Friday, June 26, 2015

Celebrating Connections


              Celebrating Each Saturday with Ruth Ayres at Discover Play Build. It's a good time to read about everyone's celebrations! Come join us!                      Tweet at #CelebrateLu


              It's been two weeks since I celebrated all those endings at school, and now, these past two weeks of wonderful days make me want to write an entire book about the beauty of connected friends no matter how far apart (my time at the All-Write Conference), then about the blessings of family (my trip to visit my brother and sister-in-law in Missouri).  

“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects.” 
     ~ Herman Melville
        I love the idea of those tiny fibers, that woven or twisted together, they make a lifeline for living. As we spend time with friends and family, we talk and learn new ideas to contemplate, to keep and enlarge, to hold for another time. Yet, all of it enriches when attention is paid, and the return are the effects, as Melville writes, for all our lives.




Those colorful fibers I remember:  
            Driving for a lo-ong time with Ramona and not caring if we were lost because we were having such fun visiting.
            Finding so many of the group at Martin's Grocery, hugs and welcomes, and immediately starting to talk!
            Meeting new people I knew previously only through blogging: Michele Knott, Andrea Payan, Jennifer Sniadecki. Meeting new people whom I will look for through their blogs: Lori Carter, Rebecca Nguyen.
            Talking with Seymour Simon about how he chooses his book topics, seeing the numerous, wonderful books shared by Mary Helen and Tammy, hearing the marvelous talk by Christy about the first six days, although she only discovered that she would be presenting the day before, loving Ruth's speaking of fears and dreams, peeling off the layers to reveal them. Words filled the days with learning about good teaching,  and in between were the words among friends, loving and thoughtful support for my next steps in retirement. 
           Ice cream and rain, bento boxes and a big table of conversation, someone named chef Andy and a typewriter with flowers for words, talking with Stephanie, Hannah, Jay and Sam-learning a little, enjoying a lot.

          Home for one night-laundry and packing again-up in the dark, off with Sarah and the grand-girls, finding Carter after his flight delays, finally to my brother-in-law and his new wife's for dinner, then to my brother's home. Times didn't exactly work the way we imagined, but it was still a good day all together.

          The three days with family were filled again, driving to the little town where I lived with lots of family until I was about 12, visiting both the new and old cemeteries where so many of my family are buried, discovering that a little brother who died at birth was born on the same day as my grandson. I had a picture taken at the post office where I roller skated to get the mail. It is one of the few buildings that still looks exactly the same!
          Visiting Columbia, the University of Missouri, my college, hanging out at the student center, talking about old times there too, going to a crazy auction, and disappointed we didn't find any good deals this year. Just loving being with this family!
          To Boonville where my brother, sister-in-law and niece own an antique store, watching how much fun the girls and Carter have helping with the store. I saw an old friend who's bought and renovated an old home there right by the Missouri River. We visited the biggest Burr Oak in the nation, near the river, estimated to be between 350-400 years old. 
         A highlight! When we drove to the tree, there were many, long up and down hills which we raced along. The kids loved it, probably have never done that before. The squeals of laughter stay in my mind.
  
         And now, back home, filled to the brim with these two weeks. They were indeed days of celebration.

photo credit: Threads via photopin (license)

22 comments:

  1. "I love the idea of those tiny fibers, that woven or twisted together, they make a lifeline for living. As we spend time with friends and family, we talk and learn new ideas to contemplate, to keep and enlarge, to hold for another time."
    These words of yours inspired by the Melville quote really capture something BIG about our connections and how important they are. How fortunate I am to have shared with you in some of the AllWrite learning and joy. Our parting talk at Starbucks stays with me to contemplate. There is comfort in shared understanding. Your discovery and rediscovery time with your family must have been priceless!

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    1. It seems like a long time since we were together, Kim. I'm happy we had that talk too, & look forward to the continuing journey together. Thank you!

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  2. It sounds like a lot of living has been done in these two weeks!!! I love the fibers and connectedness!! It's SO TRUE!!!! It's great to hear you sound so happy and relaxed. YAY!!!! Happy Summer!

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    1. Thanks Michelle, lots of projects ahead, but I'm excited for the time to be doing them!

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  3. So many rich connections! Sounds like a perfect end to the school year! I love the Melville quote and the picture you chose to accompany it.

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    1. Thanks, Carol. Now time for summer things!

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  4. What a wonderful way to retell the celebrations of your past weeks. You are right...we are all threads woven together. Love that!

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    1. Thanks, Jennifer. It was so nice to see you and visit sometimes!

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  5. I feel the excitement and joy in your words. So many names to add to your list of connectedness.

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    1. Thanks, Margaret. I hope we'll get to meet someday!

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  6. A whirlwind of family and memory visiting and memory making! Love this!

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    1. Thanks Carrie, yes, it was! Many days to celebrate!

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  7. What a lovely post, Linda! I did so enjoy meeting you and the rest of the "fan club" at All Write. I wish we had had the opportunity to chat more as I have discovered so many things I'd love to talk more about with you through your Facebook and blog posts. My youngest will be attending Mizzou this fall and is so very excited. I also want to pick your brain some more about gifted education, but today I will celebrate new friends, family, and the weaving together of all those marvelous threads of our lives.

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    1. Wow, what a small world it is. We love Fayette, too. I had friends who went there, & many years ago my mother went to Central Methodist College too. I hoe you all love Mizzou-such a gorgeous campus! Perhaps we can talk via e-mail?

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  8. Oh, and my oldest daughter would often visit Booneville when she went to Central Methodist in Fayette. She sent me a pic of that tree once marveling at its size.

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  9. ",,,a lifeline for living..." Mmm...

    Enjoyed reading your celebrations!

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  10. So glad we had that ride together! When Tim drove me back to Warsaw, I realized it is definitely a circuitous route, although we made the trip more quickly than you and I did.
    Happy for time to chat and learn together. Good luck with the weeding of school stuff! I'll think of you as I continue my work on the boxes at my house.

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    1. Oops, I meant to say South Bend, not Warsaw.

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    2. I started that weeding out today, but oh my it goes slowly! I do have time, I know, but wish I could wave a wand to have to done also. Thanks for a great time together, Ramona. I am grateful for our time together. Glad you have had such fun since then, too.

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  11. Your weeks and words wer filled with energy, love and joy. I like the idea of a book about the beauty of connected friends.

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    1. Thank you, Terje. It certainly was a wonderful two weeks.

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