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Monday, November 5, 2012

Mary Oliver Keeps Me Living

                Slices of Life happen often.  To find out about these slices, you only need to visit Ruth and Stacey at their blog Two Writing Teachers to read what others have shared.  

              So, I hope you do not think it blasphemy that I change a few words from A Summer Day by Mary Oliver and ask "Tell me, what is it you planned to do with your one wild and precious hour, last Sunday?"  

Did you

           See the day yawning before you, and 

Snuggle under the covers a bit longer, or arise earlier and watch the beautiful sunrise?

Take the time to call a friend you haven't talked with for a long while?

Read an extra book or two with your children?


Send a card to someone who can use a big hug?

Cook some special soup or dessert or bread that you've been wishing you had time to try?

Write an assignment for this week?

Read your own book for the entire hour?

Take a nap?

Get ready to vote?

Finish a list and check it twice?

Write or draw?



Play with someone?

           In this coming busy time of the year, I wish you more than one wild and precious hour.


32 comments:

  1. So many options for that one wild and precious hour. I love the list of questions. Hmmm. . . how did I spend that hour?

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    1. I had so many of my friends talk about their 'extra' time, I had to ask everyone here too! Thanks, Elsie.

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  2. This list is going in my writer's notebook and on my bulletin board too! I always get a nap in on Sunday afternoon. It's a delicious luxury and longed for respite each week. Now I have new inspiration for Monday, our first day off since Labor Day!

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    1. Wow, it seems that you do need a day, not just an hour, Ramona. Happy Monday!

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  3. Yay for PLAY! I need more of that in my life. And I think Mary Oliver would approve wholeheartedly of your adaptation. A poem is only ever what the reader brings to it... thank you, Linda!

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    1. You are welcome, Irene. As I said above, other friends talked about this 'hour' last Friday as if it were such a gift! And I did enjoy it!

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  4. Mary Oliver would approve! Counting the hour as precious is what it's all about, right?! And I love the Fall poem and sketch in your notebook...you know how to make the hour count, Linda.

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    1. Thanks Tara. I just immediately thought of that line after the Fri. conversation.

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  5. That was precious that extra hour...I'm not exactly sure what I did with it but precious non the less ;-)

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    1. They just zip by, don't they? I'm glad you loved it!

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  6. Mary Oliver. Oh Mary Oliver. Sigh and sigh again. I thought now that the semester is over, I could find time to breathe. But no. Time never does stand still, even for a moment. I just took on another load as Coordinator of a Core Course in our Master's programme and that's bound to take up much time and effort in addition to my other coordination (and supervision and teaching) duties. While I do feel on occasion that I am being pulled in multiple directions, I take comfort in poetry. And yes Mary Oliver. I should get myself a collection of her works - can you believe I don't own one yet??? How is that even humanely possible????

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    1. I think it's time to slow down just a little, Myra. I'm glad you run with your daughter-some precious time there!

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  7. Good question, Linda! I think I went to a soccer game with my hour. Freezing cold, but entertaining and fun. Or maybe I spent that hour watching children sing. I got tears and goosebumps, both.

    Thanks for being such a wonderful friend.

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    1. Special times, Tabatha. I'm happy to hear about them. Thank you for sharing with me (us).

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  8. Hmm... I think I gave myself a bit of extra chill time, then read a bit. But we also had to clean up the house for our cub scout leader meeting!

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    1. Glad to hear you got to chill, even for a little bit, Maria. Thanks!

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  9. What a wonderful list of possibilities to contemplate. What did I do with that "extra" hour? Since my internal body clock told me to wake up at the usual time (which ended up to be 4:00 a.m.), I laid in bed thinking and praying and then on to my usual Sunday routine. I took the "extra" hour later in the day and listened to an audio book and worked on Christmas cards.

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    1. Yes, I woke up extra early too, sad to say, even with my ability to 'sleep in'. But I did take more time to read, a lovely set of minutes. Thanks Judy. Oh my, Christmas cards already. I am behind!

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  10. a beautiful list, Linda! I love how you considered so many possibilities for the extra hour! I was good -- I pushed aside my schoolwork and spent some extra quality time with my husband!

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    1. Such a perfect answer, Jennifer. I'm glad you did.

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  11. I've heard that quote before, but never knew who to attribute it to.

    What did I do with my extra hour? Read the Sunday NY Times in bed. It was heavenly!

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    1. Sounds so luxurious to me, Stacey. Good for you! And yes, the lines are from the ending to that poem from Mary Oliver.

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  12. This is lovely! What did I do with the extra hour? It was by no means "wild and precious" - that really raises the bar on how one should spend one's time. Thank you for this inspirational post!

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    1. Thanks Maureen. So many as I said talked on Friday about this 'extra' hour, so I thought it was something to ponder, and I know the Oliver poem, connected them. I imagine you did do some special thing, perhaps not even realizing it.

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  13. It took me a minute to remember, but I had coffee with my sister and we relished the time together. She is a sixth grade writing teacher so you can imagine our conversation! I am such a fan of Mary Oliver and you too of course. She would love this piece!

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    1. Oh, I do love Mary Oliver too! Between her and William Stafford, my life often is complete. Nice that you got to be with your sister. Yes, I can imagine your conversation... Thanks, Betsy.

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  14. ;) I used my extra hour to catch up over breakfast with my parents who I haven't visited with in far too long. Loved your list.

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    1. Hurrah, Dana. It did seem like such a nice, long day, didn't it? Thank you!

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  15. Loved this slice. The questions were wonderful, draws me in. I spent extra time the night before with my youngest son. Nothing fantastic, just time together, which is the best!

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    1. Yes, indeed, time with your son is the priority, Mary Helen. Glad to hear.

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  16. I came here earlier and couldn't answer your question. Then I realized that for me the hour was stretched during a day to make each activity last longer: sleeping bit longer, reading a bit longer, playing a bit longer, eating a bit longer, walking a bit longer, getting ready for a next day a bit longer. The hour helped to slow down the day. A gift indeed.

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    1. Lovely way to answer, Terje. The day did seem longer to me, perhaps because I rose so early, too. But I enjoyed every minute! Thank you.

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