"Pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and get to work"

I'm home sick today and so I was able to watch the inauguration of Barack Hussein Obama as president of the United States. That's our president's name and he is an African American. That still amazes me. That still moves me.

The self-proclaimed "skinny black kid" gave an amazing speech, one in which he spoke of the hard work ahead but also of the strength of the American people to face hard work. He spoke of our patchwork population, of our shared history, of our shared hopes. I was moved by his words and by his demeanor. I was moved by the crowd, by the music, by the history.

I know that Obama being sworn in will not right all wrongs, will not fix everything, will not change the way things are. But I think this is a new direction for our country. I know that change comes slowly but I also know that change comes. A woman as Speaker of the House, a black man as President...earlier in my life these would not have been possible. Now they are. Change is possible, change is necessary and I believe that change is on its way.

Why I make doll clothes

Doll clothes are fiddley with lots of stopping and starting. You spend as much time cutting out as you do sewing. You can't get much of a flow going because what you are working on is too small. And the hand sewing! Yikes!

And yet I do it happily. I have been thinking about the reasons why:

1. The doll clothes receiver typically shows tremendous gratitude. (see above photo)
2. It's a small project and done quickly.
3. Dolls are more fun if they have lots of clothes and this is a fairly cheap way to outfit all those children.
4. Doll clothes can last forever. I remember watching my grandmother make doll clothes for my dolls. My kids used those doll clothes and now Samantha has them. What else can you sew that lasts that long? A quilt but that's a huge project...this is fast. (See #2)
5. My grandma made doll clothes for me, I made doll clothes for my kids' dolls, now Kate and I are making doll clothes for Scout. It's a connection with the past.
6. It's a way to make memories.

So as long as we have doll lovers in the family, I'll keep my sewing machine oiled and ready.

Resolutions

It's halfway through January and I feel like it's safe to mention my resolutions. Things feel solidly if newly in place and I'm ready to go public.

First off, I'm exercising. My ankle is bothering me again and that has jumpstarted this resolution. I'm aging and I don't want to add "and infirm" to that statement so I have to put in some effort on this. Exercise comes much more easily for me during the summer when I have all the time in the world but since I plan to work for another ten years and don't want to become the dreaded "infirm", no more excuses. A little time with the free weights, some Pilates learned at the spa, time on my exercise bike, walking when the ice melts...it's doable and it's necessary.

Secondly, I'm going to enjoy my students. I've been letting deadlines and schedules drive my mood at school but this school year things are totally out of my control. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop stuff from happening: ice storms, snow, death, and the all-important swimming PE schedule. So forget it! I'm going to get a kick out of these kids and I'm going to enjoy my time with them. Maybe it's not the "rigor" discussed in gifted education journals but by damn, it's fun and I'm betting the kids will remember that. Let me just mention again that I'm going to teach for ten more years but this time I'm saying, only ten more years. So I'm laughing more and stressing less.

These things feel good. I think I'll keep doing them.

Spelling bee

I was one of the judges for the spelling bee today...what a job! All of the kids in the bee were keyed up and excited. I loved sitting and looking up at their faces. They literally shone.

And the bee was quick, over in 6 rounds. The winner was one of my students and, bless his heart, he was thrilled. He jumped up in the air as all the kids in the audience burst into applause. He beamed, he smiled, he jumped up and down some more. When told that his prize was an online encyclopedia subscription for a year, he wiggled with joy. Honest he did.

I'm not much for academic competition but this was competition at its best. Just the right amount of pressure, just the right amount of difficulty. A tiny blaze of glory for a hardworking gifted boy.

Overnight guest

Ian spent the night with us last weekend. He was entertaining as always, with his finger skateboard halfpipe tricks, Madden football league game play-by-play, Life Stories, Blokus, and Smart Ass marathon sessions, Star Trek watching, old and favorite book readings...aaahhh...

I love time with him alone. Being with grandchild #1 will always be the best kind of special.

I love snow...

...as much as I hate ice. This is my route to school each day. It's beautiful in all seasons but never more beautiful than right now, after a snow storm. And to make snow even nicer, a young man knocked on our door and offered to do snow removal. The downside to snow is shoveling so this is great. Even greater: it will cost $5 or maybe $10, depending on how many inches we have. This must be how the shoemaker felt when the elves just showed up and did their thing!

Happy new year

2008 was tough. Moving two parents to nursing homes, going off meds, Dad's death, and then the ice storm that will hopefully end all ice storms.

There is so much to look forward to this year. A new grandchild, time with family, vacations and visits, a raised bed garden that I'm planning, using my new camera, maybe a new window in the kitchen...just thinking about how nice that last item would be.

I'm not the first one to say this but I am sincere. Happy New Year to us all.