SOLC Day 31: Made It!

It is 7:52 and it’s the first moment I have had today to even consider writing. It feels like I’m getting this last slice done in just the nick of time. I guess this is how it has felt all month. It’s been one more looming chore. Sometimes I felt added stress during the day, trying to see if moments will be worth slicing about. Other times I feel like I’m rushing to just get all of the boxes checked off. Phew, I wrote it, posted it, and commented on 3 others. The 5:30 wake up, especially after daylight savings was brutal. I won’t miss the extra sleep I’ll get tomorrow.

But then again I’ve been surprised that when I sat down in front of the computer I always had something ready in my mind to write about. I’ve been able to not obsess over details and just sometimes hit “publish” on a first draft. Sometimes the tag line with my comment took to most effort.

But most of all it is the community that makes it all worth it. Reading other slices and getting to be a witness at small and big moments in other people’s lives has made me feel connected. It has made me feel seen not just as a teacher or a mom, but as a person writing along side everyone.

Here’s to 31 days! And now, on to April 1st and some rest.

SOLC Day 30: It’s Raining Ice Cream!

The other day it was a raining when I was driving my kids to school.

“What if it was raining ice cream?” asked my son.

“Oooo I would stand outside with my mouth open!” I giggled, “I hope it is chocolate.”

“What if it rained syrup? he asked.

“YUM” my daughter said, “but what if it rained chocolate chips?”

“Ooo yea” answered my son, “what about sprinkles?”

“What about whipped cream?”

“What about pancakes?”

We all laughed.

“You know, there is a book that tells the story of this actually happening. It is called Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. It starts off fine, but it starts to create some big problems.”

“Can we get it?” my son asked.

“Yep, I’ll put it on hold at the library.” I said. As soon as we got to school, I put it on hold.

The next day I got an email that said Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is ready for pickup. But, it was ready at the library that was 20 minutes in the opposite direction of school. I didn’t know how I could get there and pick up the kids before it closed. Even with Easter coming up this weekend, I wasn’t really sure how to do it. I packed up the rest of the books that I needed to return with a plan to race out of school.

But then in the teacher’s room, there it was! Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs was sitting on a cart with a sign that said “Free Books.” How lucky! I snatched it up and put it in my backpack for tonight.

SOLC Day 29: Umbrellas

Yesterday was a rainy day. My car was in the driveway because our tractor lawnmower is temporarily parked in my garage spot. I had my backpack, bag of extra shoes, 3 lunch boxes, and 2 hats balanced in my hands when I looked out the door and saw it was pouring. I dropped everything in a heap.

Instead of racing to the car, I went to the closet and took out 3 umbrellas. One was a red and white golf umbrella. The others were consignment store finds: a yellow and pink with Tweety Bird and a blue and pink butterfly. I figured I would just get the kids into the car first and worry about all the stuff later. Will I regret this?

“Remember, open your umbrella once you are outside” I said.

Carefully each child stepped onto the slippery wet steps and managed to open their umbrellas. We all made our way down the walkway and across the driveway. Thankfully the puddles were small. My older son went around to his side of the car and impressively opened the door, and slipped inside while closing his umbrella. I helped my daughter into her car seat, balancing my umbrella between my shoulder and the top of the car. I only got moderately wet!

We did it!

I wish I could say the ride home was even better, but the umbrellas became swords. I had to pull the car over and take them away. Then the rest of the ride was filled with a noisy tantrum. Our driveway had enormous puddles in the afternoon and when I turned my back to grab the lunchboxes, everyone was soaked.

Oh well.

SOLC Day 28: Choosing a Podcast

I usually have an audiobook going, but yesterday on my drive to school I wanted to catch up with The Daily podcast. I turned on an episode I’d heard about from last week called “Your Car May Be Spying on You.” I pressed play on my phone and set off on my way.

Except the show didn’t have the regular host and it was quite depressing. After about 5 minutes I bailed thinking, no, I just don’t have time to feel this way.

So I switched to the previous day’s episode called “The United States v. The iPhone.” But after a few minutes I had to turn that off too.

Then I remembered it was Wednesday, the day the weekly episode of the Popcast comes out! YES!! I think I actually fist pumped after I switched over and pressed play. I’ve been listening to The Popcast with Knox and Jamie for almost 10 years. It’s so fun and I usually laugh out loud. Their tagline is “a show dedicated to delightful idiocy, entertaining you on things that do not matter.” This week’s episode was titled “Spring Break Listener Confessions”. I had a smile on my face for the 13 minutes until I got to school. As I put my phone in my jacket pocket and stepped out of the car, the smile stayed. I now had 47 minutes of the episode left for an after school run and the drive home. Perfect!

SOLC Day 27: Is It Safe?

On Sunday night our power came back on. I was proud that I was able to save all of our refrigerator and freezer foods but putting them in a cooler in the snow. I even put snow on the sides and top of the frozen foods.

But on Monday morning we had just a little milk left. There was enough for a splash in my coffee, and a few sips for the kids. I asked my husband to pick up some milk on the way home. He arrived with a small quart.

“Oh, yes thanks!” I said while giving him a hug. “Where did you get this?”

“Oh, at the Cumberland Farm gas station in town.” he answered while taking off his jacket.

“Wait, the gas station in town? Where we didn’t have power for 2 days? The gas station that is not even open half of the time?” I said.

“Umm yea.”

“Do you think it’s safe to drink? Do you think there were generators like in the grocery store? Why didn’t you get some near your work?” I asked, paranoid.

“Hmmmm,” he said while looking closely at the white carton “I’m sure it’s fine. I mean they sold it to us. I’ll just put it in the fridge while we decide.”

On Tuesday morning as I was dividing out the small milk leftover from our gallon, I looked at the full quart sitting on the shelf in the fridge. I opened it and took a sniff. Was that a sour smell? Am I just imagining it?

Nope, I just can’t risk it.

SOLC Day 26: Spring, Where Are You?

Yesterday I was home since our daycare didn’t have power back after the ice storm. Our driveway was still covered in 3 inches of ice, however it was 41 degrees and things looked ready to melt. I could hear the fast drips run down the gutters, but everything was still covered in white.

Why not shovel the driveway I thought? I couldn’t quite get to the asphalt since the bottom was still as hard as concrete, but I could scrape off the top inch. Less ice means a faster melt. The faster it is gone, the sooner it can be spring. Was this completely rational? Probably not, but I needed a task.

I worked my way across the driveway from left to right. I refereed an argument about who got to use the best shovel. I chopped and shoveled making such a loud noise I couldn’t hear anything else.

My sock slipped down in my boot and I had to stop. I sat in an Adirondack chair that came out of hiding, thinking it was Spring. I was lacing up my boots when I noticed the noises around me. It was no longer the metal scrape of my shovel, but my daughter saying “Let’s pretend this is a giant ship” as she climbed up the snowbank.

Then there were the birds. They knew it was Spring even though some of the tree branches were still covered in ice. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and opened the Merlin app. A pileated woodpecker!

“Mom! what are you doing?” called out a voice, wondering why I was sitting instead of working.

“Do you hear that?” I replied. As soon as those words left my mouth, I instantly regretted it because the swish swish of snow pants and the crunching of boots running toward me drowned out any birdsong.

“Shhh” I whispered. “Look!”

I held up my phone to show the app recording the birds. The birdsong started again.

“That’s a cardinal” said my three year old.

And 4 seconds later, the Merlin app confirmed that it was in fact a cardinal. I’m so glad I took this rest and slowed down to notice what was around me. Spring is here.

SOLC Day 25: A Symphony of Generators

We had an incredible snow and ice storm on Saturday leaving us without power. We woke up to absolute quiet with no more icy rain pelting the windows and no ambient noise from heaters or the refrigerator.

Until that afternoon, when we took a walk around the neighborhood.

Instead of our normal bike ride, it turned into “how many generators can we spot?” or really hear. The streets were filled with loud engines, all competing for dominance in my ears. As we moved from one house to the next, another loud rumble appeared. There was even a snowblower thrown in at one house, just for an extra sprinkle of noise. It was so loud, we couldn’t tell where each sound started and ended. It was a symphony of generators.

Too bad we didn’t have one.

SOLC Day 24: Hot Chocolate

Yesterday we got a ton of snow. It’s normal to get snow in March, but it was just a lot. It is throwing off our garden planning especially since we have soil and mulch being delivered on Tuesday.

We took out the snowsuits one more time and trekked out to the backyard with our sleds. After many up’s and down’s we all laid on our backs squinting up at the falling snow.

“Mom, can we have hot chocolate today?” my daughter, A, asked.

“Oh, yeah!” My son chimed in.

“Oh, of course!” I said.

“Let’s go” my daughter said over her shoulder as she hiked up the hill toward the house.

We peeled off of our gear in our mudroom while being careful not to step in any snow grenades on our way to the kitchen. Our hats, gloves, boots, and snow pants were in disarray, but something more important was on our agenda.

I found a hot chocolate pod and loaded it into the Keurig. A and E found seats at our kitchen island.

“Marshmallows, please!” A announced.

I went to the pantry and found the half eaten bag of the mini marshmallows. I passed out 5 to each of us as we heard the hot chocolate dripping into the mug.

“Alexa, play “Hot Chocolate from the Polar Express” I said.

Three heads bobbed as I filled two cups with ice cubes. Tom Hanks’ voice cheered me on as carefully poured three cups. I dealt out 5 more marshmallows and watched them all get plopped into the cups. I sipped my cup as the song ended.

But then the next song automatically played and it was “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”

“No no, Alexa, turn off the music!” I said. This hot chocolate is nice, but it is NOT Christmas time! Easter is on its way!

SOLC Day 23: Statement Necklaces

Dear fellow millennials,

Do you remember “statement necklaces?” You know, the big plastic jeweled necklaces that we wore to work or when we went out.

Yesterday was Fancy Friday at school and I decided to wear a blazer, a silk top, jeans, and booties. A great look until I remembered my jewelry box full of statement necklaces. I chose the one from J Crew. It had a gold chain with 6 teal, navy and pink large charms. It was long enough to hang over my shirt, resting right below my collar bone. Now I looked perfect.

I looked in the mirror before leaving and saw my old self. 12 years ago, this was an outfit I would wear to school. I was transported back to my 3rd grade classroom in Boston. Such a different time in my life, working such long hours at a charter school. It was a school that had a more professional dress code, and perhaps a more serious tone.

As I looked at my reflection I saw that version of me, but now I have shorter hair that has some glimmer of gray. The creases on the sides of my eyes and forehead don’t go away anymore. (Ha, this was around the time I actually said to a 2nd grade student “you are giving me THIS wrinkle!” but that’s a story for another slice). I sighed. Instagram’s algorithm tells me that I’m getting older as there are videos of people wearing skinny jeans with their statement necklaces and laughing at the old times. When did these things go out of style?

Yesterday I got a lot of compliments on my fancy outfit and I thought it must be because of this necklace! Maybe I’ll have to bring back the trend.

SOLC Day 22: Piggie and Gerald

At bedtime last night I asked my three year old daughter to pick out a book to read.

“You pick one mommy,” she said.

“Ok!” I said excitedly. Was this the chance we could finally move away from the Brown Bear Brown Bear collection? I moved over to the overflowing bookcase, skipped over the board books and carefully selected Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems or Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. “You pick from these two.” I said.

“Ice cream!” she yelped.

We snuggled up together and I started to read this beloved Elephant and Piggie book. About half way through we heard a soft knock on the door. My five year old son peeked in.

“What are you reading?” he asked.

“Come on over” I said, gesturing with my arm for him to slide in next to me.

The three of us giggled as I read the rest of the story. We picked out our favorite ice cream cones on the last page and of course spotted the pigeon. I’m so happy to introduce A to Piggie and Gerald and all of the hilarious adventures they experience.

I paused and noticed it was exactly the same time, 4 years ago, when my son and I started reading these books together. It was March 2020. In those early days of lockdown, I filmed myself doing read alouds for my second graders, with my son in the background. The first one I filmed was There’s a Bird on Your Head by Mo Willems- another Piggie and Gerald book. It’s funny how that memory comes right back. In those weeks and months of fear and uncertainty, my son and I were sitting on his bedroom floor, with Piggie and Gerald giving us something to giggle about.