Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Passing Time


~ Watches ~

            I have been wearing a watch lately. I have two go-to watches: one in brown (shown) and one in black.
            Both boast the familiar tick-tock of the analogue hands creeping their way around the watch face. The sound reminds me of my high school days when I wore a watch every day at school and the bells rang every hour to signal the start of class. I wore one every day in college – there was no other way to know whether or not I would make it on time to class. I also wore a watch nearly every day I was teaching. But then, something changed.
            I know that I stopped wearing a watch after my first daughter was born. I am sure it had something to do with not knowing whether it was morning or night and how I no longer was able to keep a schedule – I was functioning on baby time.
            But it was more than that. Infant baths frequently got my wrists wet and I didn't need it - I had all day to spend with my little girl. I was not working at the time, so I spent many a blissful day walking the local farmers market, pushing my baby in the swing at the park and reading books for as long as baby could stand it at the town library. I just didn’t need to pay much attention to time, and so, the watch lay on my night table – for years.
            When time started to come into play again – classes, story time, work and play dates – I had a cell phone. Texting had recently become popular and I used it all the time – it was a convenient way to communicate when a baby was sleeping on my chest. As the children grew older, that cell phone was always there for picture-taking, a quick Facebook post, an email check, a phone call, a text, and, the time – yes, the time.
            One day, almost eight years later, I realized that I no longer wanted to rely on my phone for the time. Each opportunity I took to check the time also forced me to see a message on my phone, or prompted me to check in on Facebook.
            So, I started wearing that old watch.
            And, you know what? I love it!
            My trusty, old-fashioned watch helps me to keep track of the time and to enjoy the passing of time. I am no longer obsessed with my phone; I am obsessed with my watch ~ and, that isn’t nearly as interesting. So I find I have more time to enjoy with those around me. And that, my dear readers, is what the passage of time is all about.


~ Enjoy the time you have with those you love.

Monday, July 14, 2014

My First Blogpost and My Life By the Numbers

Welcome to my new blog!

I am excited about this endeavor and am thrilled to begin my blogging journey with all of you.


I thought this might be fun to share with my new readers ~ My life by numbers:

1 ~ my one and only, super-supportive husband.
2 ~ the number of children with whom I have been blessed so far.
84 ~ the number (roughly) of articles I have written for two local newspapers.
13,507 ~ the approximate number of articles I have copyedited.
5,009 (or so) ~ the number of photographs I have taken THIS YEAR!
57 ~ the number of times I have thought about starting a blog.
1 (again) ~ the number of blogposts I have written.
5 ~ the number of comfortable pairs of sandals I own for the summer.
27 ~ the number of kisses I have given today.
3 ~ the number of bandages I have applied today.
56 ~ the number of pages I have read so far today.
4 ~ the number of peppers I picked from our garden early this morning.

In launching my very first blog, I was hoping to find a unique way to introduce myself. This started out kind of fun - even though I am not a numbers kind of girl. I am, however, a word kind of girl. So, from here on out, I am looking forward to sharing my experiences, dreams, life-lessons, love of language and desire to find beauty in the ordinary with you.

As I transition from being an English teacher to a journalist and now a writer, I have found that every day brings with it an opportunity to meet someone new, share a little joy, take a candid photograph (or ten), appreciate the little things or embark on a new path.

So, on this journey of life, thank you for joining me as I find myself Just Writing Through.