Cashing in, Spring, Clinging to Innocence and Mustering
Yesterday my son's school was closed for parent-teacher conferences. E and I still had a Christmas gift we hadn't cashed in on yet: Lift tickets to the Dartmouth Skiway. When I learned that it was supposed to be sunny and up to 50º, I piled up the car and said, "That's it. We're going!"
Our first run was kind of insane. We went down a trail that had been exposed to the sun all morning and it was like skiing in sand. We could barely move the snow was so wet and slushy. We wondered if we should just go home. But there were plenty of other skiers on other slopes so I suggested we try another trail. And I AM SO GLAD. Wow. The conditions were fantastic. We had the BEST time. And we didn't need coats!
I know these days together like this are probably numbered. Next near, he'll be skiing every week with school friends and I will be delegated to pick-up, or if I'm at all lucky slopes in the shadows. But yesterday my presence was still acceptable and so we skied all afternoon. And I was even allowed to give some tips. It was one of those beautiful days you are fully aware of as one of the last, and so I basked in it.
Today, we have our last elementary school parent-teacher conference, followed by an interview at a private middle school our son is applying to. So many big changes ahead. So much growing up to be done. But I hope every so often we can have a day like yesterday.
In more scary news, tomorrow is the OVERCOMING CHALLENGES program at the Eric Carle Museum. I'll be on a panel with three other authors talking about publishing and writing challenges. It's a day-long event so it's pretty intense for those of us who get nervous (understatement) doing public speaking. We each also give two ten-minute talks about each topic. I'm both thrilled and scared about this. Thrilled because I remember ten years of sitting in an audience and daydreaming about one day being an author, sharing my story. And now I'm living that dream and it's truly amazing to me. I'm not kidding. I seriously often still can't believe it.
But it's scary, too. Because I want to do a good job. I want to offer something useful. I want to be inspiring. And I want the person in the audience who is dreaming like I did for all those years, to keep the dream. I'm going to be mentioning my hero tomorrow, and honestly sometimes all I have to do is think about him and I feel a bit more brave and able to muster up some courage. I really wish he was still around, but I'm glad he continues to inspire. And I suppose that means he still is. Thank you, Mr. Cormier, for putting the question out there, and helping me feel strong enough to try.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. :-)
Our first run was kind of insane. We went down a trail that had been exposed to the sun all morning and it was like skiing in sand. We could barely move the snow was so wet and slushy. We wondered if we should just go home. But there were plenty of other skiers on other slopes so I suggested we try another trail. And I AM SO GLAD. Wow. The conditions were fantastic. We had the BEST time. And we didn't need coats!
I know these days together like this are probably numbered. Next near, he'll be skiing every week with school friends and I will be delegated to pick-up, or if I'm at all lucky slopes in the shadows. But yesterday my presence was still acceptable and so we skied all afternoon. And I was even allowed to give some tips. It was one of those beautiful days you are fully aware of as one of the last, and so I basked in it.
Today, we have our last elementary school parent-teacher conference, followed by an interview at a private middle school our son is applying to. So many big changes ahead. So much growing up to be done. But I hope every so often we can have a day like yesterday.
In more scary news, tomorrow is the OVERCOMING CHALLENGES program at the Eric Carle Museum. I'll be on a panel with three other authors talking about publishing and writing challenges. It's a day-long event so it's pretty intense for those of us who get nervous (understatement) doing public speaking. We each also give two ten-minute talks about each topic. I'm both thrilled and scared about this. Thrilled because I remember ten years of sitting in an audience and daydreaming about one day being an author, sharing my story. And now I'm living that dream and it's truly amazing to me. I'm not kidding. I seriously often still can't believe it.
But it's scary, too. Because I want to do a good job. I want to offer something useful. I want to be inspiring. And I want the person in the audience who is dreaming like I did for all those years, to keep the dream. I'm going to be mentioning my hero tomorrow, and honestly sometimes all I have to do is think about him and I feel a bit more brave and able to muster up some courage. I really wish he was still around, but I'm glad he continues to inspire. And I suppose that means he still is. Thank you, Mr. Cormier, for putting the question out there, and helping me feel strong enough to try.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. :-)
No comments have been added yet.
