Lesson 556: Round Out

Hello, Readers!

Eloise is rounding out the week 

with some good news.

Daughter Ellen Louise and some teammates will be

chasing that maddening dimpled, white ball around for another week.

The Girls Golf Team is headed into District Play.

We rolled into the golf course for senior night last Monday

just in time to watch the ladies finish---

and before my ice melted.

Eloise had another trigeminal nerve flare up--

the worst I've experienced so far.

Pain medication does not help.

I spent most of the last week

 pacing,

crying,

and visiting chiropractors.

 After some deeper investigation

into the steadily worsening symptoms--

Eloise was pleased to find out she has her first abscessed tooth!

Weird statement,

but I've never been so happy about anything in my life.

The root of the tooth was aggravating the nerve.

Antibiotics and Advil have taken down the swelling,

and I'll be cartwheeling into the specialist on Monday.

Needless to say,

there weren't too many photos taken.

Still,

even when in pain,

it helps to get outside and 

surround yourself in beauty.

Early fall is so pretty!

While in pain,

I really thought about how sharp our world has become-

sharp toned

and

sharp edged.

We are surrounded by squares and rectangular shapes

with pointed edges

that are sharp

and point

and accuse.

Phones are rectangular--

everyone is always looking at those.

iPads,

tablets,

TV screens--

all square.

Post boxes are square on social media.

Nice, neat, little boxes that house our opinions

in lines with seemingly no give.

I'd like to see us soften some of those edges--

round out the world again,

so to speak.

How?
Just ask a school aged kid.

Start with Hello!

There is such a roundness to the word.

Hello!

Say it to yourself.

Your mouth rounds out,

and following the close of the O

your lips turn upwards into a smile.

Hello is such a nice word.

This movement is part of the Sandy Hook Promise.

Your weekend homework is to check it out.

After a tough and tiring week,

I went into school today and discovered this laminated sign

in my classroom.

On it my colleagues wrote nice comments about ME!

Talk about a pick-me-up!

It gave me enough of a mental boost to finish the week strong.

Positive comments are contagious.

Even the students are in on the game.

I have to Round Out this blog post

because simply put,

I

 Make the weekend a great one--

and start it with Hello!

elOise!

Lesson 555: The Road to Happiness

Hello, Readers.

Eloise here,

writing from Happy Street.

We are celebrating daughter Ellen Louise's 

18 years of life this weekend.

Daughter #2 popped into the world on 

September 22, 2000.

She was a Y2K baby.

Can you recall what that was?

Born exactly on her due date,

at 11:11 pm,

she came into this world on the day we wished it--

cousin Ben's 20th birthday.

My in-laws could then say

their oldest and youngest grandchildren were exactly 20 years apart.

As Ellen enters adulthood, 

Mother Eloise contemplated the advice I'd give her.

I first asked myself the question,

What do I want for my daughter?

I think my answer is similar to most:

I want her to be happy.

So, how do you get to happy, Ellen Louise?

There are no maps to the endpoint,

because the endpoint does not exist.

Don't think of Happy as a destination you reach,

think of it as an enjoyable journey.

Happiness is built,

and I hope you thoroughly enjoy laying the bricks 

along your yellow brick road.

I know what makes you happy.

I have visual proof

because I surfed your pin boards on Pinterest.

Pinterest pin boards tell stories of their own.

Happy little girls 

with red head scarves 

near camels make you happy.

You've learned the words 

encourage

and courage

mean a whole lot.

You know happiness is built 

from not missing the moments.

Always be present to capture them.

Nothing builds a happy life like serving others with 

the gifts God gave you.

You have chosen a perfect path of study.

Speech Pathology suits you well.

Happiness comes from loving animals.

Even elephants.

The Road to Happiness truly is a no end destination,

so enjoy the journey.

I hope your ride is at least a century long.

This book is going to appear on your bedside table soon.

The Road to Character is a path to follow, too.

If you aren't up for reading,

then I encourage you to check out 

Oprah's Super Soul Sunday podcast with Shawn Anchor.

He teaches Positive Psychology at Harvard

and I find his work fascinating.

Weekend homework in honor of Ellen's birthday for EVERYONE,

not just Ellen:

Check out Shawn Anchor's 12 minute TED Talk.

It is clever and funny and fast paced.

It's happiness in a nutshell.

What better a song to choose for your 18th birthday video

than The Road to Happiness

by Cam.

Happy birthday, dear sweet Ellen Louise.

Enjoy the journey.

Mother Eloise

Lesson 554: Love Wins

Good evening, Readers.

It's a balmy Friday night here in Harborcreek (one word), PA.

Eloise spent the evening at the local Harbor Creek (two words) stadium

Watching the Huskies (plural noun)

secure another victory.

Eloise is one proud Huskie (singular noun,

 identifier related to a school mascot).

Thank you to the good sports across the bridge.

You are brave (adjective) Braves (proper noun,

 identifier related to a school mascot).

We love the IE,

so we're keeping it.

Love wins.

A Y on the end of Huskie leaves us as aghast 

as Sam thinking this outfit matches.

Ellen told him he looked like a sunset.

Love won that battle, too.

Sam didn't change.

Speaking of sunsets,

the Walmart parking lot is a great place to capture them.

I was riding my bike one evening this week

and a beautiful cloud caught my eye.

I watched it all through the park,

and noted how different it looked from different angles.

The light played such a major factor.

Light brings out the beauty in everything.

This is the same cloud after the sun dropped below the tree line,

at now an early 7:20 pm.

Light is love,

and when capturing this cloud,

Love Wins.

We sure do love the Barber National Institute's 

Beast on the Bay!

This girl did part of the regular course,

along with the adapted course.

Our ever growing team of people who took on the course

or the adapted one

or bought a Happy People T-shirt

or showed up to cheer at the finish line

or wait expectantly for loved ones to come through--

Thank you!

Our children have far exceeded expectations

because of education through Barber National

and a supportive community.

Natalie was so determined this year!

I was so happy

to be there to capture it.

So who won this race along Presque Isle's beaches

and trails

and swamps?

Love Won.

I spent less time running the course

and more time watching this year.

Cousin Bonnie was missed this year!

It gave me more time to really spectate

and in that I developed a great admiration for other people 

and what they do.

Every person has a story.

Stories need to be told.

I was thinking of other ways to share stories and information--

avenues beyond this blog.

I'd love to know what the mayor thought about the day

and if he liked parking cars.

I'd love to know what Maureen Barber thought about the day,

and why she is a Notre Dame fan.

I'm thinking the Lamp Post needs to go mobile.

I love podcasts so much

why not make one of my own?

Mobile Lamp Post--Sunday Drive editions,

these could be video though,

and Eloise is slightly scared of video.

I'm all about being brave now.

If James Corden can carpool karaoke,

why can't I?

My sister just screamed,
"BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SING!"

Anyhooo...

Readers--

do any of you have any experience?

If so,

give me a hoot and a holler.

To close out the night,

Carrie Underwood's song Love Wins

from her new album that was released today.

Great tunes!

Eloise