If we were having coffee together...

If we were having coffee together…

I’d tell you about my new role as a grandma. It has been fourteen glorious months since his entrance, since Noah has made this world a more joyful place for our family. To watch Noah walking, clapping, waving bye bye, and Noah hysterically laughing when playing peekaboo – is thrilling and just so fun, so silly, so life-affirming.

I’d tell you about my teaching life. I’ve taught middle school English for much of my working life, and high school for a few years. Since retiring, I’ve been teaching a writing class or two at the local community college.  I also taught graduate students who were future English and Social Studies teachers. That was a wonderful gig, spanning six semesters. It feels good to still be in the field.

I’d tell you how much I love gardening and plants. My favorites are vincas, coneflowers, ranunculus, verbena, bougainvillea and crepe myrtle bushes and trees. Nothing makes me happier than bringing home a whole bunch of vincas to be planted towards the end of May.

                                                 Bougainvillea on Santorini

I’d tell you how much I love traveling. I have many beloved places I’ve visited that I hold dear. I’ve loved Banff, loved Portofino, loved Florence and Rome, and loved Greece. We took an amazing family trip to Greece two summers ago when my future sons-in-law (who came along with my daughters) were then boyfriends. We loved time in Athens and then boarded a cruise to Santorini, Rhodes, Patmos, Crete and Mikonos. It was exquisite. 

I’d tell you that “the world is too much with us.” It’s hard to carry on as normal when too many things are erupting in this moment. I wake up stunned that we are here, with so many horrible happenings, so much discontent and division. I’m afraid that we are slowly losing our democracy.

But I’d tell you that hugging Noah is an antidote, and planting in my garden (hopefully soon) gives me joie de vivre. So I’d hug you and ask,

  * * * *      What is going on in your life? What gives you joy?   * * * *