Slicing Ordinary

        I'm slicing with the Two Writing Teachers community today, and it's always good to read what everyone shares.  Thank you Stacey, Tara, Anna, Betsy, Dana, Kathleen, Beth, and Deb.

         I've been researching the definition of "ordinary", mostly because that's what my slices of life are much of the time, "ordinary". There seems to be pressure to be "out of the ordinary" or even "extraordinary", and I feel it. I don't mean here for SOL, but out in the world, in ads, on commercials, etc. What I found is that the word has its roots from the Latin root for rule. In that same site, here are synonyms given: common, usual, average, fair, mediocre, middling, characterless, nondescript, commonplace, cut and dried, mundane, routine, so-so, run of the mill, and on. So, how does the root word 'rule' move into the negative? If one follows an ordinary day, that means to me that the 'rule' of the day is that one chooses actions that are done often, perhaps every day, and completed (I'm trying not to use words that evaluate). Sometimes it's satisfying to be done, like when the bathrooms are clean. Sometimes it's lovely when a task is done that one is proud of, like finishing a piece of writing. And sometimes it's something that needs doing whether you like it or not, like paying bills and figuring out the money. 

        There are google images, lots, in response to "ordinary". They seem to combat it with words and images like "wonderfully ordinary" (a mother, father and child in between) and "escape the ordinary" (a goldfish flying out of a bowl of many other goldfish). Hm-m. My ordinary day suits me fine, from the beginning of washing my face, brushing teeth and turning on the coffee, to the errands, the writing, cleaning, reading-all good. Several days a week my granddaughters come to stay after school and I take them home after dinner. Sometimes I have evening plans, most times I don't, so watch a little television, write some more and read. That's it, my "ordinary" life. 

      When I taught full-time, I remember that we relished what we called "ordinary" or "regular" days, when we worked hard to learn and grow through those days and felt satisfied and proud at the end.

         It's okay to live an ordinary life, I'm grateful that I have a nice home, loving family and friends. It's the way my life "slices".  In reflection, I suppose I do have some extraordinarily good times, traveling, etc. Yet, the hours spent with my granddaughters really are ordinary. They play with toys, draw, paint. We read books, We cook and eat. We enjoy being together. I don't believe it's extraordinary. It's life.

one photo from searching for 'ordinary'

photo credit: crosseyed and painless (fence with nails and staple, new orleans, la) via photopin (license)