I am upset when I read so much about the way people, especially young people, are bullying each other. It becomes very vicious, demeaning and cruel. When I was a kid, I guess there must have been some of this going on, but I don't remember it. The worst thing I can remember is that a girl in my class, probably 4th or 5th grade lived on a pig farm. When she came to school, she smelled so bad none of the kids would get close to her. I don't think anyone ever said anything about it to her, but just being avoided must have hurt her feelings.
Kelly Ripa remarked the other day that at her son's school, the teacher gave each student a nice, clean sheet of white paper. (these were small kids). She told them they could do anything they wanted to do to the paper. Some crushed it up, others tore their's, or walked on it, etc. After a minute or so she asked them to smooth out the paper an make it all neat again. Of course, they couldn't make it perfect again and the teacher said: "This paper is like people. It you builly them, say something mean to them, etc. they will never be the same. You have hurt that person and he will always be hurt and can't be put back the way he was before you were cruel to him.
I thought that was a great idea. Kids need to learn at an early age that it is wrong to bully people or say unkind things to them. I think this would be a great idea for teachers and also parents to use as one little step in educating children to be kind.
Until next time
Be kind to oneanother
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Another Year Older
Someone once asked Lucille Ball how to stay young and she replied, "Live honestly, eat slowly and lie about your age." I guess I will lie about my age. I was going to start a new blog, Life at 86, but then I thought, No, I will lie about my age and stay 85.....after all, that makes me sooooooooooooo young.
Enough of my silliness. This is sort of like New Year's Eve. What is coming in the new year? What will I do? Who will I meet? Will I live another year? I know this last question sounds odd, but when you get to be my age, it is very real. I was just reading in the paper this morning that at the beginning of the twentieth century, the expected life time was 47. Now, in 2011 it has gone up to 79. So....I have made it over that hurdle. I would love to live to about 110. There is just so much to see and do I want to be around a little longer.
The actor Taye Digas has just written a children's book called Chocolate Me. It is all about self-esteem, self-awareness and how to love your differences. He said to embrace your differences.
When you think about it, this applies to us whatever age, whatever color, whatever faith. We need to learn to EMBRACE ourselves the way we are. So today, I embrace that I am old. Being old doesn't mean one can't read, think, and enjoy life. I have heard, over the years, many people who dread getting old. (it's a lot better alternative than not getting old).
Some people complain that they have so many medications. I take a handful in the morning and four at night. I am thankful. My ancestors would have probably lived a lot longer if they had had medications to help them.
Most people, including me, complain about their aches and pains. I guess that is one of the things we just have to learn to live with. I don't like it, but there are so many things to enjoy. I try to be happy and look for those things each day. In fact, one thing I say almost every morning is "This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Ps. 118:24
If it is raining, I rejoice that I can stay inside with a cup of coffee and a good book. If it is sunny, I can look out my window and see the beautiful rust and gold leaves covering the tree across the street. I can hug Annie, my sweet little dog, and get a big wet kiss on my nose. How much love can you handle? I can get absorbed in doing a painting, or writing.(I just started a novel. At the moment the title is Family Secrets. I'm sure I will change it fifty times before I am through.) I may not live long enough to finish it, but if I don't, just think of all the fun I have had writing it.
Embrace your life. Do what you can. Find joy in something you enjoy. Life is too short not to enjoy all you can. I am not the neat housekeeper I once was, but I am enjoying my life a lot more. Be happy, be well, and.......................................
until next time,
Be kind to one another
Enough of my silliness. This is sort of like New Year's Eve. What is coming in the new year? What will I do? Who will I meet? Will I live another year? I know this last question sounds odd, but when you get to be my age, it is very real. I was just reading in the paper this morning that at the beginning of the twentieth century, the expected life time was 47. Now, in 2011 it has gone up to 79. So....I have made it over that hurdle. I would love to live to about 110. There is just so much to see and do I want to be around a little longer.
The actor Taye Digas has just written a children's book called Chocolate Me. It is all about self-esteem, self-awareness and how to love your differences. He said to embrace your differences.
When you think about it, this applies to us whatever age, whatever color, whatever faith. We need to learn to EMBRACE ourselves the way we are. So today, I embrace that I am old. Being old doesn't mean one can't read, think, and enjoy life. I have heard, over the years, many people who dread getting old. (it's a lot better alternative than not getting old).
Some people complain that they have so many medications. I take a handful in the morning and four at night. I am thankful. My ancestors would have probably lived a lot longer if they had had medications to help them.
Most people, including me, complain about their aches and pains. I guess that is one of the things we just have to learn to live with. I don't like it, but there are so many things to enjoy. I try to be happy and look for those things each day. In fact, one thing I say almost every morning is "This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Ps. 118:24
If it is raining, I rejoice that I can stay inside with a cup of coffee and a good book. If it is sunny, I can look out my window and see the beautiful rust and gold leaves covering the tree across the street. I can hug Annie, my sweet little dog, and get a big wet kiss on my nose. How much love can you handle? I can get absorbed in doing a painting, or writing.(I just started a novel. At the moment the title is Family Secrets. I'm sure I will change it fifty times before I am through.) I may not live long enough to finish it, but if I don't, just think of all the fun I have had writing it.
Embrace your life. Do what you can. Find joy in something you enjoy. Life is too short not to enjoy all you can. I am not the neat housekeeper I once was, but I am enjoying my life a lot more. Be happy, be well, and.......................................
until next time,
Be kind to one another
Thursday, September 8, 2011
School Days and Teachers
Kids are going back to school and I always feel a little nostalgic when this time of year rolls around. When I was a little girl, I loved getting a new pair of shoes and the clothes my mother made for me to start school. But most of all, I loved the new pencil box I got each year. They were only made of cardboard, had a drawer in them and contained pencils, an eraser, a pencil sharpener and a pen, one you dipped in the ink well.
I always loved school either as a student or a teacher. Speaking of teachers, I think each one should either have typed and put on their desk or else made into a large poster and tacked on the wall, part of a poem by one of my favorite poets, Walt Whitman. It is A Child Went Forth . I will post it here before I comment on it.
There was a child went forth every day;
And every object he look'd upon, that object he became:
And that object became part of him for the day, or a certain part of
the day, or for many years, or stretching cycles of years.
The early lilies became part of this child,
and grass, and white and red morning-glories, and white and
red clover, and the song of the phoebe-bird,
and the Third -month lambs, and the sow's pink-faint litter,
and the mare's foal, and the cow's calf,
and the noisy brood of the barn-yard, or by the mire of the pond-side,
and the fish suspending themselves so curiously below there --and the
curious liquid l
And the water-plants with their graceful flat heads--all became
part of him.
The field-sprouts of Fourth-month and Fifth-month became part of him;
Winter-grain sprouts , and those of the light-yellow corn, and the
esculent roots of the garden,
and the apple-trees covered with blossoms, and the fruit afterward,
and wood-berries, and the commonest weeds by the road;
and the old drunkard staggering home from the out-house of the tavern,
whence he had lately risin,
and the school-mistress that pass'd on her way to school,and the friendly boys that pass'd--and the quarrelsome boys,
and the tidy and fresh-cheeked girls--and the barefoot negro boy and girl,
and all the changes of city and country wherever he went.
I will end it here as I think by now you see what I am getting at. I hope all teachers realize that every thing they say and do, everything they teach, evevy new object or idea they present to their students becomes a part of that child. Wow, what a great responsibility.
This makes me wonder. When a teacher has your child nine months of the year, five days a week, do you ever think what a great influence the teacher has on your child? And do you ever wonder why movie stars and athletes get paid millions of dollars for one performance and yet teachers, who have such a great influence on your child gets paid so little?
Just food for thought. Happy school days.
Till next timer,
Be kind to one another.
I always loved school either as a student or a teacher. Speaking of teachers, I think each one should either have typed and put on their desk or else made into a large poster and tacked on the wall, part of a poem by one of my favorite poets, Walt Whitman. It is A Child Went Forth . I will post it here before I comment on it.
There was a child went forth every day;
And every object he look'd upon, that object he became:
And that object became part of him for the day, or a certain part of
the day, or for many years, or stretching cycles of years.
The early lilies became part of this child,
and grass, and white and red morning-glories, and white and
red clover, and the song of the phoebe-bird,
and the Third -month lambs, and the sow's pink-faint litter,
and the mare's foal, and the cow's calf,
and the noisy brood of the barn-yard, or by the mire of the pond-side,
and the fish suspending themselves so curiously below there --and the
curious liquid l
And the water-plants with their graceful flat heads--all became
part of him.
The field-sprouts of Fourth-month and Fifth-month became part of him;
Winter-grain sprouts , and those of the light-yellow corn, and the
esculent roots of the garden,
and the apple-trees covered with blossoms, and the fruit afterward,
and wood-berries, and the commonest weeds by the road;
and the old drunkard staggering home from the out-house of the tavern,
whence he had lately risin,
and the school-mistress that pass'd on her way to school,and the friendly boys that pass'd--and the quarrelsome boys,
and the tidy and fresh-cheeked girls--and the barefoot negro boy and girl,
and all the changes of city and country wherever he went.
I will end it here as I think by now you see what I am getting at. I hope all teachers realize that every thing they say and do, everything they teach, evevy new object or idea they present to their students becomes a part of that child. Wow, what a great responsibility.
This makes me wonder. When a teacher has your child nine months of the year, five days a week, do you ever think what a great influence the teacher has on your child? And do you ever wonder why movie stars and athletes get paid millions of dollars for one performance and yet teachers, who have such a great influence on your child gets paid so little?
Just food for thought. Happy school days.
Till next timer,
Be kind to one another.
Friday, August 12, 2011
If You grew up in Ridgefield
When I opened my e mail yesterday my inbox registered 147 messages. What the????????? Bob Horal asked if people grew up in Ridgefield that they replied with what they remembered. I have poor eyesight, but I started reading the replies. Some very interesting. However, after about 50 of these I just ended up deleting them. Too hard to read. I hope Bob can put them all together in one article and share with us.
I did not grow up in Ridgefield, but, I taught a lot of kids who did. "These are just a few of my memories.
My husband and I came to Ridgefield in 1964, me English, and my hubby in Chemistry and Biology. At the time there were on openings for an English teacher, but I was promised the next opening. In the meantime, there was no Kindergarten in the district and they wanted me to start one at Union Ridge and Lorna Montigue at South Ridge. I had a blast and almost wished I had majored in elementary education.
Some of my kindergarten memories are, making mud pies and decorating them with colored chips used in fish boles. We learned mud pie poems and had a mud pie display in our hall display window.
When we read The Three Billy Goats Gruff, we went over to the park behind Union Ridge and did an action play of the story. There was a little wooden bridge and the kids could get under it, which made the story more real to them.
Then I went to the old Ridgefield High School on Main Street. My last three years there ended when the school was torn down. (cried over that).
I remember a young blond first year math teacher (forgot her name). The boys loved to tease her and when she was out of the room, they took all their desks and put them out the window. She came to my room and cried. Shame on you guys.
In my husbands class, a lot of kids were always saying they had to go to the rest room, so instead of giving them a hall pass, they had to carry a beaker full of yellow water down the hall to the rest room. It certainly made a difference. Ha.The gum thing on my desk. Need I say more?
John Rose never handed in book reports and I decided I was going to end that. We had a football game that night and I told him if I didn't receive a book report, he would not be able to play that evening. At the game, he came running up handed me his book report and went on to play the game. When I returned home I looked at the report. The little stinker had pulled a fast one on me. He had copied his entire report of the book flap.
And the kids could never figure out why I always cried at their graduations. They didn't realize that over nine months I had learned to love them as if their were my own kids (even the ones who skipped class etc.)_
I went to every baseball game the kids plated and one of the nicest gifts I ever received is sitting on display in my library. It is the winning baseball signed by Jim Davenport, 2nd base, Dennis Nieman, short stop, Nick Anderson, catcher, Tom Kane, right field, Dave Berry, first base, John Rose, center field, Pat Gonzales, ?, . What a special treasure.
So, even though I didn't grow up in Ridgefield, I bet I have as many great memories of that little town and any one else.
I did not grow up in Ridgefield, but, I taught a lot of kids who did. "These are just a few of my memories.
My husband and I came to Ridgefield in 1964, me English, and my hubby in Chemistry and Biology. At the time there were on openings for an English teacher, but I was promised the next opening. In the meantime, there was no Kindergarten in the district and they wanted me to start one at Union Ridge and Lorna Montigue at South Ridge. I had a blast and almost wished I had majored in elementary education.
Some of my kindergarten memories are, making mud pies and decorating them with colored chips used in fish boles. We learned mud pie poems and had a mud pie display in our hall display window.
When we read The Three Billy Goats Gruff, we went over to the park behind Union Ridge and did an action play of the story. There was a little wooden bridge and the kids could get under it, which made the story more real to them.
Then I went to the old Ridgefield High School on Main Street. My last three years there ended when the school was torn down. (cried over that).
I remember a young blond first year math teacher (forgot her name). The boys loved to tease her and when she was out of the room, they took all their desks and put them out the window. She came to my room and cried. Shame on you guys.
In my husbands class, a lot of kids were always saying they had to go to the rest room, so instead of giving them a hall pass, they had to carry a beaker full of yellow water down the hall to the rest room. It certainly made a difference. Ha.The gum thing on my desk. Need I say more?
John Rose never handed in book reports and I decided I was going to end that. We had a football game that night and I told him if I didn't receive a book report, he would not be able to play that evening. At the game, he came running up handed me his book report and went on to play the game. When I returned home I looked at the report. The little stinker had pulled a fast one on me. He had copied his entire report of the book flap.
And the kids could never figure out why I always cried at their graduations. They didn't realize that over nine months I had learned to love them as if their were my own kids (even the ones who skipped class etc.)_
I went to every baseball game the kids plated and one of the nicest gifts I ever received is sitting on display in my library. It is the winning baseball signed by Jim Davenport, 2nd base, Dennis Nieman, short stop, Nick Anderson, catcher, Tom Kane, right field, Dave Berry, first base, John Rose, center field, Pat Gonzales, ?, . What a special treasure.
So, even though I didn't grow up in Ridgefield, I bet I have as many great memories of that little town and any one else.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
What Do They Have In Common?
A few days ago someone said on Face Book, "It's Tuesday and there's nothing to do." I can't imagine never having nothing to do, but if you are one of them, here is a little article for you to solve. What do these things have in common?
Toasting marshmallows over a camp fire. Hot Fudge Sundays on a hot summer day. Cuddling a child or a loved one. Wearing a comfortable pair of old shoes. Singing your favorite songs. Dogs. Country Quilts made by hand. Taking classes in something you are really interested in. Tinkling wind chimes. Finding the first blossom in early Spring.
Well, by now you probably already know what they have in common, but here are a few more things if you are not sure. Kindergarten drawings framed and hung where all can see them. Bacon and eggs. Steel cut oatmeal topped with lots of brown sugar and a little half and half. A glass of good wine (or diet Pepsi if you prefer.) Fresh air. Watching a red and gold sunset with someone you care about and staying until it turns into deep purple. Fresh peaches, so juicy that the juice runs down your chin.
You probably all know what they have in common now. Here are just a few more reminders (there are millions.) New peas. Being silly just for the heck of it. Gardenias, fragrant and beautiful.Wearing grungy clothes. Bird songs at dawn. Fresh Baked bread with strawberry butter. Hunting for antiques.(really old things that you can make beautiful>) Lilac bushes in bloom. A kind word or note from a friend. A great book to snuggle up with (popcorn on the side.) The dove gray morning just as a flash of golden sun appears and you drink your first cup of coffee.
Enough. By now you must know that these are Blessings that can make us happy. You should make your own list of things that make you happy and post it where you can read it every day. Reminds me of the old Hymn, Count your many Blessings, see what God has done.
Until next time
Be kind to one another
Toasting marshmallows over a camp fire. Hot Fudge Sundays on a hot summer day. Cuddling a child or a loved one. Wearing a comfortable pair of old shoes. Singing your favorite songs. Dogs. Country Quilts made by hand. Taking classes in something you are really interested in. Tinkling wind chimes. Finding the first blossom in early Spring.
Well, by now you probably already know what they have in common, but here are a few more things if you are not sure. Kindergarten drawings framed and hung where all can see them. Bacon and eggs. Steel cut oatmeal topped with lots of brown sugar and a little half and half. A glass of good wine (or diet Pepsi if you prefer.) Fresh air. Watching a red and gold sunset with someone you care about and staying until it turns into deep purple. Fresh peaches, so juicy that the juice runs down your chin.
You probably all know what they have in common now. Here are just a few more reminders (there are millions.) New peas. Being silly just for the heck of it. Gardenias, fragrant and beautiful.Wearing grungy clothes. Bird songs at dawn. Fresh Baked bread with strawberry butter. Hunting for antiques.(really old things that you can make beautiful>) Lilac bushes in bloom. A kind word or note from a friend. A great book to snuggle up with (popcorn on the side.) The dove gray morning just as a flash of golden sun appears and you drink your first cup of coffee.
Enough. By now you must know that these are Blessings that can make us happy. You should make your own list of things that make you happy and post it where you can read it every day. Reminds me of the old Hymn, Count your many Blessings, see what God has done.
Until next time
Be kind to one another
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Not my Day
I think I should have staid in bed today. Nothing seems to go right.
Last night my hot water faucet in the kitchen started to run a steady stream of water. It was too late to call a plumber and I was not able to get under the sink and turn off the water so..........I am sure I will have a huge electric bill and a larger water bill. I called someone this a.m., waited a couple of hours and when he came he had to leave to get a washer. He could not stop the stream, in fact he said he had never seen this much water, he assumed I just had a leaky faucet. It was leaky all right. Any how, he did get it fixed, but the faucet is on backwards and he could not get it to go the right way. I don't care....at least it works.
Then I came in to check my e-mail. What to my wondering eyes did appear, but t two piles of vomit, Oh goodness, Oh dear. Seems Annie ate something she shouldn't have. Then I turned my head and three more lovely heaps on the floor. By the time I got through checking all the floors I found twelve little piles of poor Annie's insides. Bless her little heart, I have one sick puppy on my hands. She is so small I don't know where this all came from.
Well, other than those little problems, I have such a sore toe that it hurts to even feel my stocking on my foot.
Believe it or not, we all have our bad days and I really don't have too many so I can't complain. I just have to remember that "this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." I am and I will.
Until next time
Be kind to one another
\
Last night my hot water faucet in the kitchen started to run a steady stream of water. It was too late to call a plumber and I was not able to get under the sink and turn off the water so..........I am sure I will have a huge electric bill and a larger water bill. I called someone this a.m., waited a couple of hours and when he came he had to leave to get a washer. He could not stop the stream, in fact he said he had never seen this much water, he assumed I just had a leaky faucet. It was leaky all right. Any how, he did get it fixed, but the faucet is on backwards and he could not get it to go the right way. I don't care....at least it works.
Then I came in to check my e-mail. What to my wondering eyes did appear, but t two piles of vomit, Oh goodness, Oh dear. Seems Annie ate something she shouldn't have. Then I turned my head and three more lovely heaps on the floor. By the time I got through checking all the floors I found twelve little piles of poor Annie's insides. Bless her little heart, I have one sick puppy on my hands. She is so small I don't know where this all came from.
Well, other than those little problems, I have such a sore toe that it hurts to even feel my stocking on my foot.
Believe it or not, we all have our bad days and I really don't have too many so I can't complain. I just have to remember that "this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." I am and I will.
Until next time
Be kind to one another
\
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Interesting Day
PHASE 1
About a year ago I received an e-mail from a person named Joyce Ackley. She said she heard there was another Joyce Ackley that was a writer and she wondered if it was me. She said she lived in Florida and was also a writer. I answered and told her, yes, I am that writer. Since then we have corresponded on FB.
PHASE 2
I informed her that I was 85 and perhaps she wasn't interested in keeping up a conversation with me. She said she would love to. I at once said, "Well, I guess you are my daughter and I named you after me. She wrote back and called me Mommy. As I wrote quotations on FB each day, she would often check like, which showed up as Joyce Ackley likes this. I told her it was rather embarrassing, because people thought I was always liking my own posts. So, she added her middle initial. She now became Joyce H. Ackley. I at once wrote back and said, "Oh no, My name is H. Joyce Ackley, don't tell me your middle name is Helen." It isn't. That would have really been hilarious.
PHASE 3
I asked her for her phone number and today I received an e-mail with the number. I at once called her. What fun. I heard a lady with a sweet southern accent answer the phone and I asked if it was my little Florida daughter. From there we had about a half-hour conversation. We talked about everything from the weather, our aches and pains, our writing and men. I am so glad I finally got to meet her in person. Nice lady, nice friend, nice daughter.
Until next time
Be kind to one another
About a year ago I received an e-mail from a person named Joyce Ackley. She said she heard there was another Joyce Ackley that was a writer and she wondered if it was me. She said she lived in Florida and was also a writer. I answered and told her, yes, I am that writer. Since then we have corresponded on FB.
PHASE 2
I informed her that I was 85 and perhaps she wasn't interested in keeping up a conversation with me. She said she would love to. I at once said, "Well, I guess you are my daughter and I named you after me. She wrote back and called me Mommy. As I wrote quotations on FB each day, she would often check like, which showed up as Joyce Ackley likes this. I told her it was rather embarrassing, because people thought I was always liking my own posts. So, she added her middle initial. She now became Joyce H. Ackley. I at once wrote back and said, "Oh no, My name is H. Joyce Ackley, don't tell me your middle name is Helen." It isn't. That would have really been hilarious.
PHASE 3
I asked her for her phone number and today I received an e-mail with the number. I at once called her. What fun. I heard a lady with a sweet southern accent answer the phone and I asked if it was my little Florida daughter. From there we had about a half-hour conversation. We talked about everything from the weather, our aches and pains, our writing and men. I am so glad I finally got to meet her in person. Nice lady, nice friend, nice daughter.
Until next time
Be kind to one another
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