I used to relish the idea of back-to-school. Keep in mind I say “used to”. This post will start out as a “woe is me” sob story until I get to the part about my new buddies, Yuk and Jasper.
Hankies ready?
When I was a young thing (Okay I know that might be hard to imagine .. especially by grandchildren who are still devastated that I was born so long ago there were no video games in existence, and the closest thing available to interacting with the television was a show called Winky –Dink where you used a plastic screen stuck on the tv and a ‘magic crayon’ to rescue Winky . You may view the reality of this program at : http://www.tvparty.com/requested2.html )
When I was a young thing (Okay I know that might be hard to imagine .. especially by grandchildren who are still devastated that I was born so long ago there were no video games in existence, and the closest thing available to interacting with the television was a show called Winky –Dink where you used a plastic screen stuck on the tv and a ‘magic crayon’ to rescue Winky . You may view the reality of this program at : http://www.tvparty.com/requested2.html )
But I digress.. I was referring to my youth when “back to school” meant seeing old friends again as well opportunities to learn new things. I admit I was what might be considered a geek in those days because I did love learning and homework and all that stuff. In fact, aside from the occasional note passing, I was a very attentive student…That’s safe to say now that most of my teachers have graduated to another level of existence.
By the time I had back-to-schoolers of my own, I came to love the end of summer not so much because it meant the kids were soon to be supervised by someone else, (okay, maybe partially) but because it meant not hearing the words, “I’m bored”, 300 times a day. Also, to some degree, the house would more easily kept clean. Plus, I admit I love the smell of new pencils and notebook paper.. the crazy shopping for supplies .. it’s almost as much fun as Christmas shopping (okay .. this can’t be the first time you’ve noticed I’m a bit peculiar)
SIDEBAR: Hopefully my children don’t go into shock when they read this part about the house cleaning.. I am certain they are still under the delusion that their back-breaking, never-ending list of chores are what gave our home any semblance of order. After all, in the immortal words of our youngest: “People only have children because it’s illegal to own slaves!” and… as any of the four would tell you, Ex-man and I worked our little slaves relentlessly!
By the time I had back-to-schoolers of my own, I came to love the end of summer not so much because it meant the kids were soon to be supervised by someone else, (okay, maybe partially) but because it meant not hearing the words, “I’m bored”, 300 times a day. Also, to some degree, the house would more easily kept clean. Plus, I admit I love the smell of new pencils and notebook paper.. the crazy shopping for supplies .. it’s almost as much fun as Christmas shopping (okay .. this can’t be the first time you’ve noticed I’m a bit peculiar)
SIDEBAR: Hopefully my children don’t go into shock when they read this part about the house cleaning.. I am certain they are still under the delusion that their back-breaking, never-ending list of chores are what gave our home any semblance of order. After all, in the immortal words of our youngest: “People only have children because it’s illegal to own slaves!” and… as any of the four would tell you, Ex-man and I worked our little slaves relentlessly!
….Having pulled my tongue out of my cheek I shall continue:
Back-to-school now is a melancholy time for me. Whenever I notice students walking to and from school, I realize once again that this afternoon there will be no one coming through the door to ask, “ How was school today?" and, "What did you learn?" Never mind that the answer was almost always, “Fine.” Or, “Nothing new.”.. It’s the idea that no one is coming through that door to mumble the reply! There will be no afterschool snacks to share , no social dilemma’s to hear about, no new heat-throbs to learn of, and no homework with which to offer help.
To add to the sorrow, nine of the 12 ½ grandchildren and two of the original four are headed back-to-school themselves - - -which means less time to talk to Grammie on the phone, or play games on the computer via instant message ….or web cam....and absolutely no visits from anyone until we get to Christmas.
Add to this the undeniable coincidence that, in the fall, Ex-man’s meetings seem to multiply. More often than not, breakfast, lunch and sometimes supper will find our dining table set for one for the next few months. HO-HUM! While I am a hermit at heart, I do find loneliness an issue from time to time.. (I warned you to have your to have your hankies at the ready! )
Enter YUK and JASPER, two marvelous new buddies who called my name from their confined shelves inside the Wandering Daisy.. a quaint, tiny shop in Breckenridge, Friday last. (That’s their photo at the top of the blog! Right to left: Yuk, then Jasper) I spotted them languishing just inside the Daisy’s window at about 10 in the morning as I strolled along the main street of one of very favorite ski resort towns.
Jasper spoke up first – “Psst! Hey lady.. yeah you! Take me home with ya, okay?”
While I’m not usually one to pick up strangers, I had to admit Jasper’s smiling face was more than intriguing. I sensed at once I’d found a new friend; one that would cheerfully greet me first thing in the morning (after Ella licks me awake) and merrily hold a fresh cup of herb tea for me while I get my brain warmed up to the morning writing routine.
Alas, there was one small problem in that The Wandering Daisy didn’t open until 11 o’clock. SO!, after some moments of realizing that no other shops of interest were tucked away in this little ‘off street' area, I meandered on over to a marvelous little restaurant the name of which I believe was the Cool River. Don’t quote me on that one.. but it’s a little breakfast and lunch spot frequented by many of the locals. It was a warm morning so I settled myself at a little table in the riverside garden outside the Cool River after ordering a Dangerously Red smoothie and snatching up some fresh baked banana bread at the last minute. I should mention here that the DR smoothie was dangerous only to the point that I seemed to have something wrong with my ‘sipper’ that morning and the yummy raspberry/strawberry and yogurt blend kept dribbling down my chin. Ex-man will NOT be surprised to hear this.
While drinking and munching I pulled pen and paper out of my purse and proceeded to write two pages of silliness to a special friend with whom I have recently been reunited. She is a well-known quilter who has, with her family, built an incredible fiber arts business home-based on the Western Slopes of Colorado.. http://www.phillipsfiberart.com/ I hope she won’t be offended when she learns that Jasper brought her to mind for a dozen reasons - - - none of which has to do with facial resemblance, but one of which is the early morning and late night gab sessions she and I had while raising our off-spring and otherwise deciding what we wanted to be when we grew up. Those were good times… comforting times even… and packed with more creative brainstorming than any two people have ever had. Jasper just has that smile of inspiration… the look in his eyes that together we’d come up with brilliant story lines and the strength to break any writer’s block. I knew by the time I popped the last piece of banana bread in my mouth I’d return for him.
Sure enough, the Wandering Daisy was open. ..and Jasper sat patiently waiting. As I reached to claim him, he gave a nod to a little green fellow sitting on the opposite end of the shelf towards the back. It was Yuk, turned a bit to the side.. evidently scrutinizing a pig-shaped teapot that resided in the front window. I immediately recognized the attitude. I’ve had that attitude many a time myself. So right away I knew Yuk had to come along home as well.
Yuk and Jasper are the whimsical creations of one Judie Bomberger, who also names her works of art.. in case you were wondering. http://www.judiebomberger.com/
What I love about Judie.... besides the fact that she provided me with two new writing buddies is that she is 65…. And she is so doing what she loves.. ... you can see it in her work.
So, I am greeted by Yuk or Jasper every morning now.. (the kind of morning I’m having determines whose mug I stare into….) But either way.. whether the day starts out with an impromptu run to the market, Ella barking at ghosts under the bed, or a phone call at 6:45 am from an exterminator who has no intention of showing up, I’ve got my ‘peeps’ to talk me through the rush, the thrills and the blocks of the writing life.. They faithfully remind me that Judie and Cheryl are out there successfully doing what they love.. so .. why not me too!?
Back-to-school now is a melancholy time for me. Whenever I notice students walking to and from school, I realize once again that this afternoon there will be no one coming through the door to ask, “ How was school today?" and, "What did you learn?" Never mind that the answer was almost always, “Fine.” Or, “Nothing new.”.. It’s the idea that no one is coming through that door to mumble the reply! There will be no afterschool snacks to share , no social dilemma’s to hear about, no new heat-throbs to learn of, and no homework with which to offer help.
To add to the sorrow, nine of the 12 ½ grandchildren and two of the original four are headed back-to-school themselves - - -which means less time to talk to Grammie on the phone, or play games on the computer via instant message ….or web cam....and absolutely no visits from anyone until we get to Christmas.
Add to this the undeniable coincidence that, in the fall, Ex-man’s meetings seem to multiply. More often than not, breakfast, lunch and sometimes supper will find our dining table set for one for the next few months. HO-HUM! While I am a hermit at heart, I do find loneliness an issue from time to time.. (I warned you to have your to have your hankies at the ready! )
Enter YUK and JASPER, two marvelous new buddies who called my name from their confined shelves inside the Wandering Daisy.. a quaint, tiny shop in Breckenridge, Friday last. (That’s their photo at the top of the blog! Right to left: Yuk, then Jasper) I spotted them languishing just inside the Daisy’s window at about 10 in the morning as I strolled along the main street of one of very favorite ski resort towns.
Jasper spoke up first – “Psst! Hey lady.. yeah you! Take me home with ya, okay?”
While I’m not usually one to pick up strangers, I had to admit Jasper’s smiling face was more than intriguing. I sensed at once I’d found a new friend; one that would cheerfully greet me first thing in the morning (after Ella licks me awake) and merrily hold a fresh cup of herb tea for me while I get my brain warmed up to the morning writing routine.
Alas, there was one small problem in that The Wandering Daisy didn’t open until 11 o’clock. SO!, after some moments of realizing that no other shops of interest were tucked away in this little ‘off street' area, I meandered on over to a marvelous little restaurant the name of which I believe was the Cool River. Don’t quote me on that one.. but it’s a little breakfast and lunch spot frequented by many of the locals. It was a warm morning so I settled myself at a little table in the riverside garden outside the Cool River after ordering a Dangerously Red smoothie and snatching up some fresh baked banana bread at the last minute. I should mention here that the DR smoothie was dangerous only to the point that I seemed to have something wrong with my ‘sipper’ that morning and the yummy raspberry/strawberry and yogurt blend kept dribbling down my chin. Ex-man will NOT be surprised to hear this.
While drinking and munching I pulled pen and paper out of my purse and proceeded to write two pages of silliness to a special friend with whom I have recently been reunited. She is a well-known quilter who has, with her family, built an incredible fiber arts business home-based on the Western Slopes of Colorado.. http://www.phillipsfiberart.com/ I hope she won’t be offended when she learns that Jasper brought her to mind for a dozen reasons - - - none of which has to do with facial resemblance, but one of which is the early morning and late night gab sessions she and I had while raising our off-spring and otherwise deciding what we wanted to be when we grew up. Those were good times… comforting times even… and packed with more creative brainstorming than any two people have ever had. Jasper just has that smile of inspiration… the look in his eyes that together we’d come up with brilliant story lines and the strength to break any writer’s block. I knew by the time I popped the last piece of banana bread in my mouth I’d return for him.
Sure enough, the Wandering Daisy was open. ..and Jasper sat patiently waiting. As I reached to claim him, he gave a nod to a little green fellow sitting on the opposite end of the shelf towards the back. It was Yuk, turned a bit to the side.. evidently scrutinizing a pig-shaped teapot that resided in the front window. I immediately recognized the attitude. I’ve had that attitude many a time myself. So right away I knew Yuk had to come along home as well.
Yuk and Jasper are the whimsical creations of one Judie Bomberger, who also names her works of art.. in case you were wondering. http://www.judiebomberger.com/
What I love about Judie.... besides the fact that she provided me with two new writing buddies is that she is 65…. And she is so doing what she loves.. ... you can see it in her work.
So, I am greeted by Yuk or Jasper every morning now.. (the kind of morning I’m having determines whose mug I stare into….) But either way.. whether the day starts out with an impromptu run to the market, Ella barking at ghosts under the bed, or a phone call at 6:45 am from an exterminator who has no intention of showing up, I’ve got my ‘peeps’ to talk me through the rush, the thrills and the blocks of the writing life.. They faithfully remind me that Judie and Cheryl are out there successfully doing what they love.. so .. why not me too!?
( Disclaimer… this article in no way is to imply that my friend , Cheryl, of Phillips Fiber Arts, is in her 60’s.. I’m pretty sure I have about a decade’s jump-start on her) and I hope her internet is up and going soon so she can check in with me again.)
