There has been very little time to "stand and stare" the last few weeks. I knew October would be a challenge when I realized I had scheduled four out of town trips in three weeks with my job. Add a writing conference and remember to breathe.
I have officially resigned as editor of the Bugler. At a farewell dinner, my bosses presented me with the Order of Saint Maurice for contributions to the Infantry. I was so delighted, as very few women receive the award, and honored to have served our Infantrymen for these last eleven years.
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| MG (Ret) William B. Steele, me, and COL (Ret) Richard Nurnberg |
I worked the COMO (Council of Media Organizations) conference a few weeks back. The Delaney booth was next to a booth with three magicians who drew quite a crowd. Tell me just how you compete with the big bad wolf and a live bunny rabbit!
By the time I made it to the writing conference, Southern Breeze WIK in Birmingham, I was too tired to take photos. Matt de la Pena was an excellent keynote speaker. I taught a class on the Nuts and Bolts of writing for children, roomed with the effervescent nonfiction wonder, Heather Montgomery, and can't say enough thank you's to Joan Broerman for being the wonderful hostess she is.
Last week I drove down to Albany and presented Stride Academy, a pretty cool adaptive learning product, to a curriculum director one day and a room full of librarians the next. And this week I held a teacher preview day at Coweta Charter School where I packed up half my office and carted it to Senoia, Georgia (location for the Walking Dead--the town, not the school!)
Only a few more days to manage and then it's vacation! I love vacations in November. I am planning to do an awful lot of standing and staring.
Leisure
by William Henry Davies
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
Irene Latham is our host today for Poetry Friday, so travel over to Live Your Poem and celebrate her 1,000th blog post with lots of poetry.
Congrats on the Order of Saint Maurice! I like the photo. Time to stand and stare sounds like a worthy goal -- great poem!
ReplyDeleteGoodness, when you said "busy" you were not kidding! Yay for October's happenings... and yay for the coming close of the month. xo
ReplyDeleteWow, you *have* been busy. Congrats on the award. Yay for girl power! Thanks for sharing this poetic reminder to stand and stare. Enjoy your November vacation!
ReplyDeleteYes, take a moment to breathe. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your commendation.
Congratulations and well done! A "stand and stare" vacation sounds like just what the poet ordered.
ReplyDeleteYou have been a traveling woman, Doraine! Congratulations on your honor. It sounds special! And I like the picture, too. The poem is advice we all need to hear, thanks for that too, and nice to hear from you!
ReplyDeleteVery timely poem. It's marking time at the university and I need the space to breathe in more poetry than usual. Congratulations, Doraine - such an honor to be recognized for all your contributions. That must have been such a special experience. Have fun with your travels!
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