Our son is a little over halfway through his Kindergarten year where he has learned new words and subjects, made new friends, visited new places and is beginning to realize that new doesn't always mean scary, but maybe exciting. In a few weeks he will turn six. As my Mother-in-Law mentioned, when you turn six, you seem a whole lot bigger to yourself. Great new things lie ahead for Josh and I cannot wait to watch/participate in his discovery.
Our daughter, Anna, is also experiencing a world of new this year. She is participating in Single Subject Acceleration (SSA) in English Language Arts - a brand spanking new program within Wake County this year. She is LOVING the challenge and we are delighted to watch her gift for writing unfold. She is in Hoop Group - a hula hoop group club within her school that will actually be performing a few routines tonight. She signed up for basketball with a bit, ok, with a lot of prodding from her Mom, but finding out the sport is kind of fun. But she will not divulge that tidbit to her mother. Ever. This is not new. She is also enjoying new teachers, fun knowledge and expanding her social circle. There may even be a crush involved but that is "so not on the table for discussion, Mom!". Gotcha. No news there, either. But growing up is full of new emotions, new adventures and discovery and new things that will fall into awesome, eh and never again. Childhood is a beautiful gift but kind of hard to understand when you are in the midst of growing up. And then you reach a point where not much is new in your life and you wonder, "What next?".
I have a golden damask sitting chair in our Bonus Room that used to fill a corner in my Granddad's living room. Definitely not new but I love this chair not only because I think it is luxuriously comfortable but because it is one of my last physical reminders of a man who showed me you can find new every day. Even in the clouds. My Granddad studied the atmosphere and had a fondness for those big puffy cottonballs plastered against a clear, blue sky. I should have talked to him more about the ozone layer and the hole they had discovered. Perhaps then I could talk intelligently now about Global Warming. But the cool thing about Tom Ashenfelter was he found the new in everyday things even when he was at an age where finding new was extremely difficult. He was a passionate gardener and enjoyed experimenting with soil, devices to keep out rabbits, and how to grow beautiful vegetables and flowers. He coaxed a squirrel on Dexter Avenue to become his buddy. He read about nutrition so he could hang around for a while. He was enthusiastic about his 12 grandchildren and found a way to make sure we were keen observers of life around us. He did not take much for granted. Even when his wife fell victim to Parkinson's Disease, he tried to find new ways to make her comfortable. He tried to find a new way for Minerva and Tom to remain together when everyone else told him they needed to be apart. He finally realized his wife of over 50 years needed a new home and that would mean a big change for him. I imagine he sat in his gold chair but I cannot imagine the thoughts that went through his head with this latest change. I know I sat on my bed for a long time when I heard the news that Grandmom would be going to a new place that could care for her medical needs. The descriptions made it sound like a retreat and I suppose to some extent, the care facility was an escape, but I wondered how this would affect both my Grandparents.
I have some great memories of my Grandmom in her new digs. She met new friends, nurses and doctors. I loved visiting. We would play games, go for walks, sit in the wooded area out back, play the piano, listen to nature, listen to the man who called for his cows from the porch everyday at 5pm and on special days, I was allowed to bring my makeup kit and "pretty up her face".
New is exciting and a reminder that change is inevitable but does not have to stop our forward momentum, Sometimes the scary new becomes a comfortable haven. I think we kind of owe it to ourselves to step out of our comfort zone and try something a little different. Recently I read an article listing 20 things you should do in your lifetime. I was happy that I had done a few: preparing a meal with food you harvested, camp in the wilderness, scuba dive or snorkel and then there were a few I should try like making a piece of furniture or living in a foreign land. Both seem incredibly daunting but perhaps doable down the road. I think new keeps us vibrant, youthful and happy. And I was lucky enough to see the proof sitting in a gold chair, brown eyes twinkling, playful grin spreading across his face as he asked me, "What's new with you?". So, as I snuggle down into my favorite gold chair, with a brown furry blanket draped over me, deciding what new path I should travel next, I quietly ask, "What is new with you?". I joyfully wait your answer.
Our daughter, Anna, is also experiencing a world of new this year. She is participating in Single Subject Acceleration (SSA) in English Language Arts - a brand spanking new program within Wake County this year. She is LOVING the challenge and we are delighted to watch her gift for writing unfold. She is in Hoop Group - a hula hoop group club within her school that will actually be performing a few routines tonight. She signed up for basketball with a bit, ok, with a lot of prodding from her Mom, but finding out the sport is kind of fun. But she will not divulge that tidbit to her mother. Ever. This is not new. She is also enjoying new teachers, fun knowledge and expanding her social circle. There may even be a crush involved but that is "so not on the table for discussion, Mom!". Gotcha. No news there, either. But growing up is full of new emotions, new adventures and discovery and new things that will fall into awesome, eh and never again. Childhood is a beautiful gift but kind of hard to understand when you are in the midst of growing up. And then you reach a point where not much is new in your life and you wonder, "What next?".
I have a golden damask sitting chair in our Bonus Room that used to fill a corner in my Granddad's living room. Definitely not new but I love this chair not only because I think it is luxuriously comfortable but because it is one of my last physical reminders of a man who showed me you can find new every day. Even in the clouds. My Granddad studied the atmosphere and had a fondness for those big puffy cottonballs plastered against a clear, blue sky. I should have talked to him more about the ozone layer and the hole they had discovered. Perhaps then I could talk intelligently now about Global Warming. But the cool thing about Tom Ashenfelter was he found the new in everyday things even when he was at an age where finding new was extremely difficult. He was a passionate gardener and enjoyed experimenting with soil, devices to keep out rabbits, and how to grow beautiful vegetables and flowers. He coaxed a squirrel on Dexter Avenue to become his buddy. He read about nutrition so he could hang around for a while. He was enthusiastic about his 12 grandchildren and found a way to make sure we were keen observers of life around us. He did not take much for granted. Even when his wife fell victim to Parkinson's Disease, he tried to find new ways to make her comfortable. He tried to find a new way for Minerva and Tom to remain together when everyone else told him they needed to be apart. He finally realized his wife of over 50 years needed a new home and that would mean a big change for him. I imagine he sat in his gold chair but I cannot imagine the thoughts that went through his head with this latest change. I know I sat on my bed for a long time when I heard the news that Grandmom would be going to a new place that could care for her medical needs. The descriptions made it sound like a retreat and I suppose to some extent, the care facility was an escape, but I wondered how this would affect both my Grandparents.
I have some great memories of my Grandmom in her new digs. She met new friends, nurses and doctors. I loved visiting. We would play games, go for walks, sit in the wooded area out back, play the piano, listen to nature, listen to the man who called for his cows from the porch everyday at 5pm and on special days, I was allowed to bring my makeup kit and "pretty up her face".
New is exciting and a reminder that change is inevitable but does not have to stop our forward momentum, Sometimes the scary new becomes a comfortable haven. I think we kind of owe it to ourselves to step out of our comfort zone and try something a little different. Recently I read an article listing 20 things you should do in your lifetime. I was happy that I had done a few: preparing a meal with food you harvested, camp in the wilderness, scuba dive or snorkel and then there were a few I should try like making a piece of furniture or living in a foreign land. Both seem incredibly daunting but perhaps doable down the road. I think new keeps us vibrant, youthful and happy. And I was lucky enough to see the proof sitting in a gold chair, brown eyes twinkling, playful grin spreading across his face as he asked me, "What's new with you?". So, as I snuggle down into my favorite gold chair, with a brown furry blanket draped over me, deciding what new path I should travel next, I quietly ask, "What is new with you?". I joyfully wait your answer.
