Another Name Game

I've chosen to write about my real name because of  Elsie 's posting.  She creates one of my favorite blogs.

I began as Tamara,
Named after a Russian ballerina.
Lovely beginning.

No middle name was assigned
Because Mom couldn't think of one?

One can pronounce my name the Russian way
As Baba, my Russian grandmother did--
"Tamarachka," (second "a" silent and rolling the "r").
Such an endearment.

Horrors to me when my 7th grade
Latin/French teacher called me Tamara (roll the "r"),
Sounding like Tamata.
I then became known as Tomato.

My last name was mispronounced,
And then I was named "Maniac."
What beautiful school nicknames!

By now, when my name came up on the roster,
People would stop and hesitate.
I wanted to raise my hand and stand up and say,
"That would be me!"

I preferred my name just pronounced "Tamra."

After high school, my cousin Sharon said,
"Get rid of it all and call yourself Tammy!"
Done.

People still stumble and hardly know
My real name now.
Then I explain why my real name
Has been left behind.

Now being older and wiser, I like my real name.
It's still different than most names.
But if you're a close family member or friend,
It ends up as Tam.

That is me!

Blame It On The Sun!

I woke up this morning and saw the sun, and especially in my sunshine place. 

I had a hair appointment for a trim.  I was excited.  I would angle my sides a bit more!  Wow, some of us really live dangerously!!

The sun said, "Spring is on its way!" 

I checked the internet weather report--going into the 40's next week!  How exciting is that after this winter?

My hairdresser talked to me more about low lights to cover the grey.  I've been thinking seriously about it for 6 months.  Drab is starting to show.  I don't want to look like a skunk but want to enrich the tones I do have.  She said to call as soon as I wanted to, and we needed 1 1/2 hours to do the job since I already had a haircut.  I wasn't expecting to get in by tomorrow!  So be it! 

I had weathered the winter and held down the fort again for all those neighbors who had gone South.  (By the way, it is cloudy again down there for the 2nd day!)  I was ready for a change just like they had gotten, but my was cheaper and hopefully, would last longer than 1-3 months!  Oh, the games people play with themselves!

No, I am not taking a photo before and after, but I will tell you how I feel about it tomorrow if that is what hits me to write about! 

I imagine my kids and grandkids reading this.  That's who my audience really is as I write this year.  I want to print out my blog.  I will never publish a book, but I will publish my blog!




 

Tea for Two or Three?

Cleaning and organizing definitely has its benefits even though we put these tasks aside constantly and would rather do other things.  Afterwards though, one feels uplifted and contemplative. 

After four years of retirement, I was able to rid myself of a whole file crate of my favorite lesson plans this winter.  Only 4 folders remain--my very favorites. 

I have taken books to the library for their book sales.  I am giving books to other teachers I know which should be used in a classroom, leaving more books at my grandkids' homes, and am asking myself the question, "Will I ever read these?"

I am also getting rid of "stuff."  Stuff I haven't used for years.  Will my kids like it or their kids?  Probably not--donate it! 

Some things one just can't get rid of--memories, winners, and legacies.

I'm a Downton Abbey fan these last two seasons.  I like tea and have gotten my husband drinking it at night with me.  I've developed a liking for Chamomile.  I even grew some this past summer in my herb garden!  I like lavender now, too, which I'm growing, also.  (Sounds like old age to me!!!!)

I've been looking at teapots.  I have a collection of fancy tea cups and saucers from my mom which I sometimes take out during Book Club.  But wouldn't it be super to have a nice teapot? 

Surprise, surprise while I'm cleaning and sorting, there in a bottom cupboard is my Auntie Mary's lovely old teapot.  It has a chipped spout and the gold paint on the handle is partly worn.  It's funny how some things just make it through the journeys of change. 

I remember this teapot.  I know my Auntie Mary liked coffee a lot, but she always had this teapot in her kitchen.  I'm not even sure right now where she kept it.  But it was there.  I suppose she drank tea.  It could possibly be a ceramic piece that my Auntie Helen, Mary's sister, painted in her ceramics era.  She loved using the gold paint. There is a scribbling on the bottom in gold.  Can't make out what it says.  So, to me, it's a teapot Auntie Helen painted and my Auntie Mary adored.  I some how have it now.  Can't remember when/how that came to be.  One night in bed or in the shower, it will come to me! 

Longer story becoming shorter now, I don't have to buy a teapot.  If I really want to use it, I will.  I am not really the tea party type.  I do love dishes of all kinds though.

I have moved the teapot to one of my bookshelves.  It will stay there for now, and I will add it to my "List of Personal Property To Be Distributed to Certain Persons:" that is to be enclosed with my will.  I have two granddaughters--mmmmmm.  Lillian Grace has always loved tea parties.  Will Evelyn Mae? 

Maybe I'll have to buy another one after all!!! 

Beginnings

I see March as the month of beginnings.  Not January.  It's a month of cold followed by another cold month. 

March has so many possibilities.  It can come in as a lion or a lamb.  Which will it be?  This year--lion.  So be it.

This is transition month.  Whatever transition it takes, I am ready.  Things are changing because the sun says so.  We hope for the best, but much of the time, it is not the best.  But the best is yet to come.

Come on, March!

My Sunshine Place

I don't know if my body craves more sunlight or what.  I do take extra doses of D3 recommended by my doctor since my vitamin D levels can bottom out without the extra dosages.  This was the first winter after 3 1/2 years of retirement that I discovered my new place--my winter sunshine place.

This winter has broken records with snow and cold.  Could this be another reason I've been drawn to this place?

I never realized it before but the early morning sun makes its way into my kitchen through the patio doors very brightly in the winter.  If you sit in my husband's kitchen chair, that is where the sunshine really hits you. 

I sit there on quiet mornings with my cell phone, or a Kindle, a book, or sometimes my writers notebook.  In warmer months, I'm in the same place somewhat with the same items only outside in a wrought iron chair on our porch. 

As I look out the patio door, I can see the pines on the east side boundary of our property with snow still covering everything since January.  Animal tracks are everywhere, and you can just imagine  the greenery and flowers that will eventually fill this space. 

I clean the porch off after each snow.  It's my way of controlling the cabin fever that will overcome me if I can't see the bare porch.  This year we ran out of space to put the snow from the porch and deck steps going down to the street.  I was almost fanatical this year about keeping up with snow and ice.  I always thought, "I will win."

I guess I oversee my sunny porch as I sit in my sunshine place.

Where is your sunshine place?

My Personal Challenge

I have committed to posting every day this month but not posting for comments.  I just want to write for me, my family, and people who just happen onto my blog.  Some people have commented why I haven't been writing much.  I did not know.  I did not know there were people actually waiting for a new post! 

It's March and Ruth has taught me to write every day, although I don't, but having written for 3 years on TWT I felt this is already ingrained within me.  I will write every day, Ruth!  Thanks to you.

March is a wonderful month.  It's the beginning of spring even though it doesn't look/feel like it.  New things will begin to pop up whether the weather cooperates or not.  The pussy willows will break out and so will crocus.  Someone told me their crocus along the house has already popped!  Snow will melt soon after it falls.  Life goes on and so does spring.

I first felt like I can let this challenge go, but is that really what I want to do?  I think I'm becoming a real writer of words, memories, legacies.  I must write even though I go in spurts.  I have found that I'm pretty scattered but I am finding voice and my real self.  I am in the trimester of my life, and I must be who I am.  I do love to write.  I do love to read more and more.  It's the part of me that keeps me above water, and I can fall back on if needed.

Hello, March and all its madness!

Celebrating and Savoring

So much to celebrate over the last week. 

We finally celebrated Lucas' January 9th birthday,
Participated in Indy with our 7 year old Daisy, Lilly, selling Girl Scout Cookies,
Babysat a sweet almost one year old Evelyn Mae for 24 hours successfully,
Breathed in another clean bill of health for our 5 year old grandson James,
Experienced another Taekwondo competition for our now assertive 7 year old Noah, and
Enjoyed 2 nights in Ft. Wayne with my oldest son Eric and his dogs Shadow and Sienna.

And, of course, there was a lot to savor in between. 

Now to savor more snow dumped last night, but it will melt by the end of the week and thereafter if it should snow more. 

Savor the light at the end of the tunnel!