Sibling Assignment #119; Tied to Richland, WA

SIlver Valley Girl gave the sibling assignment this week. "Think about one of the places you were living in the 1980’s and write about how you are still tied to that particular place. " In the summer of 1980 I moved to the Tri-Cities in southeastern Washington state. I was a newlywed and my (ex) husband had been hired to work at the Hanford area. I was hoping to get a teaching job. The first place we lived was at Tapteal Apartments in Richland. The apartments sat right at the end of Columbia Park with a view of Bateman Island and the Columbia River. When I found a picture to post here I felt frozen in time. The picture showed the window of the apartment I lived in.

Right next to Tapteal Apartments was a popular restaurant/bar called R. F. McDougalls with a deck that was full most evenings with patrons enjoying the view and meeting with friends.

Fast forward to about ten years ago. I was having my hair styled in a local salon in Colville. One hair stylist looked very familiar. Later I ended up having an appointment with her. I learned that she grew up in the Tri-Cites, but I had recognized her because she had also worked at my favorite salon in Kennewick. Bonnie has done my hair ever since. Every time we are together we share old Tri-Cities stories and  still continue to find connections between people I knew, people she knew and places we liked to go. It really cracks me up.

Last time I was there we were trying to remember the name of R.F. McDougalls. Both of us remembered it, but couldn't remember the name. After it came to her she told me her mom lived at Tapteal Apartments most recently. Boy... did that take me back.  I didn't even know if Tapteal Apartments were still there. She couldn't believe I had lived there and  once again we had a connection. She told me when her mom was preparing a fancy dish and was missing an ingredient, she would just head over to the kitchen at McDougalls. She ended up being friends with everyone in the kitchen and hung out there sometimes. Who knew?

a view of the Columbia by Bateman Island close to my first home in the Tri-Cities

It is "hair day with Bonnie" on Thursday. I always look forward to our tie to the Tri-Cities and sharing stories. My former hair guy comes up and hunts at her cabin north of where I live. I still laugh thinking about running into Richard at the Chevron station in Kettle. He would say, "Bonnie must do your hair. I taught her everything she knows."

Bonnie  grew up in Pasco so knows that area better. I remember more about Kennewick since that is where I lived most of the time I was there. It gives us just enough information to be dangerous.

Tied to Used Books

I love used books. I love to go to used book stores wherever I visit. I love St. Vinnies book section in CdA. I love to dig deep at the bottom of a shelf and find some title nobody else knew was there. I especially love used book sales at the library.

Yesterday a used book sale was held at the public library in Colville. Now since this was my second visit I knew the routine a bit better. Get a coffee drink and get there early. I was about twenty minutes early and there was already a line winding down the sidewalk. The nice thing about this book sale is they only let so many people in at a time. No trampling for that gently used softback copy of Twilight.

The last routine I forgot, but will remember next time, is to bring cloth bags. When the Super 1 paper bag handle ripped as I was scanning the titles in the memoir section, I wished I had brought anther kind of bag. I'm sure the lady that had the gently used books fall on her foot would agree. All hardbacks at this sale were 50 cents, paperbacks 25 cents. I left there with two bags of books I had wanted to read and others my students will want to read and I spent 6.00.

Some titles I was excited about finding were:

Learning to Become Myself by Ellen Burstyn
Cherry by Mary Kerr
Breaking Clean by Judy Blunt (which I started)
another copy of Gift From the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
(it's one of those books I love to have on hand if someone hasn't read it)
Picking and Choosing by Carolyn Kizer
I Shall Not Be Moved by Maya Angelou

It was a pleasure to find books by northwest authors such as Judy Blunt and Carolyn Kizer.  The other sack of books to add to the classroom library will make some students happy tomorrow.

I realize you are thinking the day couldn't get any more exciting than a Starbuck's drink and a used book sale. It did though. The sun came out. As we drove home it was almost too brilliant to capture with the camera.

Tied to Flowers

It is this time of year that I miss flowers. I love my greenhouse and the blooms that keep going during the winter, but I miss flowers that make bouquets. I am really tied to bouquets of flowers.  When I walk by fresh flowers at the local grocery store this time of year, I just can't resist buying fresh flowers. They love me at our local Safeway!

Another plus this week is having the Amazing Amaryllis once again bloom. Unbelievable.

Tied to Red

Today is National Wear Red Day.  Each year, the "Go Red for Women" campaign asks people to don that color in support of heart health, especially for women.This is just one of many ways to support American Heart Month throughout February.

We lost a woman in our community a few years ago to an unexpected heart attack. It is a tradition that we encourage everyone in our school to wear red on this day in her honor.  It was beautiful to walk into the school building today and see so many people showing off bright red sweaters, shoes, a  scarf, or a Gonzaga sweatshirt.

In the  close-knit community where I teach a special event like this ties everyone together. Remember... during American Heart Month to love your heart!

Tied to An Old Photo: Cousin John

Sitting and sorting through old pictures can take you back to earlier times, to special places, and help you remember important people. The picture above was taken in my Grandma West's front yard in Orofino, Idaho more than fifty years ago. Our cousins Lura and John are holding Raymond Pert and me on their shoulders posing in a very important way. These two cousins and their sister have always been an important part of my life. Even though I didn't see them often as a child, I have a safe, warm feeling of love when I look at this photo. I can almost smell summer and feel the August heat of Orofino.

My cousin John died suddenly yesterday. The family is dealing with a deep sadness. His quick smile, deep laugh, and twinkling eyes will be missed so much. John will leave a hole that will be hard to fill. Rest in peace dear cousin.

Tying Up Loose Ends

I don't like an unfinished to-do list on my desk.  It is important for me to tie up loose ends. I like to be able to look at a list of tasks and have them checked off.It is difficult for me to start a lesson with students and then run out of time. Conversations that end too quickly because of a bell ringing or another class coming feel incomplete. It just seems like I don't get back to those things.

Guess what?  There are times in teaching that things just have to be left undone. Teachable moments have to end sooner than planned, a phone call may be interrupted, a child that needs your attention may not get it.  I am used to that, but there are times in the evening when I remember the question that didn't get answered, the story that went untold, the tear that didn't get consoled.

I like to tie up loose ends, but it often doesn't happen during a teaching day. Because of that I try to take care loose ends at the end of the day when I arrive home. I can straighten up a closet, do my banking, organize a drawer, write up a grocery list.  Then I can start fresh the next day even if the ends begin to unravel again.

This is the messy joy of a teaching life.  It is a  life divided up into hour segments controlled by a bell. It is a life that can be stopped by a lock down, interrupted by a roof leaking, slowed down by the death of a student. It is also a life full of generosity, respect, laughs, and learning. I am ready now to start a new day.