Slice of Life – On Planting Cacti and Kindness vs. Niceness

May 16, 2023 TwoWritingTeachers.org

Keith and I planted a barrel cactus this week. Last year I planted that blue agave in the background.

Now my sister has brought over some clippings from other cacti. This evening, in the coolness and shade, I will plant these pieces and then trim the area with rocks to make a little cactus garden. More photos later.

Another thing on my mind this week is kindness and what it really means. See chapter 2 of White Women: Everything You Already Know About Your Own Racism and How to Do Better for more.

Kindness vs. Niceness

“Your nice is actually evil,”
Saira and Regina say,
“Kindness…is a killer to your niceness.”
Most of my life I haven’t considered
the two as being contrary–
though I do know the fruit of the Spirit
is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control
No mention of nice, nicer, nicest,
niceness, niceties, overnice…

One of my mother’s stated goals for all
her seven kids was that we would be nice.
A lifetime has brought me here, for
I became a nice success.
Now I find myself with further
unlearning to do.
So much of my niceness is driven by fear–
fear of standing out
fear of sitting in
fear of disappointing others
fear of making waves
fear of not being liked
fear of lacking strength
fear of fear of fear
to be, to do, to say the kind thing
sometimes kindness isn’t nice
always kindness isn’t easy
fear doesn’t have to be the winner
be kind


I just went outside and finished step 1. The rocks are a bigger deal. Maybe tomorrow.

Slice of Life – Anniversary Trip

May 9, 2023 TwoWritingTeachers.org

We are in the middle of an anniversary trip to the beach. Here are a few slices of our week in photos…

Painted murals in Carlsbad Village
So many beautiful plants and trees in this Mediterranean climate
Anniversary lunch at Taste of the Himalayas
Keith and the Nepali flag
So much coffee and tea

Perfect weather and beautiful sunsets
My partner for 40 years

Poetry Friday – May Days

Today’s Poetry Friday roundup is found here at Linda Baie’s Teacher Dance blog. She shares an “ahhh” poem called “Small Kindnesses.”

May has taken off like a rocket. I’ve enjoyed having our kids here this week. Monday through Friday they worked remotely, mostly from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm, (Central time translated to Pacific). However, we had the afternoons and evenings for eating, fun, and hiking.

So far, I’ve noticed something special about each day in May, so that is my offering for this Cinco de Mayo Poetry Friday. Have a happy day and may you enjoy some colorful and delicious Mexican-American culture this weekend.

May Days

1
Maypole dancing and International Workers’ Day
Here’s to flowers and fair wages for all someday

2
World Tuna Day calls for methods sustainable
Future recovery from overfishing is obtainable

3
Lindsey Graham’s tweet from seven years ago
Predicted the demise of the GOP–truthful blow

4
May the fourth be with you, Star Wars fans
For who doesn’t love Luke, Leia and Han?

5
Cinco de Mayo in Mexico, just a minor celebration
but in the U.S. it has become a new joyful creation

 

Here are a few photos from our time together with my daughter and her husband. Sadly, we have to take them to the airport today.

Spiritual Journey Thursday – Shall We Dance?

Thank you, Chris, for hosting and inspiring us with your music and beautiful poem. I have more hope today after reading the Thursday Spiritual Journey post here.


Shall We Dance?

Our next step is to imagine a courageous
country where a hungry yelling person
is not choked to death on the subway. Are we
stuck in a nightmare of distress and death? Yes. And No, for
In this today, in our losses, we can also dance.
A truth is that during a plague we can
seemingly sing and dance with
endless rings around the rosie, the ashes-ashes
cycle soothing during the scourge.
We will always have good and bad news, so I
refuse to give up, I refuse
to stop dancing. Can we fight injustice, while we
accept jubilee? The Lord of the Dance says
that we can. “Dance, dance, wherever you may be.” I believe.


This golden shovel was written with a quote from a student in Colorado at a school walkout about gun violence, published by Truthout: “Our country is stuck in a seemingly endless cycle. We refuse to accept that.”

In addition to Chris’ hopeful Spiritual Journey post, I was inspired by an episode of A Truthout Podcast called Movement Memos, this one was a conversation between Kelly Hayes and Mariame Kaba.

Carol’s Spiritual Journey post reminded me of a video I took this week, so I’m posting these dancing flowers here:

Slice of Life – I’m Just Very Fearful

May 2, 2023 TwoWritingTeachers.org

“I’m just very fearful,” the white woman said at a school board meeting. (See video at the end.)

Actually, I’m not very fearful. My white privilege has put me in a position where I don’t have to fear living in my skin. I have two amazing daughters who have their own families now. And, bonus: this week my younger daughter and her dear husband are working from our home. Their  offices have been moving around our place based on several factors–whether or not they are in a meeting, which porch has the perfect sunniness, where the wind shelters them, and today they’ve moved indoors because of the cold morning.

I get to spoil my cubs with good cooking like this morning’s breakfast of Lemon-Blueberry Dutch Baby.

On a more serious note, “I’m just very fearful” about the people who are so afraid of losing their position of white supremacy that they are killing others.

I remember when my kids were little there was a report, likely after a census, that predicted when the number of non-white people in America would surpass the number of white people. It was going to be by the year 20?? (I forget). It hasn’t happened yet, but lately I have noticed the impending change has cemented the culture of “white supremacy,” proving it is alive and sick in America. The fear that white supremacy might come undone seems to feed the ubiquitous gun culture too. This fear has gripped the lives of so many that now they are shooting neighbors and innocent travelers, not just nefarious intruders. Racism, white supremacy, religious fundamentalism, the history of the second amendment, and guns–they are all eternally entwined.

The following poem is written in the voice of a member of Moms for Liberty. (Watch the video below in Kenny Akers’ tweet. The quote “I’m just very fearful” comes from her statement at the school board meeting.

I’m just very fearful
Impossible to be cheerful
Replacement makes me tearful

I’m just very fearful
My white children will feel too awful
if you tell them their history is bad-full

I’m just very fearful
Do I worry he will grow up to pull
the trigger? — I’m just very fearful

April 30 #Verselove – Thirty Thanks

Thirty Thanks with Sarah Donovan, April 30, 2024

Today was a day to say goodbye until June and write a poetic response to this month of writing poems. I stumbled around for a while, and then I wrote a silly limerick.

There is a sweet group of #Verselove poets
Whose give-and-take melts me, though it
sounds today 
like a cliché
But I still wanted you to know it.

Earlier attempts:

Bandage burns with words
Breathe fresh life into the broken–
Balm of a poem
Drive the poem
a journey of new life
with words you’ll make it
Life is full as the sea
Waiting for your nascent words
A poem to float on
Words rather than guns
Your life, a scope of grace
Shooting only poems

April 29 #Verselove – Rewrite, Redo

Rewrite, Redo with Scott McCloskey, April 29, 2024

 

What Francisco Oropeza Could Have Said Last Night Instead of Shooting and Killing His Neighbors

Oh, yes, of course, I’ll stop shooting in my yard!
I guess I didn’t realize it was already 11.
I probably didn’t need that last beer.
Yes, yes, your baby needs to sleep.
How about if we sit outside and visit?
I know we’ve quarreled in the past,
and I’m sorry about that.
But I’ve heard you are a kind bunch—
You have a big family, don’t you?
Can I get you a Coke or a cup of herb tea?
Let’s sit on the porch and visit for a while.