Category Archives: persevere

let it rain.

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at the moment of kickoff

at my grandson’s game

the skies opened up

serving up a main course

of biting sideways rain

with a side dish of high-winded temperature drop

no lighting or thunder

so the game went on

 having just taken the umbrella out of my car

at least there was a rain jacket still on the seat

yet quickly apparent that it wasn’t built

for sudden deluge-level weather

nor were the fans’ soon to be inside-out umbrellas

but they kept on playing and playing

while they didn’t win

they stayed in the game

as did the families/fans

showing a lot of heart

 when we got to the car

as we  made our way out

and onto the road home

the weather left

just as quickly as it had arrived

not one more drop of rain fell

not a wisp of wind was blown

not a chill in the air to be found

as we dripped and dropped in the car

laughing about the crazy storm

 so looking forward to hot showers, warm food, and cozy, dry pajamas

our just desserts

after a game

well-played by all.

‘the best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.’

-henry wadsworth longfellow

“No te rajes.” – don’t give up.

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let us celebrate cinco de mayo by recognizing the power of determination and the courage to never give up. 

 

On May 5, 1862, the Mexican army unexpectedly defeated the French in the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. Although not the end of the war, the victory was a testament to the Mexican military’s unshakeable spirit and inspired the Cinco de Mayo celebrations we still see today. Outside of the state of Puebla, where the battle occurred, it’s a relatively minor holiday in Mexico. But many Mexican immigrants carried the tradition with them to America. Today, Americans celebrate Cinco de Mayo with festivals, parades, music, food, and artesanía.

In Mexico, artesanía is a traditional craft or folk art piece. Artists of all skill levels produce artesanía, including pottery, fabrics, toys, and other crafts. It often features bright colors and decorative details that date back to the ancient temples, pyramids, and other historical objects found throughout Mexico.

the fixer.

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the tiny drinking fountain in our room

had been shut off for over 2 years

as a precautionary measure due to covid.

this year

one kinder, a young 3

decided he was going to fix it

fidgeting with it every day

without any tools

looking under it and all around it

pushing the button

day after day

he never stopped trying

nothing happened

until

one day we came in

noticed it was working

(perhaps a building elf had stopped by after school)

i took our little fixer over to see it

showed him the water coming out

told him he must have finally fixed it!

hard to imagine

the look of shock and joy on his face

to see it working

after all of his hard work

and refusal to give up

the class now celebrates him as a hero

and use the fountain every day

 he proudly checks on it often

his face still amazed every time.

“i’m good at figuring out how things work, but I don’t know how this happened.” 

-nora roberts, the collector

get back up.

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a family penguin is down, but not out.

“you take a crash, you get back up and next time you succeed and that’s a great feeling.”

*-shaun white

 

 

*Shaun Roger White (born September 3, 1986) is an American professional snowboarder, skateboarder and musician. He is a three-time Olympic gold medalist. He holds the record for the most X-Games gold medals and most Olympic gold medals by a snowboarder, and has won 10 ESPY Awards.

lift.

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this may take a while….


reach.

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grandies

jump in.

get dirty.

fall down.

and

reach again

even higher.

“jump into the middle of things, get your hands dirty,

fall flat on your face, and then reach for the stars.”

-ben stein

sometimes, bad days are there to remind you that you have good ones to look forward to. – author unknown

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IMG_0121like the day

you stood on the upside-down water table

with your beloved blankie and pacifiier all dirty

a bandaid on your scraped-up foot

mosquito bites itching

an empty bug net

and a turtle with a snapped-off tail nearby

 you can’t find your shoes

your diaper is wet

 you’re tired

and your shorts are all twisted-up.

and then –

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 suddenly

it is the next day

and the sun is shining

and

you have a fancy cocktail

right in front of you

with

floating fruit cut in shapes

a special bendy straw

and you are standing

at a table just your size

with your fancy red shirt on

and your smile

is as big as the universe

and

in an instant

all is well with the world

once again.

here’s to you, baby j, as you continue to persevere

and find your way through the world, even after the tough days.

you are a model for all of us.