The daily meanderings of a teacher

Tag: Life

  • Can we define our success, or does it take another?

    Bird Droppings January 7, 2025Can we define our success, or does it take another? Recently, teachable moments have been rare, as I have been very monastic between retirement, grandchildren, and cautious awareness. Yesterday, while grocery shopping, I ran into a former student of sorts. I think she was in a class with me when I…

  • The symbolism of the Totem Pole

    Bird Droppings January 6, 2025 The symbolism of the Totem Pole Growing up in my family, my father had made numerous totem poles in our backyards over the years. Each was painted with images of creatures. Eagles, bears, and wolves adorned the totem poles. The last one was torn down or fell only a few…

  • LIFE and FINALITY, two words that, as we get older, seem to be a part of our daily process.

    Bird Droppings January 1, 2025LIFE and FINALITY, two words that, as we get older, seem to be a part of our daily process. Morning has been a special time for me each day, a new beginning. Several aspects make it special; the first one is taking pictures of sunrises. Then I ran some errands, started…

  • I do wonder about getting older.

    Bird Droppings December 23, 2025 I do wonder about getting older. “Age is an issue of mind over matter.  If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” Mark Twain I find myself using my age to my advantage when the little girl at the Kroger register asks if I’m a senior citizen. I carry my AARP…

  • It is said dreams do not stand alone.

    Bird Droppings December 20, 2025It is said dreams do not stand alone. “You are never given a dream without also being given the power to make it true. You may have to work for it, however.” Richard Bach It has been so many years since I first read and experienced the whimsical book Jonathan Livingston…

  • Why do we WORK?

    Bird Droppings December 18, 2025 Why do we WORK? “Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.” Aristotle How many times do we all hear how difficult the job is or how “I hate my job”? I am always confused when I hear this. I want to ask why you are doing this if…

  • Finding a pathway even when one does not appear

    Bird Droppings December 17, 2025Finding a pathway even when one does not appear The past week has sort of run together, though each day was interesting in its own right. It may have been sitting and watching movies with the family, three hectic days shopping with Pat, our 47th anniversary, chasing sunrises every morning, trying…

  • The fragility and power of life

    Bird Droppings January 16, 2025 The fragility and power of life I was awakened early with a vivid dream this morning. I am also getting old and needed to take a potty break. Hearing a teenager, I assume, tearing out of our subdivision about two in the morning also did not help my sleep. Around…

  • Who would have thought that a buffalo snort in the dark could impact me almost thirty years later?

    Bird Droppings November 24, 2024 Who would have thought that a buffalo snort in the dark could impact me almost thirty years later? I use the word synchronicity quite often. Perhaps more than twenty times a day. I drove up to the corner store for gas, and I gathered up coinage from the dashboard. I…

  • Today should always be the first day.

    Bird Droppings December 12, 2025Today should always be the first day. Over the past several weeks, we have been cleaning out our storage buildings. It is a slow, tedious process of finding things we have not seen in twenty or more years. I found a briefcase with my bank statements from 1973-76 or so. I…