Celebrate!

I'm joining Ruth Ayres and crew
in celebrating the pleasures of an ordinary week.

Recess duty.

Five year olds.

Heads flung back

Toes pointed forward

Swinging through

Blue autumn sky

Red gold orange trees

Delicious giggles. 

"Don't push me.

I can 'bump'  now

Dr. Carol." 

********

Wednesday.

When I leave for work

it's cold and dark

and I wear a jacket.

At noon

it's still cloudy and

I'm not sure 

how much it's warmed up

I change my heels for

recess duty clogs and

 take my coat outside.

It's definitely warmer.

I can be kind of a space cadet

and I don't want to leave my coat

hanging on the fence

so I tie it around my waist.

The middle schoolers are talking about swagg.

"Do you know what swagg is, Ms. Wilcox?"

I assure them that I do, say jokingly, 

"Don't I look like I know what swagg is?"

The seventh grade girls look at doubtfully.

"Ummm, I think you have to change your shoes.

And untie your coat

if you want to be swagging."

**********

Thursday.

After school snack bags

from the Food Bank.

Six-year-old M helps me clean up afterwards.

He wants to carry the extra's basket

Back to the storage area.

Today's snack was hummus and crackers.

Not a favorite.

And there is lots of hummus in the extra's box.

"Dr. Carol, 

I don't think kids like this 'thomas.'

You shouldn't make it anymore."

**********

Friday afternoon.

Six-year-old A.

Eating a box of raisins from his

after school snack bag.

"I like raisins," 

he says conversationally.

And then, 

"There are not very many in here."

He looks at me accusingly.

"Did you eat some?"

**********

Friday night.

Book club. 

We have been meeting since 1995.

Almost 20 years.

Sometimes we talk about books.

Mostly we talk about life.

We have travelled many roads.

Teaching. Marriage. Death. Remarriage. Adoption.

Now there are more conversations about retirement.

Health. Travel.

Tonight we admire panda pictures from China. 

Talk about colitis and osteoporosis and train travel. 

Eat birthday cake.

Drink wine.

And laugh a lot.

So grateful for these dear, dear friends.

So much to celebrate.