Petdad

Ever since I was a child, I wanted to fly. I was fascinated with the concept of flight and badly wanted to be a part of it all. I would imagine myself flying and feeling the sensation of wind on my face and body. Yes, I was one of those kids who would stick my head out the car window as we drove. Don’t judge, this was long before any seatbelt laws and personal safety was quite loose back then 🙂 There was a corner area at my next door neighbors house where two walls met that created an updraft with any notable air movement. It didn’t have to be windy for the magic to work. I would take an inflated balloon to that area and bounce it off my hands to see if it would lift on it’s own. Often it did and I wanted to lift off along with it. I began dreaming about flying when I was a child, and have flown in my dreams often to this day. The feeling is oh-so invigorating!

Under the Dreams tab, I posted an essay on flying. The essay does not recount any particular dream, but it does outline how my dream flights have evolved throughout my lifetime.

It must be difficult to grow old. It happens…to everyone.

I watched a documentary last night on the life of Glen Campbell and his slow demise into Alzheimer’s disease. His last song was titled I Won’t Miss You. Because anyone with Alzheimer’s won’t. They slowly lose their memory until they know no one. Obviously the pain is left with loved one’s who will miss the one who is cognitively drifting away.

But what about others who’s physical bodies erode, and mental ability lessens. They think they are still 100%, but they are not. Physical ailments become more numerous and more frequent and loved ones do their best to make things work with those who are ailing.

It must be very hard to be in this situation. Makes one wonder if instant death is the ‘best way to go’. I wonder what it must be like to be in the shoes of those who experience this kind of slow demise. It must be difficult to forge ahead in everyday life, knowing that the ravages of linear time is not going to reverse. Certainly not an enviable position. Yet we all know that the end is ‘near’. Is the uncertainty comforting or discomforting? I think it’s actually both.

Hang on to everything possible. Allow others to help you when necessary. Appreciate the fact that you opened your eyes this morning, and celebrate life.

I just added a new essay under Musings, “Now I Know”. I decided to write about the rather a-musing topic, I suppose, to help come to terms with something that occurs with age. I do notice everything, and the essay will give you insight into my degree of observation.

On Saturday there was an amazing display of clouds all day. Every time I went outside, there was different beauty to view. Check out the latest imagery in Sky.

Each and every day, although we may have a plan of sorts of what our day will entail. However, we really have no idea of what might occur. As such, we have no clue how a sequence of events could modify one’s plans.

New under the Musings tab is an essay just published titled, “I Think Her Name is Noel”. Check it out.

“How much time is left?” I hear this from my students often. My response to them, “Let’s worry about the here and now.” Yet, this question is one that is weaved into the fabric of who we are, and our place on this earth.

How much time is left? I for one, am glad that I don’t know that answer as it pertains to my life. Rather, not knowing puts me in a place where I can envision a glass that is perpetually half-full. There is so much more to say, and do. There is so much opportunity for anything and everything. Possibilities are endless.

If we are constantly ‘worried’ or concerned about the end of our time, then we do not allow ourselves the gift of the moment. Linear time as we know it is unforgiving, and therefore is always scribing what is immediately considered history.

There are immediate benefits to living your life for today. Embrace it. Do not wait…NOW is the time. Live.

Anyone with a creative mind, knows that he or she must always push the envelop of norm in order to grow. While my temporary shift in practice even has me intrigued, it may ‘say’ absolutely nothing to you. Navigate to my latest Sky update, and you decide.

Years ago, I penned the phrase ‘We do not stop, nearly enough, to observe the unobserved. -Sky’ I created that statement as I started noticing the beauty of clouds in our skies.

As I was drinking my AM Liter of water this morning this is what I saw.

There was only one light on in the kitchen where I stood as it was still early. The composition of the image is fascinating, complete with the semi-translucent cup and the shadow of fingers from my left hand. I always drink my liter of water in the morning, typically with the same lighting situation but I have never noticed such a visual phenomenon whole doing so. I knew I needed to capture this coolness in a pic. The only detail that I wish could have been included is the shadow of my right hand fingers as well.

It’s always interesting to entertain perceptions from a different perspective. What do you see? Perhaps a tunnel, a concert stage setting? Today, take time to observe the unobserved and allow yourself to see everything you have never seen before. Leave a comment if you are so inclined.

There is a wonderful young adult book titled book titled A Dog’s Life: The Autobiography of a Stray. The book is written by Newberry Honor author Ann M. Martin, whose reads are always winners. I have read this story to my students nearly every year. Written from the perspective of a dog who calls herself Squirrel, as she recounts events in her life that include her brother Bone, and a found friend Moon. The story has many applicable life lessons, complete with the highs and lows of daily life. Yes, you will experience a gamut of emotions as you read, but it will all culminate with a smile – I promise.

I was reminded of this story shortly after I awoke this morning, and saw the brightness of our post-Full Moon. It’s pretty incredible just how much an unencumbered view of the nighttime moon can produce so much reflected light. Especially on those super-clear nights when the air is kind of chilly, and the crispness of the stars and moon are spectacular.

I have always been mesmerized by the moon, and will often find it difficult to remove my gaze from it. To me, there is something powerful about the moon that draws me to it. I don’t know what it is but I can surely feel it.

We all know that the moon has actual effect on our planet that toys with Earth’s gravitational pull. We are most likely to see this effect at the ocean shore. I do not track the moon phases, but I am clearly affected by the moon during the height of it’s fullness. The added ‘energy’ is awesome, although it can also lower my patience cap thus increasing potential for personal crankiness.

We see it in our students. They don’t know when there is a Full Moon, or if the moon is Waning or Waxing, and at this stage in life they most likely don’t care. However, just as crime in society rises during those few days of the cycle, so does the frequency of schoolyard shenanigans. For the most part, we see a heightened level of excitement. While this is perfectly fine, the teacher must be ready to be a part of the frenzy. Fun, yes. Challenging, yessss!

I added a photo today to the Sky page, taken just over three years ago. Ever since I was a kid, I have always thought that I was very close to the act flying. The idea absolutely fascinated me. So much so that I tried and tried, and tried to actually fly. I can still relive the exhilarating emotion of what it must feel like to fly. When I looked closely at this sky image, I felt as if I was flying in and through the clouds. Imagining the cool (I’m sure rather cold) atmosphere, as I speed through the air…just me and the beauty of Sky.