The daily meanderings of a teacher

Tag: Family

  • Being reborn is listening with the heart

    Bird Droppings April 22, 2026 Being reborn is listening with the heart So often in life, we hear words, rationalize those utterances, develop an opinion, and then logically state a response. I returned to a conversation discussing existentialism with my granddaughter one night nearly fifteen years ago as she cooed and babbled, trying her best…

  • My friend Trooper pondering, remembering and digesting the stories.

    Bird Droppings April 19, 2026My friend Trooper pondering, remembering and digesting the stories. My youngest grandson turned six today, and my wife and I were talking about Facetiming with Henry later. I was outside today chasing a sunrise that ended in a swirl of clouds and a weather report calling for rain. The wind was…

  • Bird Droppings April 14, 2026 Innocence is more than a definition. “Look at children. Of course, they may quarrel, but generally speaking, they do not harbor ill feelings as much or as long as adults do. Most adults have the advantage of education over children, but what is the use of an education if they…

  • What do we see when we look into a child’s eyes?

    Bird Droppings March 30, 2026 What do we see when we look into a child’s eyes? I woke up at my usual time from a dream, thinking I was back twenty or so years, getting up and sending the kids off to school, and it was pretty quiet around the house. After walking to the…

  • We must reconcile the present, past, and future to find balance

    Bird Droppings March 24, 2026 We must reconcile the present, past, and future to find balance Several months ago, we spent a few days in Southern Pines, North Carolina, visiting our son, daughter-in-law, and grandkids. On our way home, we side-tracked to Pawleys Island, South Carolina, and Huntington State Park for a quick drive through…

  • As I get older, each day becomes special, whether I’m playing with grandkids or speaking with my wife and my sons. I cherish each moment of the journey.

    Bird Droppings March 11, 2026 As I get older, each day becomes special, whether I’m playing with grandkids or speaking with my wife and my sons. I cherish each moment of the journey. My mother’s spirit passed on several years ago. My father was several years before her. She went to sleep and moved on…

  • Finding the right spot for the puzzle pieces once we realize we have a puzzle

    Bird Droppings February 8, 2026 Finding the right spot for the puzzle pieces once we realize we have a puzzle “In order to learn the nature of the myriad things, you must know that although they may look round or square, the other features of oceans and mountains are infinite in variety; whole worlds are…

  • Why should life be a difficult journey? Perhaps if it were not, we would not learn.

    Bird Droppings March 1, 2026 Why should life be a difficult journey? Perhaps if it were not, we would not learn. “Use what talent you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best.” Henry Van Dyke It has been a few years since I visited with my…

  • To die a happy death:

    Bird Droppings February 21, 2026 To die a happy death: My mother’s spirit passed on five years ago. She went to sleep and moved on. As I ponder my thoughts for today, I always think about education. I have been teaching public high school for nearly 20 years, elementary school for 2, and college for…

  • It has been a long time, and yet, it is only a moment.

    Bird Droppings February 20, 2026It has been a long time, and yet, it is only a moment. I was sitting along the edge of reality one evening a few days back after having a bad day with bronchitis and asthma. Somewhere, I was in my backyard, listening to the wind as it blew through the…