Like Starting All Over Again

Morning, afternoon, evening
New challenges, new light, new drive
That deep breath, like starting all over again
The calming count from one to ten
The simple things are not taken for granted
Like a June morning
It's a new day

By myself
The first cup of coffee of the day
No passersby, not yet
No sign of the second day of the heat wave, not yet
The creatures are still and happy
Each weed has disappeared and there is room
The new blooms are almost in season
The soothing dawn breeze
That deep breath, like starting all over again
The calming count from one to ten
Like a June morning
It's a new day

Morning, afternoon, evening
Like the first cup of coffee
Like the still creature
Like the breeze
Like the calm
Like the morning
It has to pass
The day's obstacles are not like the morning bliss
or like starting all over again
So, time let me breathe more deeply
Counting from one to ten
So the simple things are not taken for granted
Like a June morning
It'll be a new day

Bucket List

It's been four months since the stroke. I have wanted to see the third grade classroom, the kids, the teacher, and me together. You see, we were all there when the scariest moment we've ever experienced happened. The day for me was not scary after I was out of the school, but my semiconscious state left me feeling mortified in front of the children and a new teacher.

I wanted my wish. It wasn't planned. I was there at the school for different reasons, but I wanted to go back to see them before the summer break.

This word aphasia and this 'word retrieval' thing suck. I am slow. I have progressed, and sometimes I can't believe that I have a massive stroke in my medical records, but the speed rate of growth is diminished as the time goes. I want it to be faster. I want it to be all better. I have to wait it out. Maybe I won't be as I was and maybe I won't be able to do my job any more. 

The kids didn't care that day. Slow speech, careful word choices...genuine smiles all around. A pile of students' bucket lists for summer was ready to be sent home to me. I was so happy to receive them in person. I read them as soon as I could. My favorites were the outside activities at the beach and home. I am pleased that they want to have reading goals. I love that they play board games. It is good to see that they want to spend time with their families and friends.

Of course, a lot of them want to play video games, several of them want to prank their brothers, and one little soul wants to date!

I have still not made a bucket list. I don't prank my siblings, or date any more. I think I need to just do....yes, just do, and fill the bucket list with things I have done and check them off!

Is a bucket list item the same as a wish that comes true? Then I can cross off the day I saw the classroom, the kids, the teacher, and me together. Well, what do you know! I have a bucket list!!