Poetry Friday: In a Mood About Emily Dickinson

Photo credit: Garrett Ziegler, via Flickr's Creative Commons.

I'm in a mood, not for Emily Dickinson, but about her.

Linda Pastan is precise and perfect for such a mood.

"Emily Dickinson" is so brief that I don't want to post a block of it, for fear of overstepping copyright bounds. So I'll just entice you with this one line:

Yet legend won't explain the sheer sanity
of vision,

Read the whole thing here, at The Writer's Almanac.

For other delightful things about Emily Dickinson but not by her, don't miss "Emily Dickinson Attends a Writing Workshop" as well as this delightful piece, A Pencil for Emily Dickinson, at tweetspeak.

~~~~~

The Poetry Friday round up is at Random Noodling. 

Bits and Pieces of Our Days (Or, Coming Up for Air)

The month of May is a blur. This is May, speeding past me:

Sometime in May, we celebrated the end of school for this year, though when you're unschoolish it's hard to tell. Ramona's love for science-y things continues and knows no schoolery bounds, and Betsy just keeps writing (currently she's revising her first NaNoWriMo novel from three years ago.) So, school is done, or it's never out. Take your pick.

And when school ended (or didn't) the company started coming.

~~~~~

My parents came to town for Betsy's graduation party and they were only 48 hours late.

Mom and Dad are 79 and 80 years old, and their patience with air travel was already wearing thin. It's not that they're afraid to fly. My father was an Air Force pilot, so he and Mom moved and flew and flew and moved, and they are, obviously, seasoned travelers.  They don't have phobias, it's just the comfort issue these days. Squeezing themselves into a cramped seat in a confined space for the privilege of feasting on a few pretzels while they circle the runway is not in their Lexicon of Retirement Fun. And given that a couple of years ago my mom was randomly pulled out of line by airport security and searched, I wouldn't  have been surprised if they'd never wanted to fly again. (What, really, is so threatening about a 5' 2" grandma who always wears really cool earrings?) So I was so thrilled that they decided to brave a trip for Betsy.

And what came next? I like to call it Operation Convince Karen's Parents Never to Fly Again.

First, their original flight out on a Tuesday was canceled. Mom called Monday night and said there was no way they'd get out of town the next day, as the airline had dropped their flight completely. Said airline wasn't very resourceful about rescheduling either, so my mom got on the internet and found a good alternative flight that the airline hadn't offered. (Hey, Said Airline? You should pay my mom a bonus for freelancing for you.)

The new schedule had them arriving in Omaha on Wednesday by 3:30 p.m. The drive to our house (a couple of hours) would have them here in time for dinner. Guess what? Operation Convince Karen's Parents Never to Fly Again kicked in in earnest. Mechanical problems with the plane threatened a dangerous landing (as in, the landing gear wasn't functioning properly. Nice. Fortunately, my parents aren't prone to panic about these things.) The plane had to make an unplanned stop in Tulsa, where the landing gear kindly decided to make an appearance and received a round of applause from the full aircraft. My parents were then stranded in Tulsa for hours before they could get another flight to Dallas, and then go on to Omaha.

Operation Convince Karen's Parents Never to Fly Again got them into Omaha about midnight. They dragged their ripped up suitcase ("We are not responsible for damage to outside pockets on luggage....") to a hotel (not a hotel provided by the airline -- thanks, Said Airline -- as they had been deposited at their final destination, though you and I know it wasn't really their destination, as their original destination at midnight on Wednesday was a bed in in my town.)

They stayed the night in Omaha, then drove to our house on Thursday.

Um, Amtrak? You know that free program you have for writers? Does it apply to writers' parents, too? I'll be giving you a call to talk it over.

~~~~~

Other out-of-towners came to town for Betsy's party, too, which was great, and we were touched to tears by some of the surprises, but none of them had Said Airline Horror Stories, so I'll just move along, adding only that I thought I'd have waaaaay too much taco meat left over, but that didn't turn out to be the case, and it is indeed the case that everyone loves Winning Hearts and Minds Chocolate Cake. 

~~~~~

Books!
I've read several good books lately -- need to do a review post very soon. 

~~~~~

We took Ramona to see Wicked. She was bowled over. 

Anne, Betsy and I have seen it twice before. I just found the post I did after the first time we saw it. Ramona was seven years old then, and we didn't tell her much about the play, but we did let her listen to some of the music. Back then, she said this about it: "It's that kind that makes you feel every emotion in one emotion, like you want to laugh and cry at the same time."

Yep. So. Much. Fun.

I Do Still Have a Blog! But Also? Grandparents Still In Town...

... so I'll be back soon.

Atticus Drew the Names and the Winners Are:

Updated to note: 

I still need to hear from Mrs. Sharp. If I don't hear from you with a mailing address by May 31, I'll draw an alternate name. Thank you! 

Mrs. F3

Kelly (of The Careless Catholic)

Sharon Weil

Mrs. Sharp 

House of Brungardt 

Please email me your mailing address, and then we can send your books out! 

Thank you so much to everyone who entered the contest!

Poetry Friday: Battling Against the Brilliance

I'm sitting here a little teary-eyed, for a few reasons, as I think about Richard Wilbur's "The Writer."

Because he's just that good.

Because I have raised young women who write.

Because Betsy is graduating and growing up and away.

And because when Betsy has flown, I will remember my writer, enclosed in the world of her keyboard and screen, as she so often was -- jaw set, fingers flying -- pounding out her dreams, making them real and strong.

The Writer
by Richard Wilbur

In her room at the prow of the house
Where light breaks, and the windows are tossed with linden,
My daughter is writing a story.
...

I remember the dazed starling
Which was trapped in that very room, two years ago;
...

We watched the sleek, wild, dark

And iridescent creature
Batter against the brilliance, drop like a glove
....

(Promise me you will go read the whole poem here, at Poets.org.)

~~~~~~~~~

Elizabeth Steinglass has the Poetry Friday round up today. 

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P.S. Today is the last day to enter to win one of five copies of Deathbed Conversions. Just go to this link for details about the contest, the sale on the book at OSV, and to leave a comment to enter. The contest ends tonight at midnight (CDT). 

An absence of dust? Or chocolate cake in the freezer?

I voted for chocolate cake over the feather duster.

It's not just any chocolate cake. It's Molly Wizenberg's Winning Hearts and Minds Cake.*

There are six of them in my freezer right now. They are safely out of my clutches awaiting Betsy's graduation party. Go check out the recipe. And the picture. I'll wait.

Did you look at that cake?

If you didn't, go look. I mean it. Now.

You're back?

Does it not look delicious?  It is delicious.

Actually, the word "delicious" fails to describe. This cake is really beyond words, so I'll stop. Just make it. It's so easy, and so good.

Another thing I love? That post about the cake is ten years old, and it still gets comments. And she still answers them. It's lovely, all around, that's what it is.

(And I just remembered that I forgot to order my Mother's Day present. Wizenberg's new book, Delancey: A Man, a Woman, a Restaurant, a Marriage is next on my reading list.)

And I will get around to more cleaning. The bathrooms will get done before the party. I think. And the vacuuming will happen, so that our more allergic guests don't wheeze through the festivities courtesy of our dog and cat.

But the food? Must have that done. Chocolate takes priority over all.

{Lots of thoughts, too, on having my second daughter graduate, but those will have to wait for another post.}

~~~~~~~~~~

*P.S. Thank you, Danae, for introducing me to Wizenberg's first memoir/cookbook, A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table. The words, "Mom, will you make a chocolate cake?" have been revolutionized around here.

Poetry Friday

There isn't a lot to say about our cat. He's a cat. Sometimes he's nice to us, and other times? Not so much. But I grew up with cats, and I've always admired their catty spirit. And when you find one with a sweet disposition, there's no better pet.*

I once had a cat named Maggie (Atticus insists she was named after Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, but no. I don't name my beloved pets after Tennessee Williams characters. I was in too many Tennessee Williams plays in college to find that idea attractive.) Maggie was the sweetest, most affectionate cat I've ever known. Our current feline, Louie, has lived with us for nine years now and although he's mellowed considerably, he can still let out an admirable low growl when he wants you to buzz off. 

Ah, cats. They should never have been the subject of a Broadway musical, but they certainly do have their charms. 

Our cat, Louie, who is sometimes simply not in the mood for us.
(Photo credit: Ramona) 

Here's an excerpt from "The Cats" by Ann Iverson: 

To toss the needs of others asidewhen you simply aren't in the mood for affection.

To find yourselves so irresistible.

Read the whole poem here, at The Writer's Almanac. 

Louie, on a sweet day, with a napping Betsy. 

If you are in the mood for more about cats, The Poetry Foundation has a page full of poems about them. Garrison Keillor wrote one of my favorite cat poems, "In Memory of Our Cat, Ralph," which reminds me, in turn, of Picky Picky in our beloved Beezus and Ramona books. 

~~~~~~~~~~

The ever-wonderful Jama Rattigan has a Mother's Day edition of the Poetry Friday round-up at Jama's Alphabet Soup. Her post is a moving and lovely tribute to her own mother, who just recently passed away.

*With apologies to our dog, Sydney, who has her own charms:

The Things We Do For Love

A couple of months ago I mentioned that Ramona was enchanted by the My Froggy Stuff channel on YouTube. Until now, she was the only one in our house who had put their tutorials into action.

A couple days ago, she asked if I would help her make the General Store from this tutorial. We didn't get nearly as detailed as the Froggy lady does, but we were still pretty proud of our efforts:

Yes, we actually made everything! The store is a cardboard box covered in scrapbook paper and printables from MyFroggyStuff.blogspot.com

I'm still amazed that we made everything! (Except the two plastic Barbie cakes. Other than those, we made everything! I'm pathetically proud of myself!) 

Here's Ramona's doll, checking out the catch of the day on ice. Oh, just remembered -- we didn't make the fish, either. They're from a board game. 

Ramona's picture from above -- I especially like the tub of popcorn she made. 

And I love the potted plant she fashioned from a lotion bottle lid, brown felt and little greenery. Love her bolts of fabric, too. 

It took all my hot-gluing skills to make the popsicle stick shelves. 

It wasn't that long ago that I bought my first glue gun. (How did I survive so many years without one, you ask? Quite nicely, actually.) Motherhood has pushed me to new limits. And the look on Ramona's face when we finished our creation was worth every glue-gun burn and popsicle stick splinter.  

End of the School Year: The Exit Interview

No, it's not the kind of exit interview that means I'm leaving the job. It's more accurately an "end of year survey" but I couldn't resist basing it on real questions that might be used in an exit interview in the workplace. With that in mind, let's take a look at how this school year went:


What is your primary reason for leaving this school year?

Duh! It's May.

Did anything trigger your decision to end the school year?

Duh! It's May. I'm tired.

What was most satisfying about your job this year?

Read alouds with Ramona are always right up there at the top of the list.

Watching Ramona's artistic talents and interests grow this year. Big perk, lots of fun.

Seeing my second daughter finish high school at home (and in the community, and in church, and in classes at the college -- because homeschooling, despite some popular misconceptions, is never just about home), seeing her make decisions about her future, receive scholarships, make plans...hugely gratifying.

It is immensely satisfying to not only love my daughters, but to also like them so much, and admire their choices.

What was least satisfying about your job?

There was math involved.

Did your job duties turn out to be as you expected?

Having previously gotten a daughter through high school at home, I knew I could handle Betsy's senior year, however, every child is different, and the homeschool must be tailored to the student. But, Betsy's final year of homeschooling went swimmingly, mostly thanks to Betsy being an awesome person.

Did you receive enough training to do your job effectively?

My past duties in life taught me that I can overcome any obstacle. Converting from atheism to mere Christianity to Catholicism? That was hard. Deciding to become a parent? I never envisioned "mother" on my resume, so that was a challenge, too, yet here I am. Handling pregnancy, labor, and delivery? Umm, yeah, with that training alone, I was prepped for anything. Homeschooling was guaranteed to be, if not a snap, at least something with a learning curve that I could face.

Did you receive adequate support to do your job?

Did you say "Atticus support"?

Oh, yes! Loads of it. Especially his weekend cooking and his chocolate cakes. These things make my job so much easier.

Did you receive sufficient feedback about your performance between merit reviews?

Merit reviews? I'm a mom. What planet do you live on?

Were you satisfied with this company's merit review process?

See snark, above. "This company" (i.e., the world at large) could stand to beef up its appraisal of the stay-at-home mom thing.

Did this company help you to fulfill your career goals?

Goals this year included:

Read great books. Check.
Spend time with my daughters. Check.
Prioritize Atticus and our family time over just about everything else. Check.
Spend time on math, even though we all hate it. Check.
Write a novel at the same time Betsy does. Check.
Lead a writing group for Betsy and friends. Check.
Meet with other homeschooling moms for support. Check.
Read more great books. Check.

Do you have any tips to help us find your replacement?

I have her lined up already! "Teacher" has left the building (i.e., math books have been hidden for three months) and "Mom" is reporting for duty.

Soon, "Atticus Cooks All Summer Long" will be reporting for duty as well. "Mom" will be doing a happy dance when no one is looking.

What would you improve to make our workplace better?

Honestly, the pay for a homeschooling mom could be better. Now that I think of it, I don't recall receiving a single paycheck or tax incentive. I do, however, appreciate the public library beyond all ken. Also, if coffee would learn to make itself, I'd really like that. If Atticus could quit his job, stay home and cook, that'd be great, too.

And if my kids would stop growing up, I'd be guaranteed job security as a teacher until I die. As it is, my workload will be drastically cut next year, with just one soon-to-be-twelve-year-old in our homeschool. That will be simultaneously an improvement, in terms of time management, and a heartache in terms of facing reality.

Were you happy with your pay, benefits and other incentives?

As mentioned above, the pay stinks, but the fringes are excellent: close relationships with my daughters, a flexible schedule, and never having to go to the grocery store on a Saturday.

What was the quality of the supervision you received?

God is kind of in charge of this homeschool, and I'd have to say that His leadership was excellent. I sometimes wish He would yell at me, though, so I'd have a clearer picture of His expectations, but that doesn't seem to be the kind of boss He is. Overall, His quiet management style suits me. He doesn't micromanage, and yet He always seems in control. Wish I could pull that off.

Based on your experience with us, what do you think it takes to succeed at this company?

An ability to laugh. At everything. And everyone.

Did any company policies or procedures (or any other obstacles) make your job more difficult?

Could you drop the company policy on having to cover math? That one makes my staff cranky.

There's also this requirement to feed the staff constantly. That one makes me cranky. When I took this homeschooling job, I wasn't thinking about how people can be so unreasonable -- wanting dinner every, single night. Dirtying up bathrooms that demand to be cleaned on a regular basis. Generating laundry daily because everyone insists on wearing actual clothes every, single, day.

In other words, if those characters under my supervision didn't have to eat, dress, function, and learn how figure out a mortgage payment, my job would be much easier. Could you work on self-sustaining model of student? (Oh, wait. Then I'd be out of a job.)

Would you consider working again for this company in the future?

Oh, yes. I'll be back in September. Please hold my spot for me.

Would you recommend working for this company to your family and friends?

Highly recommend it. I know it's not for everyone, but it's worked out great for us. Maybe try it out, as an intern first, if you're considering taking the plunge.

How do you generally feel about this company?

My gosh, you ache for approval. You Exit Interviewers really get tiresome. Okay, I'll say it again: this homeschooling stuff is amazing. Great job, I love it. I recommend it to anyone who's up for a challenge and the freedom of a different and interesting lifestyle.

What did you like most about this company?

Will you stop already?

What did you like least about this company?

Stop being so self-centered!

What does your new company offer that this company doesn't?

Ummm ... summertime.

But, as I already told you, I'll be back in the fall.

Chill out.

Did anyone in this company discriminate against you, harass you or cause hostile working conditions?

Let's not revisit that one time with Ramona and math, okay? I'll be back in the fall, despite that incident, and we'll just keep it between us, okay?

Any other comments?

Hello, freedom from math summer. I've missed you.

Poetry Friday: A Melancholic's Idea of a Happy Poem

Don't say I didn't warn you via the post title.

It's spring here -- a beauteous day in store! 70 degrees! So naturally, I have a bubbly poem for you.

Its opening lines are:

When Love is lost, the laughter's good and
gone,
The sun sinks down, the heavy fog rolls in,
Nothing is left to say and you know that no 
good

I know, I know. Please don't chide me. I know it doesn't sound happy.

Its final lines are:

  If I knew you, I'd sit by your side and
sing:
      This world is not our home, we're only
passing through.


See? A perfect ending. And in between, there are blue eyes, and black coffee. All things I can relate to.

So, go be happy and read the whole poem, "In A Cafe," by Gary Johnson, here, at The Writer's Almanac.

~~~~~

Katya Czaja has the round up at Write. Sketch. Repeat, where she and her son are kenning poetry.