In my home I hear

the rumbling of my belly – soon to be filled with home made perogies and roasted asparagus

the pitter patter of raindrops against my floor to ceiling windows

the occasional shriek of children from the playground next door

the thump-thump-thump of footsteps from the neighbours living in the unit above me

occasional rev of vehicles on the main road behind my building

In my condo I hear the sounds of home.

I am a pineapple on pizza person, definitely not an olive on pizza patron.

I am a chortle-til-I-snort-laugh person.

I am NOT a gatekeeper barricading in joy.

I am a quiet seeking peace loving gal.

I am NOT a crowd-seeking-noise-making partier.

I am a tall truth teller, not a shrinking violet.

I am a lit-loving-librarian at heart

I am a collector of words

smithing

my

identity.

Drizzle drop drizzle

Plipitty plop plop plop

Splishity splash.

Monsters troll the bottom of the sea.

I skim the surface, seeking placid waters.

Waves undulate, varying intensity.

I shimmy and dance along like a Sufi master whirling through droplets of water.

Ocean spray sparkles, radiating light.

Thunderheads approach, ominous.

Wind howls like the beasts lurking below.

Monsters troll the bottom of the sea.

Condo parkade gate suddenly not working!

Wait with everyone else to leave.

Read book to pass the time.

Wonder, will I make the appointment?

Call dentist office – inform of predicament.

Technician arrives! Solves problem!!! Cars go.

Yes, I did manage make it to my dentist appointment. Thank goodness.

Tension, that I didn’t realize I was holding, suddenly disappeared in an instant.

My mood lifted.

My tiredness lightened.

Angst diminished.

All this occurred when I read the headlines from this afternoon’s news presser.

Education workers will be vaccinated in April.

It seems too good to be true – the long standing narrative has been schools are safe and teachers are overreacting: You’ll get your vaccine in August.

No mask mandate at the elementary level, no reductions in class size, second highest workplace claims in the province for catching COVID while at work . . . to say teachers have been feeling gaslit is an understatement.

I’ll take my jab with a smile.

Now I can truly enjoy Spring Break.

Slice of Life

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committed introspective teacher writers

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If I were a computer monitor, it would flash a message

Brain depleted. System rebooting.

What would yours say?

All encompassing

Depleted body is still

Brain numb – rebooting.

Lost in the pages

Escape the ordinary

Calming your spirit.