Six Word Memoirs

You know that place between sleeping and waking,
that place where J.M.Barrie says fairies exist?
That's where my squirrel is busiest.
Last year, he wrote a riddle for everyone in my building
in about 45 minutes.
This morning, he was fascinated
by the concept behind the book
Not Quite What I Was Planning
in which people have written six word memoirs
(look here and here).
Stephen Colbert's, for example, is
"Well, I thought it was funny."

The squirrel tried his hand
(or is it his paw?)
at the challenge:

Laughed loudly and often-- sorry, family!

I did my best-- perhaps not.

Den is my very best part.

Took the big jump-- great fun!

Boiled life into phrases and scribbles.

Grace is an amazing idea. Thanks.


Maybe I should go back to sleep....

S.

The Week After Groundhog Day

One week ago,
we were there when Punxsutawney Phil
predicted six more weeks of winter.
We then joined the thousands of people
trudging through early morning cornfields
in multiple layers of clothing.
It evoked a tiny thought of what a refugee might feel like.
God, bless refugees.
One week down, and it's been a mixed bag weatherwise.
Today alone we had near whiteout conditions, blue skies, sleet, and rain.

It's been a mixed bag week otherwise, too.
Groundhog cookies,
headaches,
a Chinese New Year feast,
appointments,
a one hundredth day celebration,
and "speaking the truth in love" to parents.
A few moments in first grade particularly stand out:

Moment #1:
"Mrs. Shaffner!
I brought in 100 jellybeans for the 100th day of school!
Do you want coffee or booger?"

Moment #2:
"Who can name some polite body parts?"
"Arm...leg...teeth...mouth...spine...uvula...."
"Uvula, Jack?!
Cool! Show us your uvula."
We spent an interesting minute looking down neighbors' throats.
An hour later,
Jack tells the lunch lady that someone was twisting his ankle.
Turns out he meant wrist.
How can he know uvula but not wrist?

Moment #3:
"Mrs. Shaffner! Do you want a worm jellybean?
They're these ones with the red spots."
"Do you like them, Darius?"
"Yup! Gonna try a real worm in the spring!"

This is the day that the Lord has made...
remember to rejoice and be glad in it.
And hang in there for five more weeks.

Thanks for the picture, Stam Babies!

S.