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Coming or Going

Thu, 17 Oct 2024, 08:35 AM (-06:00) Creative Commons License

When we come and when go, the little one is always at the door.

Our dog Izzy looking out the window by the front door.

Quarters and Nickles

Wed, 16 Oct 2024, 09:29 PM (-06:00) Creative Commons License

“Mr. Hasan”” someone called from the other side of the room holding up their hand.

I wound my way between the clustered desks of testing students.

“What’s up?” I whispered as I knelt beside their desk.

“I don’t know how much a quarter and nickel are.”

I cocked my head (imperceptibly, I hope).

“A quarter is twenty-five cents. A nickel is five.”

“Thank you.”

That’s a new one for me.

Silent Sunday

Sun, 13 Oct 2024, 06:41 AM (-06:00) Creative Commons License

#silentsunday   #caught-on-landing

Waiting to Go to the Pep Rally

Thu, 10 Oct 2024, 01:12 PM (-06:00) Creative Commons License

The bell rang. The kids began to move to the door. I called them back.

“They’ll call for second floor when they’re ready for you to go to the pep rally.” 

So the students milled about the room. Began to talking loudly. Wormed towards the door. After all, it would only a minute or so.

Then a voice came over the PA, but I couldn’t clearly hear what they said over the hubbub in the room. The kids began to leave.

“Nope,” I said loudly. “They’ll call us.”

There were objections. There were corrections. They looked at me as they do when I trip over myself squeezing between the desks, an “Are you feeling ok?” kind of look. 

“Did they call us?” I asked.

“Yes,” they insisted. 

“Go!” I said, waving them on in a Tracy Ullman way.

They streamed into the hall, turned left, and headed to the gym.

Problem is, other than them, the halls were empty. Ghostly quiet. And five minutes later, a voice came over the PA, “Second floor may go to the pep rally.”

They so scammed me.

Silent Sunday

Sun, 6 Oct 2024, 10:05 AM (-06:00) Creative Commons License

fall asters have started blooming

#silentsunday #fall-asters

Lizards and Grubs

Sun, 29 Sep 2024, 04:47 PM (-06:00) Creative Commons License

The Anole on the bench is comfortable with us. It seems to know that we bring water, that we pose no risk. If we move slowly and predictably, it chooses to remain still while keeping a watchful eye on us.

rendition of an anole watching from the arm of the bench

We’ve never seen and adult Stag Beetle here, although we’ve seen an abandoned black carapace. There is a kindergarten of larvae in our compost pile right now, each easily larger than my thumb. Certainly we’ll see an adult this year?

a heap of stag beetle larvae

Silent Sunday

Sun, 29 Sep 2024, 02:45 PM (-06:00) Creative Commons License

purple trailing lantana

#silentsunday

It’s Got Slope

Thu, 26 Sep 2024, 05:28 PM (-06:00) Creative Commons License

The two of them walked up after the test. 

“Can we go give Mr. Smith a sticker?” they asked.

These two are crazy about stickers. I’ve seen them shuffling thru sheets of them pointing and laughing. And they’ve gone to Mr. Smith before.

I confess that I don’t understand this. I’ve previously had students who had a similar love of stickers and a student teacher who gave them out to students much to the their everlasting glee. So although I don’t understand it, I recognize that’s on me.

“Yes,” I said. “Come back.”

“We will!” 

Ten minutes later they came back and resumed shuffling and laughing. Then they came up, holding three sheets splayed out.

“Mr. Hasan,” they said. “Pick a sticker. Any sticker.”

I inspected the options.

“It needs to match the STOP sticker you gave me the other day,” I mumbled. 

“How about this one?” one of them asked, pointing to the very one I was about to choose.

I pealed it off the sheet.

“I’ll put it on my coffee bottle all cattywampus. Like this. What do you think?” 

stickers on my coffee thermos

“Very nice,” they said. “It’s got slope!” 

Years Behind Me

Mon, 23 Sep 2024, 07:36 PM (-06:00) Creative Commons License

We didn’t have much time. His grandmother was coming to get him soon. We had a couple more algebra problems to review, a couple more equations to write.

Then she stuck her head in thru the door, flashing eyes, floating hair. She shouted over to him. 

“He’s a good teacher, you know.”

And then they said some things that I didn’t quite catch — maybe something to do with my shirt.

Space Shuttle STS 125 logo

“What?” I asked them.

“You got a backstory, Mr. Hasan!” he said.

“You’ve got years behind you!” she said.

Years behind me. They got that right.

Silent Sunday

Sun, 22 Sep 2024, 05:10 PM (-06:00) Creative Commons License

grub of a stag beetle from our compose pile

#silentsunday #biggerthanmylittlefinger

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