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Tuesday, January 3, 2012

My One Little Word - Finally!

        Tuesday Slice of Life is always fun at Two Writing Teachers with Stacey and Ruth


I’ve been fussing about with choosing my One Little Word and doing the class with Ali Edwards this year.  I started with a word last year and lasted until March without sharing with anyone, and although it was a good start, I really lost the momentum and just stopped.  
This year I have signed up for the class, but haven’t started anything because I have had several words running through my brain, unfortunately never stopping.  Until today.  I have been writing about my memoir class today and making plans for books I will use and lessons I will do because the class I am teaching begins next week.  And in the other part of my brain, I’m thinking about my Christmas week last week, and how empty the house seems with all the decorations put away except for the kitchen tree which I keep up until the twelfth day of Christmas.  And it is especially empty because my son, daughter-in-law and grandson Carter left yesterday for home, in Texas.  We haven’t seen Carter and Barb since July, and Nathan since September and we spent a little time just falling into our usual rhythm together.  They arrived Christmas Eve Day and soon we were back to the old visiting, discussing, elaborating, eating long meals together, and just having a good and comfortable time. 
       
   Thus I come to the word, “comfort”.  Being apart has taken some of our comfort together away.  Even with a long visit by phone, and most especially with a ten year old (by phone or e-mail), it’s hard to be comfortable.  I continue to struggle with the challenge.  I send a postcard each week that has been a good connection so far, but still, it isn't the same as being a few minutes away.  So, it was a wonderful week.  I got to make peanut butter toast for my grandson, and cuddle with him on his favorite couch, comfort!   We bought this small over-sized chair couch a few years ago and everyone seems to gravitate to it, especially Carter.  It was the first thing he did when arriving, jump to the couch and cuddle up with the fleece throw comforter.  
          Today, pondering the mornings when I was first up, and Carter arrived next, leaped to the couch and said “Good morning, Grandma”, I thought of comfort and all the other places of comfort, sometimes couches that I have enjoyed in my life.  My mother-in-law always lived in the house where my husband was born, a big old two story, and in her kitchen she had a couch, whose seats were much fought over at family gatherings. The kitchen was a great place to be at her house.  Comfort.  I also remember napping on her so-soft living room sofa in the late afternoons while she made cookies with the grandchildren, my children, and let their mother sleep.  Comfort.  There are other stories, but I will stop with the fact that each classroom in our school has one or more sofas, so sought after during quiet work times or SSR time.  Comfort. 
         So, with a little more research, I think I’ve found my word, and I think it might be the best gift I received for Christmas this year.  Comfort.

29 comments:

  1. Love the word comfort . . . conjures up SO many nice, JOYful thoughts and feelings. I found a mitten ornament after Christmas on sale and on one mitten it said comfort, on the other mitten it said joy . . . two of my faves!

    Thanks for sharing; happy 2012!

    Barbara
    The Corner On Character

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  2. That is a word I considered too so all your notes about your choice resounded with me. I enjoyed the project of OLW last year and am looking forward to this year although I'm tweaking it a bit to include more writing.

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  3. This morning I set out to write about my one word, too, and I feel a little like I'm cheating on a big exam or something by reading your post! I haven't chosen mine yet. I have 12 that I like. I was hoping that writing would make one stand out.
    Your post hit home, Linda. This holiday was spent with my children, who live away from home (and not just 5 minutes away) and my parents (who do live 5 minutes away). I know exactly what you mean about the tension between distance and comfort. Email, telephone, even skype are just not the same as being there in the same room, sitting on that oversized chair/couch together.
    Comfort - a perfect word for this year.

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  4. I think the word crept in and found you. Comfort has such a nice sound and it brings to my mind comfort food. How satisfying is that? I'm looking forward to more comfort stories from you.

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  5. Great word! The way you chose to share it was comforting too--and fitting for me, as I'm curled up on the sofa with my fleece blanket, all cozy and definitely comfortable!

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  6. Comfort...yes! Thanks for the photo BTW LInda. I love that and i do understand the loss, the emptiness when the decorations come down and the family leaves.
    I love lighting Chanukah candles and on the last night it's sad, hard to put it away,
    So what do you do now with your word?
    Bonnie

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  7. I thought of comfort and all the other places of comfort, sometimes couches that I have enjoyed in my life.

    This line so anchored your writing piece for me - and isn't it great to finally settle on a ONW?! I, too , am taking Ali's class and look forward to the experience.

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  8. COMFORT. What a great word. I enjoyed reading the trails of your thinking when selecting a word. It takes time, doesn't it, to come up with a little word. It's worth it though. I'll be sharing my 7th OLW tomorrow. :)
    Happy 2012,
    Ruth

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  9. Lovely...I am experiencing the same feeling of loss after the weekend spent with our sons and their families.

    You would enjoy the reading/writing center I am "constructing" in the alcove outside my classroom. It has a comfy rocker that the kids all gravitate to. I'm on the lookout for more!

    Enjoy your new class--love the word--and love the new design of your blog.

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  10. A perfect word! I loved your visible thought revisions (strikethroughs) as you let your one little word nestle itself into your vocabulary. Love the new look of your blog! Here's to a year of bringing comfort into your life and the lives around you!

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  11. Oh, I love the visuals of comfy couches and the settling in comfort...great word...and isn't Ali so great? Have a wonderful, comfortable year.

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  12. I love your word and the comfort you conjured from the pictures you painted with your words about grandkids and grandma's. There is nothing more comforting.
    Tammy

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  13. Love your word and the story about visiting with your grandson. Do you and your grandson Skype? I had a student last year who had a Sunday chess date on Skype each week with his grandpa. I thought that was a cool way to stay in touch.

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  14. I like your word Comfort. It is a very positive word. I think throws, couches, kitchens are all comfort things. I also know what it's like not to have grandkids close enough to comfort or celebrate life's little moments. I, too, send pictures, books, cards with notes through the mail--not enough! I know you will find comfort through your word this year because you searched for it for a long time, too. Comfort and good writing to you, Linda.

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  15. I like your word Linda! I especially like that it can be a verb too. I'm still looking for a good noun that can be verbed to use as this year's word.

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  16. I love your word! Comfort! Makes me think of comfy couches and soft blankets and good books and rich coffee. And what special memories you are making with your grandson. I'll bet he saves every postcard.

    Like you, i thought it was hard to choose a word, and am thinking it will be still harder to hang on to it through the year!

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  17. I love your new look to your blog! Very clean. And, this "word" for the year is great too. I saw it on some other posts-I love it! I might look into picking a word-it makes me stop and think. Thanks for making me think.

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  18. I love the word you selected, but most of all I loved reading about why. I'm trying one little word this year and having my students try one too. Can't wait to see what they come up with. Happy New Year!

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  19. It is a word that is right for you. It is not just about a place but about the feeling. Your thoughtful and warm comments make me think of this word.
    I loved reading about how you came up with your word.

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  20. Happy New Year, Linda! Great word choice-- I like it a lot. (I'm sorry I don't comment more; the font gives me a little trouble.)

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  21. I like this word too. Are you taking the class with Ali?

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  22. That's a lovely word! Evocative of such nice things! Nice to "meet" you Linda. I've just found your blog from the Mother Reader Comment Challenge. I write and blog on children's books (mostly picture books). Please come visit if you'd like to :)

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  23. My word is WOW, The comment challenge introduces me to yet another brilliant blogger.

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  24. My grandparents always lived so far away so it was a treat to see them. I've seen my nieces and nephews with my parents (especially with my mom, because my sister works for the airlines and has flight benefits so my mom has been able to visit the ones that live far away pretty often) and that is so true. There is a special kind of comfort you find together, isn't there?

    I think mine would be "intention." But I will have to think on that. ;]

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  25. A very unique word! I like how you explained what comfort means to you and how it guides you to connect with your family more. Thanks for sharing your word with us nice and early this year! :-)

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  26. Best wishes for lots of comfort in 2012!

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  27. I like your word. I would never of thought to use that word. Good luck creating and receiving lots of comfort.

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  28. From now on, when I hear/read the word 'comfort' - my thoughts shall go to you. :)

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