Talk About It

Three years ago at age 4.....

MM likes stories.  She likes the stories starring MM and the family.

Talk about it......Nana, talk about it!  The airplane that we spot in the sky......talk about it.

Let's have lasagna for supper? Why?  Talk about it.

We were watching a train go by the Fresh Market Restaurant in Locust Grove.

"That train is carrying coal."

Talk about it.

That train is heading towards Plant Scherer near Macon.

TALK ABOUT IT.

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Yesterday, at age 7......

MM likes listening.

She’s the type that doesn’t miss a trick.

Oh, adults, be aware.  Be cautious.  She’s listening, learning, and enjoying the world of adult talk.

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She took off on her roller blades flying through the park.  Her hair was flying behind her as she deafly maneuvered the curves and wet leaves.  She was her own spirit.  My rock climbing, roller blading, cat cuddling little girl.

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We still talk about it.  But, believe me, she has learned the fine art of eavesdropping while seemingly not paying attention to any of the chatter of the adults that surround her.  I think she could be a school administrator.

Happiness

Seeing a deer...not hitting the deer....the deer not eating my flowers.

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Talking to little kids.

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Petting a cat or dog that likes to be petted.

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Trying on clothes and the sales lady saying, “You need to go down one size.  That’s too big.”

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A tenderloin.

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Limeade

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A book that you don’t want to end

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Ice

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Finding a shark’s tooth

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The first bloom on a second year perennial

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EMT’s,  law enforcement, veterans  and firemen (when they are off duty, when they are on duty, when they are just being them).... they run towards danger

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Singing into a fan

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Live theater

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Reading an old journal

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Picking up a phone and dialing a friend and just start talking

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Gravy with mashed potatoes

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A sharp pointed pencil

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Swinging a bat, hitting a ball and feeling the soft spot connect

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Receiving a thank you note

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A creek

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Hearing a song from your past that brings you back to the present

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The final school bell at the end of a long week

As Light as a Feather

Great teachers love their students.  They are always ready to inspire or to go the extra mile to help everyone be successful.  It’s in their DNA.  They are always ready to aid and assist.  Be it to a student or to an old principal, powerful teachers want to share their hearts. Their lessons always are remembered....as Ed Cagle would state, “They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care."

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One thing led to another and I was sitting in Karen Rackley’s classroom on a Friday at the close of the day.....the first Friday afternoon of the school year.  We visited and shared how our lives mirrored each other's.  We talked of school and meeting the needs of all children in our classes.  However, the icing on the cake was when we found out we had both stayed home with our children when they were little.  I had told her a little story from my past when I was teaching fourth grade.  Our meeting was a natural progression from this story of school to her story of love.

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Karen and I had so much more in common than we could have ever imagined......the story that I was going to tell this week was about a former student that had opened my heart to unconditional love....but my thoughts have not been able to stray from my beautiful bouquet of peacock feathers that Karen gave me.

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We talked of our mothers.  Our mothers whose lives were 1000 miles apart but very, very similar.  Both of our mothers enjoyed, no thrived, on loving their families and helping those that needed help.  Karen’s momma had a special calling....a calling that lives on today through her daughter.

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Eastman, Georgia

From the chickens that produced the eggs to the peacocks that produced the beauty (and could create the warning alarm that something was amiss),  there were feathers everywhere.  God spoke to her one day as she worked the chores that were such a natural part of her loving life.  “Share these feathers with those people who might need a visual reminder that I am with them always.  Their burdens are mine.  AND faith in Me can make their trials as light as a feather."

Her ministry was so simple and yet, so complex.  Give feathers to people and remind them that their burdens are light “as a feather” when those burdens are shared with God.  So profound.  So true..”  The Lord’s words were magnified by her faith and her love of family.

Those feathers were shared with those near and far.  Thankfully, the ministry is carried on today by her daughter.  My bouquet has brought me so much joy in the hours since I received them....and God’s love for me has been represented by those peacock feathers.  AND yes, I have shared my burdens with him.

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Macon, Georgia

The bouquet of peacock feathers were put to use this week.  Karen’s love of her career and her students is evident when walking into her classroom.  Her mother’s ministry lives on. And her blessings were shared with me as I left her classroom.  Thank you for the feathers and the daily reminder to “Let go and let God!"

Blessings

It’s amazing to think about all the good in the world when faced with some of the bad things that are broadcast to us via the media on an hourly basis.

Just think about everything that has happened today that has made you happy.

People who work with kids....this one’s for you!

Occasionally, I feel like I live in an alternate universe.

Well, most of the time I know I don’t see things like other people see things.

Oh, heck, I am odder than a six-toed cat, but I have learned to appreciate myself.

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I know many, many things.  I know somethings well....and well, I don’t know squat about others.

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For example, my knowledge about pop culture has dropped dramatically since I am no longer employed working with kids.  I used to make it a point-- to be on point.  I might pretend ignorance while asking so innocently, “Say, why would you own a water pipe?”  All the time knowing why said youth would covet the said water pipe...frankly, my favorite answer was, “It's a museum piece."   I was good at acting dull-witted when necessary......and I just loved how they would make up elaborate answers to satisfy my curiosity.  “Why do you have cigarettes in a tampon case?”  “Why were you at Krispie Kreme during third period?”

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My latest foray into the world of technology has been with Roku, Hulu, Apple TV, Netflix, Amazon Video, etc. Yep, I have learned how to binge watch (and I must say I am very good at this).

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So, back to my strangeness....I thought “Game of Thrones” dealt with-- trolls and hobbits.  I have no idea where I got that wire crossed.  No lie.  I didn’t know it was about kings and queens, knights and warriors in a mystical land.  Go figure!  I have spent the better part of the past six years thinking the wrong thing.  No, I am not sure how I got this idea.  I read Entertainment Weekly.  I watch the news.  I read People magazine.  I converse with the general public.  I just didn’t have any idea.

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SO

I am writing today to tell all my adult friends that kids sometimes get their wires crossed.  (SO DO YOU!) They think one thing and act on incorrect information.  Ask them the whys behind their actions, please.  I know that many times, there’s a great reason to their answer.  AND sometimes, it’s even funny!

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You are sitting there smuggly thinking, “Poor thing, she’s lost her mind.”  To that I’ll remind you of all those lyrics that you have been singing wrong for YEARS or the misconceptions that you have that you don’t even know about.  Frankly, we usually don’t know the entire story.

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Just do me one favor, ask kids, “Why?” before you rip them a new....well, you know.

Spring Cleaning....I can’t believe I actually bought that!

I checked out of the little world I live in from February 11 until mid-March.  I got sick.

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"How sick were you?" you’re wondering.

I was so sick, I became ashamed of my closets because I knew when my dear friends came to clean up before my funeral they would shake their heads and say, “She died from lack of taste.   Can you believe some of these clothes she kept?  We should list some of this crap in her obituary....it would make everyone laugh.”

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Carol Keys Gledhill banned me from wearing tube socks about five years ago.  She sat me down and told me I could never wear them again...not even with my mom jeans....never.  I own no tube socks at this time....but I just threw out some jeans that came over on the Mayflower. Those jeans were hideous.

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Because I have tendencies towards hoarding, there were some items in my closet that I haven’t worn in numerous years....say, maybe....20? 30? years.... I just drag this crap around from house to house, closet to closet thinking....classic piece....when I lose another 20 pounds it will look great....someone could get some good out of this sweater.....I have always loved this color (too bad it’s too small/too large/ too trendy).  You get the idea!

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When I was in the bed, I kept thinking....why?  Why do I keep things I don’t even like?  I had a green and yellow striped blouse that kept coming into my view from the bed.  I don’t remember EVER wearing it.  I don’t remember buying it.  Maybe I had amnesia when I bought it?   I have nothing that it goes with.  I must have had an out-of body experience when that came home from the store with me.  I knew that needed to go!

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I must have gotten a great deal on the blouse I never wore.

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LOTS OF STUFF ABOUT NOTHING

The way I fuss about a hangnail, you would think it was a nuclear war.  And a jagged fingernail makes me know I have some issues.  I fixate on it and can’t get anything completed until it is smooth.   I don’t like rough or jagged.

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If I ever get my hip replaced, I’m going to have a computer put in it to be able to read mind waves.  It seems like a handy thing to have.  Anyway, that’s what that the Grandma told me was wrong with me....I needed to listen to the voices.  

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If something looks easy, that something has been practiced a long, long time.  Watching basketball players sink free throws is an example.  Watching a kindergarten teacher getting her students ready for the end of the day and dismissal.  No one gets ahead without practice, hard work and experience.  Beware those folks to have a meteoric rise to stardom.....it’s a hell of a trip down.  But, I usually watch.

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Lordy, I love people who just blurt out foolishness.  Nothing makes me laugh harder than a Freudian slip....especially if it’s me who did it.

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Let retired be retired.  I love volunteering.  I love writing.  I loved waking up this morning at 7 and not have been at school, up for two hours, and listening to why EVERYONE is tired.  The Monday after the time change should be a school holiday.  I don’t know what I’d call it.  I did have a wonderful pal suggest that we ease into daylight savings time 15 minutes at a time over a span of four weeks.  It would be a nightmare to implement, but my sleep pattern would thank you.

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NIT....NOT IN TOUNAMENT.....it really stands for National Invitational Tournament.  I am still laughing about MY guess for what NIT really stands for.

Tiny Dancer: Sally’s in the House

Sally and I enjoy each other’s company.  We are about on the same wavelength most of the time.  She’s 4 and I’m 66.  I really do enjoy visiting with her.

Sally is a dumpling.  The world is her oyster and she just loves a good visit.  (Note:  I can’t understand Sally speech most of the time.  She gets excited, talks fast and doesn’t say her /s/ sound unless prompted by her mother.)  But, she got the Malloy gene for talking and getting along with people.  I am one of the members of her fan club.

I remember my own mother coming to Georgia to visit and saying, “I know why God gives children to young people.”  Yes, I am resting today.  Laughing.  AND thinking the same thing my mother said!

In the past 24 hours, the following quotes came out of my tiny dancer’s mouth:

1.  Hey, Nana, do you have You Tuber on your phone?

2.  It’s the chocolate milk that makes a great lunch.

3.  I just love a pink lipstick.

4.  The kitty is resting up in the big bed.  Get ready.  He eats toes.

5.  Now, what shall we do.

6.  Let’s get Uncle Dan involved.

7.  You be the patient.  I’m going to write your diagnosis.

8.  Don’t you just love new underpants?

9.  Can you say your alphabet?  Do you know it?

10.  You stay here.  My teacher doesn’t need to know my momma didn’t bring me to dance class today.

11.  I need to borrow a glass of water to take outside. (Said in very clean, clean clothes and a twinkle in her eye)

12.  Let’s go to your house and eat pot pies.

13.  If we pretend it’s Christmas, you can hide the presents and I’ll be the little girl that finds them.

14.  Girl Scout Cookies?  Alright, but I don’t like Thin Mints.

15.  What will we do if mommy doesn’t come back?

16.  Daddy said I couldn’t talk to you until you opened your eyes.  (I woke to find a sweet face staring at me.)

17.  Watch out.  Watch out.  Here come the unicorns!

What's in a Nickname?

I like reading the obituaries of strangers when they have a nickname in the headline.  The Macon Telegraph featured a “Bonehead” one day and I still remember it.

I was called "e” (and am still called “e") by my family.....I have been called Doc, Weezer, and MamaWeave (I have also been called some choice words by wayward youth who might have needed to have had to have a little attitude adjustment, too.) Because I have a niece named Erin Malloy, she is known as Little e....thank goodness my brother has sense enough not to call me Old e....or Wide e......or Old, Wide e.

"Little Mama” was a common nickname in many of the classrooms I visited in Central Georgia.  These were the little girls who had hearts of gold and took care of everyone.   I always wanted to know the whys behind the nicknames.  That’s what makes the story interesting....the why?

I had a little fourth grade girl come to Lakeview Elementary in Centerville, Iowa.  On the first day of school, she sasshayed up to my desk and annoounced that she had changed her name to "Go Go.” I told her that I needed to call her by the name on her birth certificate until her momma told me different.  That child had quite an imagination.  I thought of her as Go-Go the entire year.....this was in the late 1970’s and I still think of her as Go-Go.

Nicknames are one of those “let’s look in the underwear drawer” things in life.  Most of the time the bestowing of a nickname just happens.  It is a serendipitous moment when a nickname sticks forever.  And stick they sometimes do.

Coach Anthony Hines was the best nickname giver of anyone I have ever known.  I swear, Coach had a great nickname for all of us.  He never slowed down.  Those names were part reality, part fantasy.  We loved hearing the nicknames of the new freshmen.  He was the king of the nickname givers! Anthony had the gift of discernment.

So, I have an assignment for all of you.  I want you to tell me about YOUR nickname and how you got it.  I kind of promise I won’t use it in a blog unless it is a really great story.  Nicknames make me happy....nicknames are bits of love that are scattered by circumstance or happenstance.  Just let me know your alias. Please?

Ray Ray

Rockhead

Kitty

Cheeseburger

Di Di Chi

Boogie

Termite

Smitty

Beave

Pets

Spot

Smiley

Cooter

The Mullet

Buster

Real Ron

Bo

Cindy Lou-Who

Mo

Little Weave

Girly-girl

And the list goes on.....comment on your nickname and how you got it.....or even better, tell me nicknames and how they were earned by others.  Talk about March Madness.....