Don't Ask!

When I was kid, and asked (by my Mother) about my school day, I tended to say very little. Once the school day had passed, I was ready to get on with the NEXT part of my day – which involved doing homework or going outside to play or finding a quiet spot to read (and avoid doing after-school chores).

And while my day may have been filled with an abundance of good things (and things not so good), I needed some down time. 

From the moment I stepped off the school bus and walked into the house, my brain was churning with all sorts of ideas, remembered conversations, imagined (and real) slights and reminders of the many tasks that needed to be done (and by when). By the time, my Mother greeted me as I walked into the kitchen, I absolutely did not want to be charitable and engage in yet ANOTHER conversation.

I needed to clear my head ... needed time to be alone ... needed time to simply enjoy the peace of not being surrounded by a lot of people.

But when my need to share (what was on my mind or in my heart) was great – I watched and waited for the right time to approach my mom. I wanted to be sure I had her full attention – when she was not distracted by the demands of maintaining a home, being a wife, answering the call of a neighbor or attending to the needs of my siblings.

Fortunately, I had a mom who seemed to intuitively know when I was "ready" to talk.

Sometimes those conversations occurred when we were alone in the car ... preparing the evening dinner ... doing laundry. These were special moments for me ... the times when I had my mom all to myself ... when I didn't have to share her with anyone ... when I knew that I was her most important priority.

And then I talked.

But sometimes my readiness to "talk" erupted right at bedtime, as Mom tucked the covers under my chin, gave me a gentle kiss on the cheek, and brushed the hair off my forehead. She'd remind me to say my prayers and end our bedtime ritual with, "I love you honey. Have sweet dreams tonight".

And then, when I began to talk about all the important things (both the good and the bad) ... 

Mom listened.

I often think of the children who have no one to listen.

Great Auntie Took A Techno Break, Sort of...

I was rather shocked to discover it had been more than a month since I last posted a rhyme. 

Now I distinctly recall intending to make weekly posts. As a matter of fact, doing so was (and still is) part of the "grand plan" for Great Auntie and her good works.

But where did my time go? Oh my!

I distinctly remember spending most of my time at the computer. There were hours spent writing new rhyme, short stories and nostalgia bits that some would consider fiction. There were hours spent researching "how to's" for everything from self-publishing and e-commerce to image editing and file transferring. There were the minutes (and sometimes hours) spent trying to decipher and interpret what needed to be done differently when the yahoos, googles and facebooks of the world unilaterally decided to improve the quality of my online experience. Then there were all the minutes spent trouble-shooting when something on the computer, printer or scanner didn't function properly (despite having done so minutes before). And the minutes consumed by the rewriting of lengthy emails intended for recipients accustomed to reading 145 characters (or less) as well as for those whose preferred second language is emoticon. And the minutes required for completing online forms that promised to take "minutes" yet consumed far more. So much time spent in front of a screen...

What I learned was quite different from what I originally set out to learn -- how to create online products. I learned that I still didn't know "enough" to do the technology things that others found simple and easy to do. It would seem that I have a technology deficiency ... a left brain that goes on vacation ... a sense of logic that is quite random in terms of deciding when it will choose to appear and function properly.

Fortunately, there were also those hours and minutes this summer when I simply said, "ENOUGH!"

And I was glad of it. 

This summer, there were many boxes and bins filled with family memorabilia that needed physical (and not technological) sorting. And each container held memories worth thinking about and sharing. But when I came to the bins containing some of my son's favorite childhood toys, I remembered something important.

When my son was a little boy, computers and cell phones were not so demanding of my time, my attention and my energy.

Back then, computers and cell phones were built with "off" switches. And I used 'em.

It's been a wonderful summer, my friends. If you haven't done so already, make the time to say "ENOUGH!" and give yourself (and your favorite kid) a techno-break.

You'll be glad you did.

See you in September if not before!

Great Auntie, The Tall Tale Teller of Minnesota

(land of 10,000 lakes and several loons)

School is Out !!

School has now been out for a couple of weeks. Some neighborhoods are filled with the sounds of children laughing and hollering. They ride bikes, trikes, scooters and skateboards. There are basketballs being bounced ... soccer balls being kicked ... baseballs being slammed into the air (which hopefully will avoid landing, as they have in the past, in the middle of one of my windows). Small dramas are invented ... games designed ... pecking orders established and leaders defined.

Soon, kids will start summer school, go to Vacation Bible school, participate in community sponsored recreational programs, travel to camp or spend their days in scheduled activities provided by the local childcare center. Some kids will have their eyes glued (from dawn to dusk) to the TV, computer screen, cell phone or electronic game station. Others will be searching for ways to occupy their time (with some getting into mischief) and keeping themselves amused until parent, guardian or older sibling arrive home from work.

Right now, there appears to be a bit of a lull in the scheduled activities and programs of community organizations, local schools and churches.

And the kids who are running around outdoors all seem pretty doggone happy about having some time to play. They look a bit more rested than on the mornings when they waited for the school bus ... seem a lot more relaxed than they were at the end of each long week of school.

They look young.

The Rabbit Catcher

The other night, as I washed dishes, I happened to glance out the kitchen window and saw a small boy in my neighbor's yard. Slung over his shoulder was what appeared to be a mallet with a blue foam head. The boy walked with a pace that was slow and deliberate. Occasionally he'd dart off with mallet waving in the air.

Suddenly, he disappeared from view. On a hunch, I decided to look out the window facing MY back yard...

And there he was – clearly on the trail of a rabbit!

I decided to have a chat with him and discovered he was new to the neighborhood and wanted the rabbit for a pet. After we chatted about the perils of wild critter catching (which included my securing his promise to leave the rabbits alone), he asked me how old I was.

So I answered, "Probably about a grandma's age. Do you know how old that is?" 

I should know better.

And how did he reply? "Well. Pretty old. Between 60 and 100." 

So I responded, "Yep. I'm pretty close to that." 

Hello Rabbit!

The other day, a young boy was walking down the street. As he neared my neighbor's house, his steps slowed. Suddenly I heard him say,  

"Well, hello Rabbit!"   

And he stopped and had a friendly chat with the rabbit crouched beneath a flowering bush. A second boy, on bike, suddenly appeared and began riding his bike towards the rabbit -- only to be stopped by the younger boy. And Rabbit did what rabbits do best -- bolted. Fortunately the boys decided not to pursue said rabbit (into my yard). So once again, the rabbit crouched. Only THIS time, Rabbit stared at me -- as if to say,

"OK Old Woman -- what are YOU going to do about it?"

And then he scratched his ear.

Backyard critters have a lot of good stories to tell. Just ask a little kid. 

Note, I wrote this little rhyme back in 2007. Which just serves as a reminder -- there are "universal truths" about rabbits -- as well as kids!

Grown-ups Say Silly Things

We adults might want to remember – "don't EVER underestimate the power of a child's imagination" – especially when using familiar phrases or common expressions. Next time it rains, enjoy some fun sharing this rhyme with your favorite kids. Encourage them to create new sketches for the poem. Ask them to help you figure out synonyms for "pound". Or perhaps make a list of the reasons why "rain" is a very good thing and something to be thankful for -- even when it is joined by loud thunder!