Five Good Things

1.  Just back from the orthopedic office where I had knee x rays done to show how things have been progrelessing since my knee replacements.  My knees are perfect!  I can do just about everything except twirl around.  Good to see Jamie and the crew again.  Same staff, same great service.

2.  Grateful for my neighbor and church friend who gave me rides to the doctors this week.

3.  I'm feeling better than ever.  New knees, new lease on life.

4.  Had beautiful dreams last night.  That I found an intentional community in Missouri.  It was beautiful with a lake and artists' studios.  So real!

5.  Applied for 4 jobs to Duke (probably along with hundreds of others).  Who DOESN'T want to work for Duke.

6.  The assoc. ed. job is still available at the Sun.  Great magazine!  I'll apply on Friday.

7.  Feeling so much better after getting the wax removed from my ears yesterday.  Hearing better, too.

8.  John and Sue coming to dinner tomorrow for soup.  Might make risotto rice too.

9.  Lunch next week with Franklin.

10. My buddy from church, Brandon, is a dear.  Took me for an appt. while my car's in the shop.

11.  Interesting that I have some readers in Russia.  I like that.

12.  Oh, and Jenny had her baby.

13.  And i thought of a poem to write, Lady Jonah.

Slavery - Ed Baptist talk

   Ed Baptist (originally from Durham) , author of The Half that's Never Been Told, gave a lecture at St. Phillips last week.  He's a professor of history at Cornell.  Points that were most interesting:

1.  He spoke about an enslaved person named Louis Hughes who wrote "Thirty Years a Slave"  He was from Virginia (Scottsville) and moved to Arkansas.

2.  I need to look at WPA narratives.

3.  In ante- bellum U. S. women were encouraged to have one outfit per day.

4.  Enslaved persons represented a huge commodity, even bigger than cotton.

 5.  When Louis Hughes went back to get his belongings, his former owner said -- "I wish you luck, bad luck"

6.  He said he "was stole, not sold."

7.  look at Paul Jennings

8.  the book Ebony and Ivy.

Highlights from 2015!

I'm recollecting 15 highlights from 2015:


1. On January 1st of that year, I attended my first New Year's Day Hike at the Eno River State Park, less than 2 months after a knee replacement.
2. Also in January, I went to a week long training in the woods on how to be a mentor to children in nature. Thank you Piedmont Wildlife Center!
3. In February, I got serenaded by Tony Bennet at DPAC.
4. Also in February, I became a regular at Flyleaf's open mic event..
5.  Attended my first meeting at the NC Poetry Society's meeting at Southern Pines and met distinguished poet, James Applewhite, who gave me an autographed copy of his essay.
6. Between January and April, took 3 courses through Duke's continuing education program.
7. In April, had my second knee replacement.
8. In June, started observing classes at the American Dance Festival again.
9. Participated in Jesse Zaritt's dance class, less than two months after a knee replacement.
10. Started weekly yoga sessions at the Y.
11. Spent a week at Black Mountain and Montreat and visited the site of Black Mountain College.
12. Visited Thomas Wolfe's home in Asheville, something I'd been wanting to do for about 15 years.
13. In the fall I saw my beautiful granddaughter for only the second time and she looked at me adoringly and captured my heart forever.
14. Went to the Black Mountain College exhibit with my Boston family, at the ICA.
15. I was able to see first hand what awesome parents my son and daughter in law are.

I Love My Corolla

     Over the holidays, my family suggested that I think about trading in my 15 year old Corolla with 212,000 miles on it.  So, my brother and I went over to this place called Auction Direct and I test drove a 2012 Yaris.  I enjoyed the ride except for not being able to stretch my leg out.  On the driver's side, there is an airbag compartment placed near the knee.  In addition to making for an uncomfortable fit, imagine the damage to your knee if the airbag deployed.

    I liked the set up of Auction Direct.  I had an appointment to speak with someone, Matt.  He was low key, likable, and knowledgeable.  I enjoyed the organization of the place -- no music playing so you can think about decisions, no noisy salesmen.  Clean, airy place.  The salesmen supposedly don't get commisions and you pay the advertised price, no haggling.  Auction Direct offered an enjoyable experience and there is no pressure to buy.

     My next stop was a Toyota dealership.  Different story that left me feeling annoyed, stressed, and irritated, same with the Nissan dealership.  But I did love the Versa.  Plenty of leg room; great looking car.

    Next I thought I'd try out a Spark.  But after reading reviews about engines blowing after 2 years, that one was out.

     So, I decided to give my Toyota a facelift.  She needs a paint job, and a good cleaning.  Took her to Maaco and the owner/mechanic there talked about how well made the Corollas were and how they had been known for getting 400,000 miles.  I started to fall in love all over again with her.  She has served me well, starts every time, and has never broken down.  Plus, she is fun to drive, comfy, and roomy.

     Turns out the Corolla has been the best selling car in the world since 1974 and is considered by Edmunds as one of the best cars of all time.  So, no immediate plans to part with her yet.  My next car purchase will probably be a Corolla, or maybe a Versa.  Since 1966, Corolla is still here!

My First Alaskan Christmas With My Son

32 years ago, I celebrated my first Christmas with my three month old son. The divorce with his father would be final at the end of the month and I had doubts about my ability to raise a son alone. Childbirth and divorce, all in the same year! I'd agonized about what I'd done wrong for everything to end like this, and for a while even made attempts to try to make things right Then a friend came by and encouraged me. She told me that help was available and reassured me that everything would be ok. She was a public health nurse making a home visit to a baby who had been at risk at birth, but was on his way to becoming thriving and active. I realized there were worse things than raising a child as a single parent and put my heart and soul into being a good mom. We were living in a coastal town in Alaska then, and the outpouring of warmth and encouragement has stayed in my mind ever since. That Christmas, my baby and I watched a boat parade from our living room, and had an open house for all my friends at which there was laughter, good food, fellowship, and yes, Christmas lights! When we visited friends on Christoff Island and opened presents I realized that I could make it as long as I had the support of friends.

Let me keep my mind on what matters, which is my work,

Closing in On Christmas

     I've been reading The Polar Express around town, two schools so far, the Global Scholars Academy and Forest View.  It's great to share the classic story with a new generation.

(review clip)  "This book opens the possibility that Santa Claus -- as presented to most of us -- may not physically exist. It does this in a way that will allow children and their parents to ease into that question, a graceful move from the belief in a living St. Nick, to a belief in the spirit of Christmas."    Courtesy of Amazon

     I first read the tale to my son when we was about two.  We were in Alaska then.  Since I've moved I've lost the book, and the silver bell that came with it so I had to buy another copy.  Happy to have this classic back in the house!