Summer’s coming! No teachers! No homework! No school rules! It’s a kid’s favorite time of year! For parents, it depends . . . on if your kids can find things to do that don’t get them, or you, in trouble. TV is an option, but there are others. Better ones. If you need some, here are 15. If you’re feeling anxious now, here’s the link for some options, AND their illustrations.

                Link: 15 Things You Could Achieve Tonight Instead Of Watching TV (cablecompare.com)

​ Marci from Cablecompare.com sent me this idea a month ago. My plan – to share their link with you. Then to write about their list with my own unique retired teacher spin. My advice, ask your kids what fits them. Then let the summer flow. Do what fits your family. Change it up when needed. Then you’ll all have a better summer. Blink . . . and it will be over! Summer always goes way too fast.

​​Reading, Writing, and Artwork (#1, 2, 5): You could do these together or separately. With my examples, don’t worry about perfection. With my 2nd graders, if they marked a word, I’d correct the spelling. If they didn’t, I’d let it go. The important thing is that your kids enjoy what they’re doing. You don’t have to do one every day, unless your child wants to. One a week is enough! ​Feel free to switch them up. Variety is the spice of life!

Example 1 – Join a summer reading program – record your books in a journal/calendar/sheet of paper. It doesn’t matter. The journal part can be as simple as writing the title and I love this book/hate it/because. Add an illustration, and you’re done!

Example 2 – You could sign up for something like Storyworth, the one you’ve seen on TV. Let your kids interview you, write it up, revise, and illustrate it with their own artwork or by selecting photos. If they’re not comfortable writing, you could do it, and let them help you revise it. They can listen to it on the computer on an ap like narrator, or they could listen to you read it out loud. They’ll hear the things they want to change, which is what you want them to do. Remember, perfection is over-rated, especially when it comes to kids.
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Example 3 – Write letters to a relative or a friend. If they answer, it’s a bonus. Everyone loves getting mail!

Take a Walk and Get Fit (#3 & 4): If you’re walking, that’s getting fit for me. It doesn’t have to be walking around the block. Example 1 – It could be walking along a beach, through a museum or the mall, even a toy store.

Getting fit doesn’t have to be calisthenics every day. Example 2 – Kids need to play whether it’s a team sport like soccer or baseball. A backyard game counts. So does an afternoon at the pool or swimming classes. I’d even count a playdate at a friend’s house.

Summer is downtime for kids. School pushes them to meet standards, to pass achievement tests. They need a break, and a break that’s fun. Summer’s coming, and the biggest thing I wish for you . . . is FUN!

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              Here are 5 more things you can do instead of watching TV. Thank you, Cablecompare.com!
                Link: 15 Things You Could Achieve Tonight Instead Of Watching TV (cablecompare.com)

​Make Dinner, Learn Something New, Family Time, & Do Chores (#6, 7, 8, 10): Would you believe you can combine these too? Here are a few ideas. Example 1 – Think cooking! Plan a meal and cook it as a family. There are lots of great skills that are new for kids, and chores to be done from setting the table to cleaning up.

Example 2 – Learn something new. Look around your community. Places like libraries and YMCA’s offer classes, especially during the summer. When you’re on vacation, keep your eyes open for new things to try, like boogie boarding or hunting for seashells. When you’re finished, don’t forget to clean up and put things away.

Example 3 – Clean as a family. You could pick one room, or set a time limit like an hour. Let little ones help. It makes them feel big, and they learn real life skills. When you’re done, have fun together. You earned it!
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​Call a Friend (#9): Example 1 – How many kids miss their friends over summer vacation? This is a great way to promote social skills and to arrange playdates.
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Example 2 – Don’t forget your family! They love hearing from you. You can take turns, or put it on speakerphone and let the conversation flow.

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Here are 5 more things you can do instead of watching TV. Thank you, Cablecompare.com!
Link: 15 Things You Could Achieve Tonight Instead Of Watching TV (cablecompare.com)

Make Plans & Work on Them (#14 & 15): In other words, set a goal and work towards it. You could set one for yourself to accomplish by the end of the summer. You could set one as a family. Then, figure out the steps to get you there. Example 1 – If your goal is to read 10 chapter books this summer, try reading a chapter book a week. By the end of the summer you’ll have read 10 – 12 books.  
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Example 2 – If your family goal is to take a vacation together, then you’ll need to figure out how much your family can spend, look at places to go, pick one, make reservations, pack your bags, and go. Every voyage starts with that first step!
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Some Ideas – Redecorate, Expand your Horizons, or Join a Club (#11, 12, 13):  Example 1 – Set a goal to redecorate a room, like maybe the family room. The easiest and cheapest way is to change the paint color. Another small step is to watch yard sales and thrift shops for treasures. If you have a problem, like the toys are everywhere, look for storage. When you finish redecorating, you’ll have a brand-new room that everyone can enjoy.

Example 2 – It reminds me of #7, learn something new. Whatever you call it, look around for ideas. Maybe you want to try photography or crafts. The local library or art store might have something that will fit you or your family.If you go to the Y, look for sports or activities to join. Maybe even a club, like rock climbing. Keep your eyes open for opportunities. Give them a try. Even if you don’t like them, you’ll have tried something new.
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Finally, remember summertime is downtime. Don’t push so hard to set goals and achieve them, that you forget to have fun. Kids grow up. Enjoy your time together. It ends all too soon. Here’s to making the summer of 2022 the best one ever!

​Have you traveled on an airplane since Covid? I hadn’t, not until last week. It was an airline I’ve never flown, but it’s the worst trip I’ve ever taken. Ever! It was that bad!

I was flying to Texas to see family. I had a delay, but I made it to my next flight on time. Thank goodness! But going home to Ohio . . . it was awful! Here’s the story of that flight, and what I learned. ​

​​ Part 1 – Delays, Cancellation, and Falling Apart:  It all started with one delay. It rolled through the whole afternoon. Four hours later we finally boarded the plane. We made it out to the runway, sat there for like 15 minutes, then returned to the airport. It was so depressing. An hour later my flight was cancelled.

I thought I was handling it. I read my kindle all afternoon, snacked on popcorn, and made jokes about sleeping in the airport. It all fell apart when I was waiting in line for fast food that wasn’t. When I finally got mine, there was no place to sit and eat.  
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I was at the end of my rope, close to tears. That’s when my husband texted me some great advice. He said I should get a room for the night. I listened. I’m glad I did. The 6 or 7 hours of sleep helped me get through the next day. Would you believe it was even worse?
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​ Things I Did Right:
1. Bringing my kindle so I’d have something to do.
2. Taking a walk every hour or so. Exercise is always a good thing.
3. I listened when my husband had a better option.

Things I Did Wrong:
1. I ate junk food. It was popcorn, but it didn’t fuel my body. It let me fall apart. Next time – I’ll eat a better lunch and dinner, so my body’s fueled for speed bumps. They’re all over the airport.
2. I planned to sleep there. I’m a diabetic with insulin shots and pills to take. Stress and lack of sleep will increase my blood sugar level. That’s a terrible thing for me. Next time – I’ll look for a hotel as soon as my flight is cancelled. Self-care is important when navigating an airport.

​Part 2 – More Delays, A Missed Flight, and A Lost Phone:  The next day, well, it got even worse. It was a downhill slide that didn’t stop until I got back to Detroit at 10:00PM.

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​It started with an early wake-up call. My alarm got me up at 5:30 so I could be at the airport by 6:00AM. I thought my flight was at 8. I wanted to make sure I had plenty of time. If you know me, you know that I’m not an early bird. My worst nightmare – waking up at 8 and missing my flight.

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​​ By the time I arrived at the airport and grabbed a light breakfast, OK, Chex Mix, my flight time moved back to 10:10AM. I wished they’d told me earlier. I would have slept another 2 hours. But I thought let it go.

Within 10-15 minutes, someone stopped to chat. She remembered me from the night before and asked why I was there so early. Would you believe my flight was delayed the night before, after I left the airport? My airline, whom I won’t identify, and whom I will never fly again EVER, didn’t message me. URGH!

​​So I settled back into my kindle and waited. At 9:30 . . . nothing. At 10 . . . the flight was delayed, again. I kept reading. I tried to remain calm and focused. Thank goodness I got at least 6 hours of sleep! I also picked up some popcorn to get me through. It helped, a little.

At 11:10 . . . nothing. No change, and my plane had been sitting outside since it cancelled the night before. I watched and waited. About 11:30 the airline announced we’d be leaving soon. I wondered when soon would come . . . this afternoon . . . this evening . . . maybe tomorrow?!

​​There was another flight arriving from Dallas, departing again in the gate next door. The airline announced they’d be leaving as soon as their plane arrived, and, prepped for departure again. They also announced anyone who had early connecting flights leaving before 12 should speak to the desk. Mine left at 1:15. I knew it’d be close, but I thought I’d be safe. NOT!

​We finally left at 12:30 after sitting on the runway for 30 minutes. There were 4 planes ahead of us. The flight to Dallas took 1 hour and 30 minutes. TROUBLE AGAIN! My flight left without me!

​​By the time we finally took off, I was hangry. I’d gone through worry over my next flight, plus hunger. Chex Mix and popcorn won’t keep you going when you’re stressed out.
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​Then the airlines did it. They served first class. I was the row behind, and I got nothing. They cancelled my flight and made me pay for a hotel room, but they couldn’t give me a coke and pretzels. URGH! When they finally did, I was the last one served. Surprisingly the first-class flight attendant could take away my trash – even though she couldn’t serve me. URGH again!

The first employee sent me to gate 28. No one was there. Figures! Then I ran into my favorite flight attendant from 1st class. At least she pointed out a gate, and it had someone there. SAVED!
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I went over, got my flight changed, and thought I was on the road to recovery. I found my gate, then stopped to find a place to eat. I lucked out! I had the best waitress, best food . . . but that’s when disaster struck. AGAIN!

​​ I settled in with my drink, food on the way. I had time to text my husband my new flight information. The only problem . . . NO PHONE. I made myself sit still. With my heart pounding and panic gushing through me, I could barely do it once, let alone twice.
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After the 2nd search, my waitress came back. She asked if I was OK. I said no. That my phone was gone. It was all I could do not to cry. I didn’t have my food yet. She offered to let me go look. I thought for 2 seconds, then decided I needed to sit, to eat. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made. I needed food, badly, and I needed to gather my composure.

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​​Part 3 –The Search and My Return Home: After lunch, I began the search for my phone. First up – finding the lost and found. My waitress couldn’t help, but I remembered seeing an airline information room.

I stopped by a gate along the way and asked the attendant to try my phone. It rang, but no one answered. His guess, my phone got turned into a supervisor who locked it away.
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My next stop, the airline information room . . . it was absolutely useless. They couldn’t help with the lost phone or with calling my husband. But at least they gave me the terminal and gate number for the lost and found. 
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​I made it to the right terminal, the right gate, but the wrong room for the lost and found. Would you believe it was next door? They hadn’t gotten in any phones all day either. I asked to make a call but wound up going next door again. Do you ever feel like you’re chasing your tail?
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I finally made my call. My hero made sure I gave my husband the flight number, passed me a couple tissues, and looked up the arrival time for Detroit. She brushed off my thanks, but I repeated it. Kindness means the most when your life is just plain horrible. 

​I fought to keep back tears during the call. Afterwards I took a minute to gather myself together, to figure out what to do next. I had 2 hours before my flight. I decided to take a few minutes to backtrack to see if I could find my phone. Nothing, but walking off anxiety helped. So did a kind supervisor who checked her gates. Kindness makes everything easier. 
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​It was time to head to the gate. I was over an hour early. My flight wasn’t on the screen, so I settled in to wait, and to read. Finally about 30 minutes before my flight, the screen lit up . . . Denver. Not Detroit! I panicked!

I ran to the nearest attendant for help. He said I had time, then sent me on to the right gate. I had another 30 minutes to wait. Another delay, and the gates changed on me. I was beginning to wonder if I’d ever get home.

​When I finally got on that last plane, I was thrilled! I was in the back row of an airbus, but I didn’t care. I was finally going home after 2 days of delays and cancellations. My husband was in Detroit, waiting on me. I got in at 10PM, then home to Wapak at midnight. My trip was finally over! The next one – I’m driving!  

​​Things I Did Right:
1. Eating a good meal, especially after I’d lost my phone.
2. Retracing my steps to find it. Exercise is good for your body and your brain.
3. Repaying kindness with a sincere thank-you.
Things I Did Wrong:
1. I carried my phone in my hand when I got into Dallas. Next time – I’ll keep it in my bag. Losing things is too easy when you’re stressed out.
2. When I left the gate with my new flight, I didn’t double check to see if I’d left anything out. Next time – I’ll make sure I have everything in my bag, before I take a step in any direction.
3. Losing my phone upset me. Next time – I’ll start looking for that silver lining sooner. I got a new phone, and it’s better than my old one.
Scheduling Flights:
1. I will stay away from small airports. They’re having trouble staffing their flights.  Next time – If I’m flying into Hobby, I’ll take Southwest. It’s their Houston hub.

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​Tonight, I have a Guest Writer, Justin Bennett, from  Blog – Healthy Fit. He asked to write a post for me about Reset Trips. He sent me this post at the perfect time. I think we all need a reset from Covid, gas prices, and now the news from the Ukraine. ​

​Everyone loves a vacation, but a self-care reset trip provides another level of benefits. According to researchers, many travelers are looking for places to de-stress and relax. Any place you decide to go for your next vacation should have an element of soul-filling and self-care benefits. Here are five suggestions, each with something special to offer, brought to you, courtesy of author Rinda Beach.

​                                                                    1. Crowd-Free Vacation in Wapakoneta
For some, the perfect self-care getaway is full of quiet spaces and interesting local history. Wapakoneta, Ohio, is the perfect small-town experience with plenty to do and learn. It's home to the Armstrong Air and Space Museum, known as The Moon Base, and you can stroll through the community without all the stress of crowds. If you've been thinking about living the peace of small-town life, Wapakoneta has all the charm of the midwest and isn't far from Lake Erie. 

​​If you can’t make the drive to Wapak, click on the link above, ‘The Moon Base.’ It’s the next best thing to being here. Don’t forget to take a look at the local museums where you live. It’s a great way to reset, support your local community, and save gas money!

                                                                          2. Beach Vacation in the Caymans
What is more relaxing than hearing the ocean waves, and where is a better beach vacation than the Caribbean? Palm Heights in the Cayman Islands is a place for culture, cuisine, and overall wellness. This beautiful resort rested on Seven Mile Beach offers spa treatments and ocean views from every room. You may never want to leave. Thankfully, that isn't a problem because the island offers a thorough guide to help you relocate to Grand Cayman.

​Can’t make it all the way to the Cayman Islands? Me neither, but I love looking at it online. Or, hopping in my car and driving to the nearest beach or water view. My favorite is my lake in Tennessee. I hope you can reset too. All you need is a great view.

​                                                          3. Natural Spa Vacation in Mystic Hot Springs
If you want to combine the relaxing elements of nature with a spa retreat, Mystic Hot Springs in Utah has everything you need. It offers bathtubs in the middle of the natural hot springs that are open 24 hours and only cost $15 per adult. It's also easy to fall in love with the town of Monroe, Utah, where the hot springs are located. If you want to stay, it's a perfect place to live for those who love to hike and ski.

​We don’t have natural hot springs in Ohio, but I could find one in Indiana, Illinois, or Tennessee. If you’d like to try one, try this link: Hot Springs Locator (hotspringsofamerica.com)  If you have a family, I’d look for a great hotel like Great Wolf Lodge. Kids have told me about it for years. 

                                                                            4. Mountain Vacation in Denver
Mountain vacations offer a cozy environment for rest. If you love to ski or just want to sit by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa and look at the mountains outside the window, Denver, Colorado, is the perfect place. The famous Rocky Mountains are right there in Denver's backyard. The Rockies offer year-round fun, and Denver has a vibrant art scene. If you consider moving there, you can find affordable apartments for rent in Denver CO. Scout homes and apartments for rent and filter for the number of rooms you need and the amenities you want. Don't waste your vacation taking in-person tours. Most rentals and realty companies offer 3D tours online. 

​If you can’t make it out to Colorado, try some mountains around you. I can find them in Ohio, up north in Michigan, and down south in Kentucky, West Virginia, and Tennessee. There’s something special about being in the mountains.

​                                                                           5. Animal Therapy in Tucson
Some of the best luxury hotels and spas offer a connection with animals. This very special kind of therapy is good for the soul. The Purple Sage Ranch at the Miraval Spa and Resort in Tucson, Arizona, offers equine experiences to help you unleash creativity and improve communication. If you need more sunshine in your life, consider relocating to Tucson. It's pretty warm in the summer, but the evenings and early mornings are perfectly brisk. It doesn't hurt to have a beautiful desert mountain view around you at all times, either. 

​​Tucson sounds wonderful! Who wouldn’t want to spend a week with horses? I might not be able to get out west, but there are animal opportunities all around us.
I’ll close by thanking Justin for all of these great suggestions! I hope they inspire you to find a way to have fun. To find time to take care of yourself, and your family.

​Justin’s Conclusions: Everyone has a different definition of what constitutes a relaxing getaway. Sometimes a getaway isn't enough, though. Self-care should be a year-round priority. Consider what you can do to make every day as much like a vacation as possible. 

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​Are there things you’re afraid of? Me, ABSOLUTELY! Some people say fear can be a good thing – that it signals danger. Warnings about them are good things, unless they make you freeze. I have three big fears, and sometimes I see them and freeze. I don’t take action when I should. Tonight – one of my biggest fears from the 1990’s and early 2000’s – getting lost.
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Part 1 – Get Lost! In the 1990’s and 2000’s this was my biggest fear – getting lost. It terrified me. I felt like I was lost in a maze, without a clue to my location. People told me where I was, but it meant nothing. It just increased my frustration . . . because I was still lost. 
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Sometimes maps help! Sometimes they don’t! Maps are great if you can find your location, then figure out where to go. But when you can’t . . . URGH!

                         Then I feel like the second maze . . .  frozen! I can’t move. Not one footstep.
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Sometime in the 2000’s that fear disappeared . . . Why? GPS . . . Also known as GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM. Oh My Gosh! It was a game changer!

My fear vanished! Even if I messed up, GPS would always take me to the right address until . . . 3 years ago. The unexpected happened. I had a rental car with no GPS. I had my phone – so I thought I was OK. NOT!

My phone went dead somewhere on the back roads of Tennessee. I was following I40 East to Knoxville when my GPS took me onto those back roads. Then it died. I recognized a few towns, but I couldn’t figure out for the life of me how to get to I75. I was in the middle of farm country. I even saw a moose laying down in a field. He was HUGE – even sitting down.
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I was literally 30-45 minutes away from the lake house, but I didn’t get there till 2 hours later. I tried all kinds of ways to get myself redirected. My solution . . . I stopped at a gas station for directions. It took 3 tries before I found someone who could tell me how to get to I75.

The good news . . . I finally got home, but the best news . . . I no longer fear getting lost. As long as I have my phone and my mouth, I can find my way home, even if I get lost in a German school . . . That really happened. I WAS SO scared! I didn’t even know how to say lost or help in German, but it all worked out. Some kind soul took me to the teacher in charge of the sister cities program. I was found! Facing your fears and surviving them is freeing!
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​Part 2 – Fear of Failure:  I didn’t worry about school failure until middle school. It was easy for me. I was an A/B student. My first C came in 7th grade on an English worksheet. I teared up. The kids around me wondered why I was upset . . . a  C was OK. By the time I got a C in high school physics (so hard), I was grateful!

​Sports, now that was a different ball game, and I was terrible at it! Girls started softball in 4th grade in the 60’s. I was horrible at bat, horrible in the field. I was afraid of failing everytime I tried to bat, every time I tried to catch a ball . . . there was a good reason the coach put me in left field. I only did baseball for 1 year. That was enough! Even now I just want to duck when something flies my way. Sports are not for me!
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​This could be me when I was in college. I had a couple classes where the professor commented on my first test, my first paper. They said I’d done a great job, and that they looked forward to the next one. OMG! The FEAR of FAILURE!  I never did as well on the next paper. Fear fueled the result. But once I got through it, would you believe I did better on the third, because I wasn’t worried? I could just be me and do the work.

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S​ometimes I look like this when I’m writing. I stare into space, at my computer, at the pictures on Pixabay. I’m trying to find the words I need to write about them, but I’m frozen. I can’t move forward, and I feel like a failure. Sometimes I can force the words to come. But sometimes I have to do the braver thing – stop. Then try again later. It’s not a failure – it’s me giving my brain a rest.

That’s what I did when I tried to write part 2 of this post. I kept trying to write. Then I kept changing the pictures around. Finally, I stopped! And tonight, it was easy-peasy!

What’s hard for me to write? Either a brand-new story, or something about my writing business. I’ve been writing since 2007. I have enough practice to know when to force my words, and when I need to stop for a brain break. That’s how I push away those ‘F’ words – Fear and Frustration.

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Part 3 – Fear of the Unknown:  This one has been with me as long as I can remember. New things . . . New places . . . New people . . . They’re all scary. Like crossing the road on a foggy day and hoping that you won’t get hit by a car.
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Have you ever scheduled a great vacation, but when it gets close, you just want to stay home? It’s easier, and you don’t have to worry about things going wrong, but, no risk – no gain. My dad was like that pre-trip, but he always went, and everything turned out fine.  I still get those feelings, but I force myself past them, like dad did. Usually things work out, but when they don’t, I learn something new, and that’s always a good thing!

​Do you ever feel anxious when you meet new people, like the first day of school? I did . . . I always hoped I’d see a friendly face across the room. It made everything easier! In junior high, kids and classes changed every hour. That didn’t stop until I finished college.

Did you know teachers feel as anxious as their students? The kids who come in the door affect the year we’ll have. Most kids are great. That’s why I taught for 33 years, and it’s why I still sub.

Did a blank page ever scare you as a kid? Sometimes teachers put questions around them. Filling them in with good ideas can be hard. I never worried about those blanks until college. That’s when an essay question almost sank my boat.

I knew the answer, but I couldn’t remember it. I went blank, totally! I didn’t know what to do, but the clock was ticking. I started writing. I rephrased the question, then kept going. I wrote around the answer, trying to put down everything I could think of, coherently. It worked! I answered the question, and I didn’t bomb the test! 
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Now that I’m a published author, I still start with the beginning and the end. They’ll change, but it’s a start. No blank page! I still use cause/effect, but I’ve learned to think in acts – three.

The main character will try to solve the problem all the way through, but things get worse each time. By Act 3 and that 3rd try, the main character is ready to quit. That’s when something changes, and the story comes to a close. It sounds easy, but it’s messy. It takes work, and multiple tries, multiple critiques. But when you get it right - success is sweet!
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Part 4 – Four Fears I Live Without:  First up . . . aging! I have never had a problem with decade birthdays like 30, 40, 50, even 60.

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​ I’m lucky . . . I’m named after my grandmother, Rinda. I knew she died young so I always felt grateful to live through each decade birthday. I never met my grandmother, but she made aging easy.
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I’m retired now, but I retired to a new career  . . . writing. I’m enjoying every minute of my 60’s. Here’s to what the 70’s will bring!
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Second, I’m a diabetic, type 2. YUCK! Diabetes is an awful disease that could take away my sight. It could hurt my heart. I never wanted to have it, but it’s been a part of me since the day I was born. I found out in my 50’s.

I’m lucky! I live in an age where diabetes can be controlled. Diet and exercise used to work, but it’s a hard disease to beat. You think it’s under control, and then it breaks free.
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Now I test myself each day. My numbers guide me on what to eat and what to skip. I also control them with medicine. I take two pills and a shot each day. They allow me to live and enjoy my life!
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​Third, I’m a daughter of Alzheimer’s. It took my dad away from me. First his brain, then the rest of him.
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I always look for silver linings. When dad had to go into a nursing home, I was his Peter Pan. When he saw things that weren’t there, I played along and believed him. Everyone needs to be believed.

I found another silver lining as the disease took over his body. It was hard to see him stop walking and talking, but dad didn’t know it was happening. I think it made it easier for him to leave this world behind. If dementia claims me, I’m glad there will be a few silver linings.

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And finally, death. Over the last 7 years my husband and I have said goodbye to our parents. It was hard, but as a Christian, I believe they’re in a better place, with the people they loved. Someday, I believe that will happen to me too.  
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Have you noticed that fears shrink when you face them, like the bullies they are? My best advice – face your fear. Then make a plan to beat it. Test-drive that plan. If it doesn’t work, then come up with a new one. Here’s to us, facing our fears!

​The 4 R’s, they’re for the Environment too? I knew schools had 3 – Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic, but I’d forgotten the ones for the environment . . . Reduce, Recycle, Reuse, and Renew.

Dear Earth is a story told in letters, with back matter that’s all about those 4 R’s. They inspired this post. I decided to review the book, and then write about those R’s in my blog.

My Review: http://www.rindabeach.com/my-reads/review-of-dear-earth-from-your-friends-in-room-5

Part 1 – REDUCE – That’s when you use less of something whenever you can, whether it’s plastic or energy. If you’re a kid, what could you do to make a difference?

Energy is tricky. You’re not driving a car, yet. But, you could turn off the lights whenever you leave a room. You could turn off the TV when you’re done watching. Both things reduce the amount of electricity your family’s using, and best of all, YOU’RE helping the planet! You go, kiddo!

Where do you use plastic? It’s in almost everything from toys to packaging. You could buy fewer toys by picking only the ones you really, really want. I love clothes. Here’s how I buy less. First I ask myself if I really want it (I don’t need any clothes. Ask my husband). Then I make myself wait a week or two after I see it. If I remember it, and I still really want it, I might go back and buy it. If I don’t, I just saved money to buy something else, and that’s a great thing!
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Whenever you buy something, look for a way to buy it with less packaging. Did you know you’re paying for each box, plastic container, or cords that it’s in? Here are a couple of things you might see at your house. Which one has the least packaging?

1. The Juice Box has at least 3 pieces of packaging – the box, the straw, and its wrapper. If the box came in a six-pack, that’s 18 pieces, plus the box. That’s 19 pieces of packaging total.
2. The Egg Carton has only one – the box. That’s it!
3. The Valentine Candy has at least 4 – the top and bottom of the box, the divider to separate the candy, and the seal around the box. There could be more, but 4’s my final answer!
4. The Juice Cans have at least one – for each can. They probably came in a six-pack, in a box or with plastic rings to hold them together. That’s 6 cans, plus the box/plastic piece. That’s 7 total.
5. And finally the Milk Carton probably has 3 – the carton, the cap, and the seal to keep the milk safe.

                                                              Surprise! The egg carton has the least packaging!
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​Part 2 – Recycle – That’s when you save things like paper, plastic, glass, and metal. They’re picked up, taken away, and made into something new.

Recycling looks different in different places. It depends on where you live. Some towns pick everything up once a week. Mine does. Every Thursday I put out a tub for paper, and a tub for everything else. Other places have a recycling calendar. You put out different tubs on different days.

1. It depends! I’ve never recycled a Juice Box because the cardboard’s coated with plastic. Check with your parents. Some communities will take the box and the straws. Some won’t!
2. Recycle the Egg Carton! If it’s all cardboard, it’s perfect.
3. Take off the bow. Then you can recycle the Valentine Box. It’s cardboard. You might be able to recycle the plastic divider, if it’s a 1 or 2. Ask your parents about the other numbers. A lot of places won’t recycle them.
4. Juice Cans – yes please! They’re metal and perfect to recycle!
5. It depends, again! The Milk Carton is just like a juice box, coated with plastic, so you’ll have to check. BTW plastic milk jugs use #2 plastic – recycle them.

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​Part 3 – Reuse – That’s when you use something again and again until it finally wears out. You could return, reuse, or recycle this coffee cup, but if you’re a kid, what could you reuse?
 
Think juice box. You can’t reuse them, but you could pick out a cup that you could use over and over again. Think paper – if you used the front, you could draw or write something on the back. I do that with every video script I write.

1. Juice Boxes can be reused like milk cartons at school. Rinse them out, and you can plant seeds in them. Once you have little plants, pull them out and replant them. Another idea – use those clean boxes to make blocks, or to build a miniature city.
2. Reuse Egg Cartons to store small things like earrings, or matchbox cars. You could also cut the cartons apart, then use the little cups for craft projects, like painting. Art teachers love them! One of my favorite teachers sent home a list of supplies she needed, like egg cartons.
3. The Valentine Box could be reused for storage. Use the whole box for something dear to your heart, like valentine cards or pictures of your family and friends. If you keep the dividers, think what might fit inside those spots, and you’ve got more storage for your stuff. That’s a really good thing!
4. Did you know if you save Juice Cans, turn them in the right place, that you can make money? MONEY! Who doesn’t love that?! Plus, do you see the pull tabs on top? Save those too, then turn them into your local McDonalds. Those tiny tabs fund the Ronald McDonald House. That’s where families of sick kids can stay, FREE!
5. I’d use the Milk Cartons as blocks or to build a miniature town with buildings of different sizes. They look too big to grow plants.

​Kids are creative! I bet you can think of more ideas to reuse trash. My suggestion, before you throw something away, think of how you can use it again!
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​ Part 4 – Renew – That’s when you can make something new again, or you use resources that will never run out. They’re always available, like the wind and the sun. They’re both considered clean energy, but they have problems too. Did you know bats are endanger because of windmills? The blades hit them when they’re out hunting for bugs to eat.
 
You can’t build windmills or solar panels, but can kids help to renew our planet? Think about cleaning up someplace where people litter. It could be a playground, a beach, or a street in your neighborhood. Think planting a tree. They breathe in the carbon dioxide we give off, and they give us oxygen. We’d die without it. 

​Think composting! That’s what you can do with leftover food, leaves, yard clippings, even newspaper. You put them in a box, or in a corner of your yard. Then you let nature take over. Decomposers like worms and bacteria will break down that waste and turn it into fertilized soil that you can use in your garden.  Maybe, that compost heap is already there!
 
One of these packages can’t be renewed, but the other 4 can. Can you find the nonrenewable package?

​The Juice Cans are the only nonrenewable, but you can recycle them. The other 4 – Juice Box, Egg Cartons, Valentine Box, and Milk Carton are made of cardboard. You can plant more trees to replace the ones cut down.
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​My conclusions . . . I was born in 1959, before the 4R’s. Back then people were beginning to think about pollution and the environment. No one recycled when I was a kid.
 
Fast forward 60 years, and people are using the 4R’s. Imagine where we’ll be in another 60? Green energy is new, but so was the automobile in the early 1900’s. Look how far they’ve come! I think the same will be true for green energy. It takes time and innovation to build new technology.
 
For now, I’ll keep doing those small things I’m doing, but I’m not alone. Lots of people all over the world are doing them too, and that gives me hope that things will improve. Here’s to tomorrow!

​Part 1 – Talking Money – The Must-Have Conversation:  This is a tough conversation . . . I had trouble writing my post last night for you. Talking money anytime is difficult, and doing it with your parents is even worse. If you’d like some advice, try this link. They have some ideas that might be helpful for you. Link: 6 Ways To Help Your Aging Parents With Their Investments | Bankrate
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I was lucky . . . I didn’t have to initiate the talk. My parents did – after my dad’s heart attack. It changed their lives. They survived quadruple bypass together. Then they patched the potholes they found during that experience. They organized their important papers and told us where to find the things they’d need, like insurance and bank accounts.

Then they made out their wills. They set up medical and financial powers of attorney to take care of each other. They added clauses to allow my sister and I to help them, if they couldn’t help themselves.
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I didn’t want to look at that information when they first put it together, but now looking back, I’m glad my parents made me do it. At some point in the last few years, I realized . . . that it’s my turn. My husband and I need to have that talk with our kids. We need to put our information together. We need to set up wills, and power of attorneys, but for now, my husband and I are putting it off, like we’ve done for years. It’s easier to put things off, than to push through to do them.

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My father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s back in 2011. He lived with it until he died in 2015. Mom managed the house, the finances, and watched over Dad during those years. She was sharp as a tack then, and she still is!

​Mom’s mind is sound, but slowly, over the years, her body has weakened. Now she can’t live alone, so she moved into a senior citizen home in 2019. Mom still makes her own decisions, financially and otherwise, but I do her shopping and pay her bills.

These tools helped me help her.

• A Living Will
• A Durable Power of Attorney (POA) for Finances
• A Durable Medical POA

 
The Financial POA helps Mom the most. Through it she grants me the power to do the things she needs done. If she ever changed her mind, she could take my name off and put someone else’s on. Over the years we’ve learned to work together; to listen to each other. I try to give her room to make choices, and I try not to make them for her. She tries to listen to what I can do for her, and what I can’t. It takes teamwork from both of us. It will take the same for you and your parents.

If it’s hard for your parents to make good choices, you can set up a Revocable Trust. It limits how much your parents can spend, but it may change your relationship. No parent likes to be told what to do by the child they raised.
 
If your parents are no longer of sound mind, you can set up a conservatorship by going to court. You’ll have to prove your case to a judge. If they agree, they’ll set up a guardian to make decisions. The guardian would control their checkbook and credit cards. It’s a last resort; one I didn’t have to use. My parents helped me into this world, and now it’s my turn to help them leave it behind. ​

​Part 1 – The Story of the Photo Shoot – Leia and I did our shoot back in November or December of 2013. I had a snow day and called High 5 Photography in St. Marys. As luck would have it, Emily had an opening that day.

I remember it like yesterday. It was the first time I realized how old Leia was. I knew she was 14 in my head, but my heart still saw her the way she used to be. Leia loved to walk and would drag me down the street. Not that day . . . She walked a couple yards, and I carried her the rest of the way.
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I saw more signs at the studio. Signs I’d seen with my father and his Alzheimer’s. Leia started pacing, like dad did. She wasn’t searching for scents. She was in a panic, trying to figure out where she was. She only calmed down when I held her, like I did in the picture.

​That’s the day I found out Leia was old, that we didn’t have as much time left as I thought. I cried all the way home. It was only 10 minutes, but I spent it reliving what Alzheimer’s did to my dad.

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People still saw the puppy in her, but look again . . . Can you see the gray hair around her eyes? I didn’t want her to suffer so I asked for advice. I wanted to know when to say good-bye. The vet said look for trouble seeing, hearing, and with bathroom issues.  

I didn’t see it coming, but my friend Danelle did. She warned me. When she had bathroom issues in her crate in February, 2013, I knew it was time. I made the appointment to say goodbye.
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The best thing I did that day was to tell Leia stories while I stroked her back. It helped. The worst – I didn’t let her have chocolate. It was her favorite thing to sneak. She only did it three times, but it always made her sick. Now I wish I’d made time to give her that one last treat.

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​Part 2 – How Leia Joined Our Family – I took this photo back on the first day of school in August of 1999. My kids were in 5th, 3rd, and Kindergarten. Leia was 4 months old. We’d had her for a few weeks. Our house was full of life – with 3 kids and a dog!​

We picked up Leia in August, and I remember the day she came home . . . the neighborhood kids were on alert and in our yard.
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Poor Leia! She’d been living with 2 ladies, senior citizens, and now she was surrounded by kids. Oh my! They put her down the slide and introduced her to the neighbor’s cat. Within the hour she ran into her crate and refused to come out. The kids knew the crate was her sanctuary.

My husband, Mr. Non-Dog Lover, was the one who got her out. His secret – a steak bone. It was their one and only good moment in 14 years.

My kids had so many! Leia was FAST! I remember her standing, waiting between two bushes. My son and his best friend stood waiting to catch her. Sure enough, Leia squirted out, right between them, and neither kid caught her. When her kids were young, chase was Leia’s favorite game.

And if you wanted to see her doggy smile, just say the word walk, and she’d go crazy bouncing and barking. She only weighed 15 pounds, but she’d drag me down the street, choking the whole way. She was so happy to be out leading her human around! But her favorite thing of all time – taking her kids roller blading down the street. There was nothing better!


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​​​​Part 3 – The Heart of the Family –  No one will ever love you like your dog. She was my best friend. Leia was always happy whenever we came home. We might have been gone 10 minutes, or 10 hours. It didn’t matter . . . She’d bounce and bark with joy.

​​That was the starting point for her story. Leia was such a great character I knew she had to be in a book. I’ve been working on it since 2011, trying to get it just right, for my best friend.

Would you believe her character could be anything from a Great Dane to a Chihuahua? The illustrator gets to decide what she looks like. I hope my Leia is somewhere in the book. It’s why we did that photo shoot.
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This was my favorite shot. We talked like this from the time she was a pup until the day she died. Leia would stop and sit. I’d lean over. She’d look and listen, sniff my breath to see what I’d eaten or where I’d been. Even as a senior dog, she kept tabs on me. I don’t think I’ll ever have a better friend. It’s been 8 years, and I still remember and hug tight the memories, of the way we were.

​Part 1 – Meet Simone Biles – This photo was taken in 2018 at the Voice of America (VOA). It’s the largest and oldest international broadcasting company. It didn’t say why Simone was there, but maybe she stopped into say she was back in the gymnastics game again.

Did you know she took 2017 off? I didn’t! That was the year after the 2016 Brazil Olympics, and Simone won 4 gold medals, the most ever for an American gymnast. I’m glad she took a year off.

Simone probably started training nonstop in 2011. That’s when she became an elite gymnast. Imagine training as your full-time job, and school what you fit around it.  
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And Me Too – I never found her training schedule, but I considered going into music. I played 2 instruments, and I was told to practice an hour a day, per instrument. That was the minimum to go into music, not to become a GOAT. I wonder what Simone puts in, on 4 pieces of equipment, per day.

Can you imagine the stress of being a GOAT? You always have to deliver. There’s no room for mistakes, and everyone makes those. Did you watch Simone in team qualifications, or in the preliminaries? She was GREAT, but not perfect. She looked unhappy after each performance, even though she was at the top of the leader board.
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I wonder, if Simone’s a perfectionist. I’m a recovering one. I’m learning to be OK with mistakes, but I used to go over them, over and over, endlessly. Now I stop when they teach me something that will help me grow. I have a feeling Simone does that too.

I was shocked, when I heard Simone dropped out of the team finals. She put endless hours into each of her 4 routines, for 4 years. You don’t invest that kind of time, that kind of effort into something, then quit. I don’t, and I bet Simone doesn’t either.

You keep going, whether you’re injured, or sick, until you hit a wall that tells you, YOU HAVE to. For me, it used to be losing my voice. Then I could call in sick and get my kids a substitute teacher. For Simone, it was the twisties, and they don’t look like this photo.
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Part 2 – What’s a Twistie? – It happens when a gymnast is flying through the air. They can’t tell where they are, or where to land. Planes have the same problem in fog. They don’t know which way is up, or down.

I discovered twisties on July 28th when USA Gymnastics announced Simone’s withdrawal from team competition. I was shocked till I learned more. Simone said her mind and body just weren’t in sync. She also said she didn’t think many people understood how dangerous gymnastic surfaces can be.
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​Take a look at the picture above. It doesn’t look dangerous. Then look at the one below. It is! I thought Simone was upside down. NOT – she was in the middle of one of her twisty-airborne moves. If she lost focus, she might have landed on her head, or neck. YIKES!
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Simone also talked about not having an inch of control over her body, not knowing where she was in the air. But even scarier, she had no idea how she was going to land . . . or where.  I can’t imagine being brave and talented enough, to keep going after that first twistie.

I didn’t know Simone had the twisties before Tokyo, on floor and vault. This year the bars & beam piled on too. YUCK! I’m glad she took a break, but I’m also glad she came back and won bronze in the balance beam. I read that she did it for herself. Yay, Simone! Here’s to your new life beyond gymnastics!
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​​Part 3 – Daring Young Gymnasts – Do you remember the song about the daring young men on the flying trapeze? Now they’re flying around equipment in the gym. They’re defying gravity and some of the laws of physics. It’s crazy good, also a little scary.

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Death is rare in gymnastics, but it happened to Melanie Coleman after a fall  from the uneven bars. It also happened to Julissa Gomez in 1988. She was vaulting and slipped off the springboard. Falls are dangerous.
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Adriana Duffy and Sang  Lan were both paralyzed by vaulting accidents 11 years apart. I’m glad there’s a new, safer springboard and horse for athletes today.

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​Men and women both vault over them, the gymnastic kind. Men also twist and rotate around pommel horses. It’s amazing what gymnasts can do, and they make it look so easy!

​Here’s the new springboard and horse. Look at the old one, then the new one. Can you see how they’re different, and why the new one is safer?  I’m so glad someone figured that out.

​1. Wear the proper equipment – wrist straps,  guards, grips, and footwear. Use spotting belts for new moves.
2. Warm up and stretch. That’s true for any sport.
3. Only practice on padded floors, not a hard surface.
4. Find a good coach! Somone who knows the latest in safety. A good coach will spot you when you try new/difficult moves.
5. Tell your coach if you’re uncomfortable with a skill. If you can’t, tell a parent or an adult who’ll help you. Kids don’t want to tell anyone. I saw it with my own, and with my 2nd graders. Sometimes parents had to tell me what their child wouldn’t.
6. Don’t try a new move at a game or competition, UNLESS you’ve practiced it A LOT.
7. No jewelry, gum chewing, or clothes that can get caught on equipment.
8. Never train alone.
9. STOP! If you get hurt or feel pain. Then get it checked out by a grown-up.
10. Play other sports so that you don’t overuse the same muscles. That leads to injuries.

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​CONGRATULATIONS to the Olympic athletes from all over the world! Win, lose, draw, or withdraw – you played the games and did your best. Thank you for the memories, for the inspiration you’ve given us, especially to the young athletes waiting in the wings for their turn. THANK YOU!
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​PS – OOPS! I forgot to write about mindfulness, but lucky for me, I already did! The link below will tell you what it is, and show you a few exercises that are great for kids.

PPS – They can help us grown-ups too!
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Link: ​Rinda Beach - Blog - Rinda Beach

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​ Photo Sources:

1. Floor exercises, standing - By Agência Brasil Fotografias - EUA levam ouro na ginástica artística feminina; Brasil fica em 8º lugar, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50584646

 

1. Floor exercises, upside-down - By Agência Brasil Fotografias - EUA levam ouro na ginástica artística feminina; Brasil fica em 8º lugar, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50584658

3.       Balance Beam - By Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil - Ginasta holandesa ganha ouro nas traves, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50698007

1. Uneven parallel bars - By Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil - http://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/sites/_agenciabrasil2013/files/fotos/1035034-_mg_0802_04.08.16.jpg, CC BY 3.0 br, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50548410           

5.     Vault from 2012 - By https://www.flickr.com/photos/14183788@N00/ - Cropped from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/14183788@N00/7671937664, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30719066

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Information Sources:
1. Simone Biles reveals depths of twisties problem at Olympics (nypost.com)
2. Simone Biles - Wikipedia
3. Gymnastics deaths are rare, but previous disasters have prompted safety changes - CNN
4. Safety Tips: Gymnastics (for Teens) - Nemours Kidshealth

Part 1 – The Price of the Dog
I love dogs! The first one is a border terrier like my dog Leia. The second is a doodle, the kind of dog I’d love to have. I’ve never thought of the price, beyond the fee you pay the breeder or the adoption fee, but there’s more. Much, much more.
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Meet a real service dog! How do I know for sure? From its vest!

Service dogs don’t come cheap! The average price – from 20,000 - $60,000. Why so much? Because of all the training they need. A service dog needs to know what to do, whether it’s assisting someone who’s blind or someone who has seizures. The dog has to perform every single time. He has to do his job.
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Imagine if you’re blind and your dog stops guiding you in the middle of a street. If you have seizures, a dog can warn you ahead of time so that you can get yourself into a safe position. Can you imagine how much better a dog could make your life? It’d be miraculous! But there are more costs involved, and you need to make sure you can take care of your dog and keep it safe and healthy!
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​1. Dog Food – The cost per year – about $400, depending on the brand you buy. My Leia only got dry dog food, but we were an Iams family, because that’s what our breeder recommended. When she got older, and pickier, we probably paid more for her dogfood, but we never bought the canned or refrigerated stuff. That was too expensive!
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​2. The Veterinarian – Average vet care per year is about $260. That’s for both regular and emergency cases. Our dog had yearly checkups, shots, and medicine. We did have one emergency – she dragged some chicken bones out of the trash and tried to eat them. Oh my! I have never seen anyone or anything in so much pain! We took her into a doggy emergency room. I didn’t know there was one! They gave her something to help her pass the chips. She was better than ever! She lived to be 15, which is a really old age for a dog.
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​3. Health Insurance – If I had a dog worth $20,000, I would definitely get it health insurance. My granddog has it. My daughter says it’s a lot like human insurance.
I also wondered if it worked like cars do – if your dog died, would it help you buy another service dog?  I don’t know! I couldn’t google the answer.
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​4. Heartworm protection – I did this for my dog. I don’t remember how often, but the link price was about $120 a year. Cheap compared to having your dog die because of worms. Yuck!  What an awful way to go!


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5. Flea and Tick protection – I did this for my Leia. $200 or whatever I paid was a small price to keep her safe. Fleas are insects that live on dogs. They bite and make them itch. Ticks bite dogs too, but they stay attached so they can live off the dog’s blood. Yuck!
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Even worse, fleas and ticks can also leave pets to come live on you. They carry diseases that can make you or your pet sick. That’s another reason it’s important to protect your pet from these tiny insects!
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6. Toys and Treats – Dogs need to have fun, just like you and me. $75 is a small price to pay to keep you and your service dog safe and happy.

The grand total, to take care of your service dog, is $1280 per year. No wonder my husband doesn’t want me to have a dog. That’s half the reason why. The other half - a pet’s like having a kid. You have to take care of it. You don’t just leave it home alone.


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​Part 2 – The Steps to Finding Your Dog – Now that you’ve decided a Service Dog is in your future, there are a couple steps to take ahead of time before you pick your dog.

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​Step 1 – Find the Program that Matches You: One kind of program helps veterans who served our country. They train dogs to meet the needs of soldiers whose service left them scarred.

Another program is for people with autism. They have trouble with social, emotional, and communication skills. Dogs help them too.

There are still other programs for people with physical disabilities. Moving, seeing, or certain health problems are difficult. There are dogs for them too.

Children can have autism or physical disabilities too, and there are dogs who are trained just for them, not for grown-ups.Bankrate.com has links for each program.

​Theirs again: https://www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/how-to-afford-a-service-dog/
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​Step 2 – Determine Your Eligibility: Did you know you have to qualify for a program? Your level of severity (difficulty) has to be high enough. Did you know some breeds fit some medical conditions better than others? People who train service dogs want to make sure they find the best match for you, and for their dog.
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Knowing your program can help you decide if you’re a good fit. Your doctor can help you and answer questions along the way.

When you’re doing your search, make sure that the program fits ADI standards (Assistance Dogs International). You want to make sure you get a dog who has the skills you need, not a fake.    
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Step 3 – Gather Supplies: Not sure what to get? Ask the people who are training your dog. They should have a supply list. My breeder did. She wanted to make sure her dog went to a good home.

Don’t wait until your dog arrives! Doing a little bit at a time spreads the cost, and the joy. You’ll need things like toys and bowls and medication. Some things like dog food can wait until the very end.

Another question to think about – do you want a service dog certificate, and can they get you one? If you travel, a paper might offer proof, and make your trip easier.
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​Part 3 – Financial Considerations – This is where the rubber meets the road. You know what your dog will cost. Now – to find the money! How? Here are some options for you.

​I wrote a couple grants to get money for science equipment for my second graders when I was still teaching. It was WORK! I researched my topic, the equipment I wanted, and the experiments the kids would do. It was a LOT of work! And I didn’t know until a month later if it would pay off. It did! Twice!
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Click on the Bankrate.com link again to find their grant information. https://www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/how-to-afford-a-service-dog/
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​3. FSA Accounts – Huh? What’s that? I had to look it up. FSA stands for Flexible Spending Account. A lot of people have this as part of their regular insurance coverage. That means X dollars come out of your check every time you’re paid, and it goes into a special account. It’s still your money, but it can only be spent on medical care.

​The big advantage – you can’t be taxed on that money. If the government takes out 10% from your paycheck, you get to save that money in your account. If you have $100, you save $10. You’ll get a little interest, but the big advantage is that you get $100 in your account, not $90. Over a year, that’s an extra $120 for your medical care. That’s a great thing!
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​​5. Other Financial Considerations – Bankrate.com had 8 tips to consider, but I picked out three. #1. If you can’t get full assistance, buy your own dog, and find an independent trainer who’s certified. It’s a lot cheaper! #2. Some dog food and vets will give you a discount if you have a service dog. #3. If you need financial aid, try places like the Humane Society. They might be able to help.

Want to read the other five? Click on bankrate.com!
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​ 6. The Bottom Line – Service dogs are expensive, BUT you’ll get a lot out of them. You’ll have a friend for life, and that life will be easier and better. Close your eyes and imagine trying to get around your house without help. No peeking! Then imagine having a dog to guide you. A dog would be priceless!

​On April 9th I got my 2nd Covid shot. I waited two weeks per CVC guidelines, and on April 23rd, I was free of Covid at last. Before I write about the things I’m free to do, here are two ways Covid helped me.

​ Gratitude – Covid took so many things away, but it gave me back two important things – time to write, and time to work on sleep issues. They’re both important to me. 

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​In October I started polishing 4 manuscripts. I worked on them every day from 12-4, unless I had appointments. I kept my sleep times the same on 6 out of 7 days. That helped me to stabilize and learn to control it. Now as I reopen, I’m grateful for my year sheltering in place. 

​1. Shopping  - Maskless!  I limited my shopping during this long year of Covid, especially last spring. That’s when I went out for groceries and supplies. I made targeted trips, picking up only the things we needed. Covid took away the joy of seeing faces, especially on kids.

Now I’m free! I’m still shopping less, but I love being able to walk in without my mask. I feel free. I can smile, and people see it, and they usually smile back. Kids are back out again. Some in masks. Some without. Either way – I’m happy to see them.
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PS – I’m shopping less than I was before Covid, but my husband is happier about that. 
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​2. Eating Out Again!  It’s one of my favorite things to do. My husband and I have gone out TWICE since our 2nd vaccine kicked in.

June of 2020, almost a year ago, was the last time we were inside a restaurant. We were helping our daughter and her husband move to Texas. We live in Ohio. Most of the time you can’t eat outside. It’s too cold.
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Eating out after a year of takeout is glorious! The food comes out at the perfect temperature. When you carry-out across town or down the highway, the food is usually lukewarm to cold. I’m so happy to be out, about, and seeing people again. I especially appreciate the restaurant staff – they make eating out a pleasure! 
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​ 3. Going to Church!  The last time I went to church was in February of 2020. In March we traveled to Texas for my granddaughter’s baptism. When we got back, things were beginning to close up for Covid, and we didn’t return until this April, 2021. It’s great to be back. I’m actually kind-of OK about getting up early (I’m not one of God’s early birds! I’m one of his night owls.)  The best thing about returning was taking communion again, receiving the bread and wine, the body and blood of Christ. As I took it that first time, I hoped it could make up for my year without it.
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​It was good to see our church family again. We’ve been members for about 26 years, and our kids grew up there. I told Pastor I was glad to be back, to be out of Covid jail. He gave me a funny look, but I think he understood. Everyone was masked, but it was good to see them again. The saddest part was discovering one of our friends lost her husband in February. I didn’t know, and I felt awful. Covid has taken away so much, and now I’m glad to be taking my life back again.
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​ 4. Back to School Again! I missed seeing teachers and kids this year.  I finally had my first day subbing again. I was so happy to be back, to feel the energy of young children. I was in 4th grade teaching math, science, and social studies. I love talking to kids, getting them to think, helping them figure something out, but it wasn’t all sunshine and joy! YIKES! Fourth grade math is tricky! They were doing a review, and I had to work HARD to figure out the right answers. I think I did, OK?!
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​​Inside everyone was still wearing masks.  I’m glad I wore mine in. I only took it off for lunch and recess. It cracked me up that a kid reminded me to take it off as soon as we stepped outside 😊 Kids can be so sweet! I was glad to be outside, watching them in their natural habitat, having fun with friends. We’ve all been worried about Covid losses, as we should be, but those kids were so resilient. Some things don’t change. Thank goodness!

I loved watching kids and their boundless energy, seeing footballs fly across the playground, or a little girl telling me how someone was hogging the slides. Some things never change! I thought it was funny she told me, not the 4 classroom teachers standing nearby. Kids know who’s the softest touch. The best part of the playground– blowing my whistle again! There’s no place like school, and I’m so glad to be back!
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​5. Visiting My Mother in the Nursing Home – It’s so much easier and more comfortable for me to visit. This isn’t me or my mother, but it’s closer to our new normal. Over the last year we’ve visited through glass, through plexiglass, or socially distanced at 6 feet apart.

6. Visit My Texas Grandchildren – I haven’t held my granddaughter since her baptism last March. Now I have a new grandson to meet. We’ve all been vaccinated so I’m ready to travel west. I want to hold the baby, maybe even change a diaper. I want to play with the toddler, read her a story, do grandma stuff, but toddlers have minds of their own. I hope I can charm her like the 4th graders from the other day. Fingers crossed!