Today as I scurried about to get ready for my day, I found myself preoccupied with health concerns. Not mine--those of my father-in-law, of a friend, and of my country. In my hurry, I grabbed this scarf, given to me by my in-laws this Christmas, and chose a pair of earrings whose colors tied it to the sweater I'd already donned.
Today, doctors implanted a pacemaker in my father-in-law's chest. Today, our friend Rob remained in ICU after surgery to repair his torn aorta. And today, Americans discussed how to avoid senseless shootings like those in Tucson on Saturday: Improve mental healthcare? Improve gun/ammo control? Rethink the value of civil discourse? Try harder to respect those who espouse opinions with which we disagree? 
Today, my heart ached with sadness for the nine year old girl, shot on Saturday and buried today.
These lovely earrings took on a new meaning today.

This morning I went downstairs, started a fire in the woodstove, poured my coffee, and sat down to enjoy my two hour delay, still smiling about yesterday's Hoping for Snow earrings. I glanced out the window, and there on the railing, on the birdfeeder, and on the snowy deck, perched six puffed-up cardinals enjoying their breakfast of sunflower seeds. I noticed the three males first, their red feathers so striking against the snow. And then I saw the females, whose colors blended in with the redwood stain on the deck.

I guess that today the birds chose my earrings: pewter cardinals, given to me one Valentine's Day by my husband John. Perfect to wear with another of my favorite winter sweaters on this chilly morning as I waited for the fire to warm me in my chair.

Whenever snow is forecast, we teachers feel the same excitement as our students. Snow day? Could it be? Today's forecast was a tricky one: maybe yes, maybe no. Another big storm for the south and east, not much headed our way. So as I gazed at my collection this morning, it took me a while to choose. I have a couple of pair of tried-and-true snow earrings. But with predictions of 1 to 3 inches, I opted for a pair that somehow seemed to me to wish for snow.

I almost didn't purchase these amazing recycled 16-pointed folded paper orbs at my favorite summer craft spot, Cook Forest PA's Sawmill Center for the Arts. I thought that they looked too big, and I worried that I would never wear them. Much as I admired the tiny origami, I didn't want to buy a pair that I would never wear. But when my daughter pointed out that they only cost $1, I decided to risk the purchase. They have been lying in a drawer for a few years, unworn. But today I think more people commented on my earrings than on any day in recent memory: students, colleagues, people I passed in the halls at school. My response, "I'm hoping they will help bring on the snow."

Hardly a flake fell all day. But just a few moments ago, my husband John announced, "The snow is really coming down!"  I only took them off long enough to take this photo. I'm still hoping.

Global Teaching

On my left ear, I wore the Americas and on my right ear Europe, Africa and Asia. Most maps show the world differently, in accordance with that notion that our hemisphere is to the west of the other. But of course it all depends on where you split the globe to lay it flat on paper.

We're beginning our 3rd grade Family History Project in which each of my students tries to learn about their ancestry. I ask, "Who brought your name to America?" and "Who was your earliest immigrant ancestor?" What fun it is to point out that even those of us with Cherokee or Lakota or Tlingit ancestors are the descendants of immigrants, since "Native Americans" emigrated from Asia! And we all could trace our ancestry to Africa, if only families kept better records...

Most years, I wear this pair of earrings several times. But this year, only once. The stress of matching each pair of earrings with the right day is mounting!

Birds for an Empty Nest

My nest has emptied again; with Phoebe’s departure for her second semester of college, the bustle of winter break comes to an end. After she drove away, I realized that I had yet to choose today’s earrings—how better to distract myself from the sudden silence. I wandered upstairs, thinking of fledglings leaving the nest. From among my many pairs of birds, I selected one that has lain unworn in a drawer for several years. Although they are now a drab gray, I chose to buy these carved soapstone birds because they were a brilliant blue, perfect for the two-week nature study unit on Eastern Bluebirds that I used to teach every spring. They look nothing like they did 12 years ago. But then neither do my offspring, who have once again taken flight; and neither, for that matter, do I. All of those other birds, I’ll save for days when I venture away from this empty nest. These little gray birds need some space to fly once more.

One Week Old Today

2011 is one week old! On Day 8, I wore a pair of earrings that I'd never worn before, one that my daughter Kathe bought at the Home Body shop in Blacksburg, VA, to give me for Christmas. The owner travels the world, buying Fair Trade goods to support local craftspeople.

I wore this pair tonight to a Twelfth (well, 14th, but who's counting...) Night celebration led by my husband's church choir. In honor of Epiphany, the choir throws a party for the church with food, fellowship, and song, and their friends brave the wintry wind to gather together with them. I have no earrings of gold, frankincense, or myrrh (although someone recently gave my daughter Phoebe a box containing all three; maybe, by next Twelfth Night...) so I opted for a regal-bling sort of look. Many strands of royal-purple beads.


All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king.                        -J.R.R. Tolkien

This morning, I focused on my coin earrings. I have pennies and nickels; I have coins from the Virgin Islands.  Those will have to wait for another day: today I chose a pair given to me by one of my first 3rd grade students.

Isabelle went to Guatemala on vacation. She missed school. And when she returned she strode up to me, practically dancing with anticipation, and handed me a gift. When I opened the tiny box, I gasped. "How lovely!"

"They are Guatemalan coins," she announced with pride. "You taught me how to make change."

"And look at the green beads, your favorite color!" I replied. "Coins with green beads! I will always remember that you gave me these earrings."

Why did I want coins today? Today my class and I calculated how to allocate the $2,845 that we raised for the non-profit organization Room to Read. Should we pay $125 to commission a children's book in a local language in Laos or Zambia? $1000 to send a girl to secondary school? $500 to train a library teacher? How many of each choice? We sold our own handicrafts items at a holiday craft bazaar in December. Fleece hats, clay ornaments, festive headbands, baked goods. We earned $2,845. Through our own labor, my 3rd graders and I are sending money to promote literacy in developing countries. Coins, like the Trick-or-Treat for Unicef of my childhood.

The next time I see Isabelle, who must be almost 15 by now, I hope I'll remember to tell her how much those earrings mean to me.