When I was a kid I wanted to live inside Jeanie’s bottle and travel by magic carpet
be chosen as a contestant on the Price is Right get slimed on Nickelodeon’s You Can’t Do That on Television make it to bucket number six on Bozo’s Grand Prize Game walk off stage with a pile of prizes, a brand new bike
When I was a kid I wanted to eat SpaghettiOs we never had in our house raise cute little sea monkeys what would I name them? shrink myself to ride Mister Rogers’s trolley go on a real field trip with him feed his fish
When I was a kid I wanted to sit on the steps of a brownstone on Sesame Street even though I might have been too old dance in a fire hydrant’s fountain releasing its cool spray on a hot summer day claim the top bunk at camp write letters home by flashlight swat at mosquitoes on my neck sticky with sweat
When I was a kid I wanted to explore the woods and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water even though I didn’t know about architecture listen to babbling brooks as snowmelt swelled streams and creeks and rivers I wanted to wave at Santa from Broadway at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade catch snowflakes on my tongue wave at the camera to kids watching from home ride a subway
When I was a kid I wanted to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony
"Well, hello, Little Lady," Spring announces with the tip of a hat, "did ya notice me?"
Well, yes, it's warmer than usual, so I felt it Didn't see it until the scent caught me, a lasso pulled taut, making me back-step a few paces until yes, I noticed
Rich purple bloom clusters hang like oversized Christmas ornaments on short, shrubby trees
Inhaling her sweet scent isn't necessary she's everywhere even if you aren't standing near her
Texas mountain laurel
she's like lilac, but instead of dainty heels, she wears boots with spurs
she's like lilac, but with attitude don't mess with her like ya don't mess with Texas
Don't underestimate her strength underneath all her beauty she snaps spring to attention drawing honeybees into her presence her signature scent announcing
Waited in line an hour and a half small talk about middle schoolers bubbly volleyball girls giggle over who knows what on their phones slipping out of their slides into their court shoes more chats about precincts changes gasping "oh no!" as a voter is led to a QR code which reveals where her vote will count "all that time in line..." an attendant reminds everyone to make sure they're in the right place "stand behind the blue line, please" almost there "three more people" and another set of lines "should've voted early but it always sneaks up on me then I wind up voting on election day" I.D. is ready verbally confirm the address "paper" and the printer needs a refill one ballot is printed for curbside mine is next until it isn't printer insists it's out of paper when it's clearly full I want to kick it the next printout *fingers crossed* is mine bubble in, like in school just don't get a detention "I only went to the principal's office once do you know why?" I keep bubbling "I wrote love letters to my French teacher!" another line? not for me paper ballot is a fast pass to the feeder grab my sticker "thank you" I Voted
Observation tomorrow poetry stations but only three there's this thing called time you see it robs you of every good intention and test prep wrecks havoc as it tornados its way through schedules leaving intellectual debris behind poor kids grasp for consistency poor teachers, exasperated, know what works, yet unable to get it all done and here I am arguing with imposter syndrome struggling to create an engaging lesson because the kids are done
Summer Moon Coffee's 1/4 Moon, hot those jeans that go with everything and always fit dress them up dress them down reliable chilly air between season transitions Babies, all cuddly and squishy Childhood no tantrums no attitude all fun Teens when they have a good speak with you day Adult kids stopping by just because contentment enough ups enough downs to make appreciation stick
Hey! Time taps my shoulder then runs ready or not, here I come! I never liked chasing people and time is worse people can get caught Ha! Ha! Time laughs Made ya look! I stop, panting chaos in its wake as it continues to barrel ahead of me can't catch my breath
It's 8:45 a.m. 7:45 for my body as if getting rushed through the weekend door pushed through it isn't enough this time thing had to happen today last night my body lives in two time zones I get to wrestle with for a week even though we already know which one wins hello, spring where's the snooze button?
Nerds Beget Nerds 