...so I decided to take a break...that was 5 months ago...hmmmm

Decision 2008

(Just imagine that I spelled McCain correctly on the board!)

Turns out my class is full of geniuses! They predicted the outcome, how awesome is that? Here are some things I heard today and yesterday: - "Now mom's can kill babies." (heard this morning as we were discussing the election) - Cailin: I just feel really bad for John McCain Me: Why? Cailin: Because he lost! Me: Yes that is sad, but you know he's a senator, he still has a job, so it's not as bad. Cailin: Miss Whitaker he LOST, and that's sad, even if he has another job - "McCain is evil!" (thus ensuing a discussion about the difference between not being a good leader and not being a nice person...this was a long discussion!) - "Did you know some people don't vote?" (imagine a shocked voice, and my affirmation that this is a travesty!) - I wonder what everyone is going to do! Some people are happy, some people are sad...everyone is just so mixed up! (ah, the wisdom of 6 year olds)

Wondering

I wonder about many things...
what is happening with our country, can I impact my class, is that stupid spelling program actually working, how do cell phones work and microwaves, what exactly is a webbot, someday will I publish a book, is what I do making a difference, how did I luck out with these friends, why am I so anxious about life, how do ipods work, how do people live in places where the leaves don't change color, why is the sky blue even where there isn't water, who thought of putting leaves in water and then drinking it, and who tried out yougurt and cheese before the perfected the process, how in the world did someone figure out that using two sticks and some yarn and twisting it around would make something lovely, if I'm welsh does that mean I get a discount if I go to Wales, where does the ocean start and end, what does a star look like up close, who thought up the umbrella, what was with elizibethian necklines, macarena?

and most recenlty...I wonder about lines, and where they are and how far they go.

Who Reads A Book At A Party?

That would be me (and Rory Gilmore of course)...Anne of Green Gables came with me to my Halloween party and then chatted with me when I was the quintessential unparty person. When did I turn into one of those people that doesn't want to hang out with new people at parties?
I kind of just froze with all the new people, and it was akward, and darkish, and black lights are creepy, millions of bobby pins were in my hair, and then Katie fell asleep, I died at video games one to many times, and everyone else I knew was playing a shot game or playing video games...so Anne of Green Gables came out of my bag, and the chastisement began...we'll see if I live this one down.
On a side note: the hair dye didn't work out for Anne, figures since she bought it from the peddlar on the road...another lesson in vanity for both Anne and I.

On another sidenote, our costume of "sorround sound" was a total hit! We are extremely creative! Which goes to show you that having long breakfasts with friends in Portland is very conducive to fabulous brainstorms! :) We won the costume contest, our skit was fabulous, we sparkled and it was lovely...our prize however was that Edgar takes us to a movie that we choose...not sure about the prize, I was hoping for a car, or 1,000 dollars...oh well!

Happy Halloween