R.L. Toalson's Blog, page 5
July 23, 2018
Things That Are Nebulous: a List
Things that are nebulous to me:
The universe
My sons’ thinking process
My cat’s behavior
Technical issues
The way symphony music makes me feel
People who say hateful things to others
A beautiful piece of art and the emotions it evokes
Death
Life
Love that heals
July 16, 2018
Nebulous: a Study in Vocabulary
Nebulous earned a place in my favorite words collection long ago, from the time a chemistry teacher told me that physics concepts could be nebulous.
Nebulous means, “unclear, vague, or ill-defined.”
Turns out, my teacher was correct (though her observation was an opinion, not a fact; Physics is not nebulous for everyone).
While I loved the natural sciences and the logical sequences of chemistry formulas, and the math coupled with science came easily for me, physics was a confounding subject....
June 25, 2018
Favorite Phrases From Kids: an Inventory
Some of my favorite words to hear in my house:
Oh! I read that somewhere!
I’d rather read.
This book is so so good!
Have you read this book?
Where’s my book?
You have to read this.
Will you read this to me?
Let’s have some reading time.
I’m bored. I guess I’ll read.
I’m going to do some writing.
Want to write a picture book with me?
I just wrote a poem.
Can I read this to you?
I made this for you.
Here’s a flower.
I love you.
(Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash)
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June 18, 2018
On Encouragement: a Short Story
The other day, my husband and I took our sons to my old high school track. It’s black now, though it used to be red, and doesn’t quite look the same. But the smell is the same, and as soon as I stepped on it, felt the spring beneath my feet, felt the stuffy air hit my face, I knew it didn’t matter what color it was; this was still the track I remembered.
I jogged a mile while my sons tried to race me at various points along the way. I tried to tell them I wasn’t racing, because I was in it fo...
June 4, 2018
On Remembering our Ancestors: a Short Essay
We’d just arrived at my mother’s house, and my second son slipped into the room my husband and I were sharing. In this room there are old pictures hanging on walls, in every corner; frames on bookshelves; golden cutouts arranged on an antique vanity dresser.
My mother calls it her antique room, but I often think History Room would be a more accurate name.
My son looked at the walls and said, “Who are these people?”
I told him we’d have to ask his grandmother, because I wasn’t entirely sure. I...
May 28, 2018
Sounds of a Movie Night: an Eavesdropping Experiment
It’s my turn to pick!
No, it’s my turn!
You picked last time!
What do you want to watch?
[Everyone shouts at once]
[No one can agree]
Will you pop us some popcorn?
Laughter
The booming of the movie start
Sit down!
I can’t see!
Please get off my blanket.
Did you see that, Mama?
Can you pause it?
I need to go to the potty.
Can we see the funny part at the end?
That was a really good movie.
Can we watch another one?
Bedtime!
Aw, man!
We didn’t even get to play!
(Photo by Christian Wiediger on Un...
May 21, 2018
I See You: a Small Cure for Fatherlessness
If your father has left you—I see you.
If you feel sad—I see you.
If you don’t feel like you’re walking on solid ground—I see you.
If you are wondering what you did wrong—I see you.
If you are waiting on a call—I see you.
If you feel lonely—I see you.
If you miss him—I see you.
If you wish things could be different—I see you.
If you don’t quite remember what he looks like—I see you.
If you’re saving his place, always hoping—I see you.
If you feel like the world is a dangerous place—I see you....
May 14, 2018
Dreams: a Logical and Metaphorical Examination
“What will you be when you grow up?” They were magical words when I was a child.
They are magical words I ask my children now. They want to be artists, movie directors, teachers, Batman. Some days their dreams are big—they want to be the doctor who figures out how to beat brain cancer so their uncle can live a long and full life. Some days their dreams are small—they would like to finish reading this book; they’d like to eat three oranges, instead of two; they’d like to win a race at school.
...April 27, 2018
On the Opinions of Others and Stepping Outside the Box
The other night, my husband and I watched Dead Poet’s Society, a movie I remember loving in high school. I loved it just as much this time around. It is a phenomenal movie with phenomenal writing and acting.
But.
It struck me differently this time around. I’m a parent now. I cried—no, I sobbed—great, heaving sobs—when a boy is so beat down by the box his parents put him in—telling him who they expect him to be, what his career choice will be, what he absolutely cannot do, which happens to be...
April 23, 2018
Things that are Garrulous: a List
Things that are garrulous (sometimes):
My sons
Lonely people
Extroverts
Sisters
Squirrels—at least I imagine so
Certain people on planes
Individuals with a lot of time on their hands
The bored
Barbers
Social media ranters
Toddlers
Me, in my morning journal pages
(Photo by Shashank Hudkar on Unsplash)
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