Sunday Scribblings: "I Come From"

I come from a childhood entwined in Easter baskets, birthday parties, Dr. Suess, visits to grandmothers' houses, snowy winters, short springs, hide and seek, Leave It To Beaver, fruitcake at Christmas, burning leaves in October, Thanksgiving potlucks, slumber parties, Sunday School, orange Crush,books from the library, the city pool,and Friday night popcorn.

I come from teen years full of spring concerts, "Everybody's Girl", school newspaper, Sadie Hawkins dances, The S& R, Thursday night GAA, Wheat Thins, Pepsi, marching in the Torchlight parade, French, To Kill a Mockingbird, typing class, long phone conversations, stolen kisses, going up the river and out to the lake, and running track.

I come from college years brimming over with laughs, friends, Mort's Club, Taco Time, on the run, the landing, The Perch, the I Tower, Hello Walk, kiddie lit, afro hairdos, Benny and the Jets, student teaching at Ramsey, house president, sunbathing on the deck, working at "the cage", Boville Run, wind,and the arboretum.

I come from early adulthood packed with making bulletin boards, my first car,serious relationships, dancing on week-ends, a wedding, moving away, book groups, going back to school, happy hours, learning piano, teacher friends, "Bowling Babes", writing workshop, changing grade levels, first lattes, dinner gatherings, first dogs, lots of books, fresh pressed cider, recipe collecting, cabin in Idaho, wine tours, hot summers, family gatherings, illness,bird dogs, never slowing down, black holes,The Book Worm, broken marriage, growing flowers, alone, Oregon coast, therapy, moving, good-bye.

I come from a change in life that includes a small school, moving, Friday afternoon football,Lake Roosevelt, finding my place, the guy across the road, dogs and cats, The Hitching Post, coming out of the darkness, writing retreats, four seasons, depression, teaching and learning, therapy, Aunties Bookstore, gardening, July in Moscow, the ferry, family gatherings, pow wows, a camera, road trips, the reservation, camping, new friends and family, Starbucks, finding state parks,nesting, slowing down, blogging, memoirs, Garden Valley Church, being a true fan, red shoes, siblings,online book groups, Camp Aunt Christy, trips to town, love, contentment,peace and quiet.

To read other Sunday Scribblings on " I Come From" go here.

Gonzaga's Goodson Grabs the Spotlight: On to The Sweet Sixteen!

Freshman Demetri Goodson scored a layup with 0.9 seconds left to lift the Zags to a 83-81 victory over Western Kentucky. I love the photo moment above with senior guard Jeremy Pargo embracing freshman Goodson. Goodson's face says it all.... excuse me a moment... I just heard Coach Few say in the uncut interview that the only name the team knows him by is "Meach". The Bulldogs advance to the Sweet Sixteen and take on North Carolina in Memphis on Friday. After this nail biter I have given up on having nails until the tournament is over. Annie also sequestered herself to her dog carrier until I calmed down this evening. I better go let her know who won!

Above "Meach" is in a victory huddle with Austin Daye, Matt Bouldin, and others. He said after the game that the last time he tried the game winning shot was in fifth grade. He made that one also!

Photo Hunt: Yellow

a collection of yellow images from the photo album

To view other photo hunts using yellow go here.

Vernal Equinox

Today is finally the first day of spring. I think this year spring may become my new favorite season. We have waited so long for this season to arrive. We have observed white, dirty, icy, and lingering snow. We have watched icicles grow longer, broader, and eventually slip off the gutters. Now I can see the sandy shoreline of the lake below our house.

Now the boxwood are actually looking greener.

The pond would not hold up the dogs now. There is evidence of water on the sides.

Now I have spotted tulips emerging from the ground.

The snow in summer is showing new growth on the rock wall by the pond.

Happy First Day of Spring...
it can only improve from here!

Jitters, Josh, and Jubilation

As the Gonzaga Bulldogs were finished up the first half tonight in their NCAA tournament game against Akron I had the jitters. The game was close. Things were not running quite as smoothly as this Zags fan had wished for. Beads of sweat popped out of the forehead, deep breathing was taking over, and exhaustion was setting in. That was just what was happening to me watching the game! I had to regroup over half time so I could survive watching the second half. Suddenly everything began to fall together.

Josh Heytvelt scored 22 points, seven of those in a late run in the second half. Josh and the rest of the Bulldogs helped my blood pressure immensely by rallying to beat Akron 77-64 . Heytvelt also had eight rebounds. He stood out in my mind tonight as a player with a mission, but he was surrounded by a whole team that had a mission. They wanted to play another game is this tournament.

As the last second ticked away I was filled with jubilation. The Zags were victorious plus I got to recuperate from an intense couple of hours. I even pounded my chest like Micah Downs when he made a big shot in the second half. No wonder I was having trouble breathing when the final buzzer went off.

It's March Madness and the Zags Are Dancing!

When your favorite Inland Empire team is playing its opening game in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament tomorrow, it creates some big time March Madness where I live. I knew the Gonzaga Bulldogs had a place in the brackets. Fans just had to wait it out to see who, when, and where they would play. The team only had to travel to Portland for the first game. Relief. The game is after school tomorrow. Double relief.

Since Selection Sunday break time at school has been spent studying bracketology with my students. Heated debates have been held about the #1 seeds. It is tough on loyal middle school Zags fans when they have to pit local favorites with players they love to watch from other teams all over the country and predict winners. Last year they even studied the stats of teams in math class down the hall to help them determine the final winners.

Schedules around our parts had to adjusted so Bulldog fans could find themselves in front of the television set tomorrow at 4:30 when the Zags take on the Zips. I will be clapping for Micah, Matt, Austin, Jeremy and Josh. I will be waiting for Demetri, Ira, Steven, Will, and Andrew to enter the game. My loud cheering will send my dog Annie to her carrier and I will catch my breath during commercials. It is all part of March Madness in the Inland Empire. I just hope the Zags keep dancing.