#20, Quick the Year was 1872 - Who Designated Yellowstone as the Country's First National Park?

Drum roll please.  I heard you, I bet many guessed Teddy Roosevelt.  The answer is President Ulysses Grant.  Today the National Park Service manages land in all 50 states.  Currently it takes care of 84 million acres.

Is there a 4th grader in your life?  If so they and their family are eligible for a one year free pass to the National Parks.  "Every Kid in a Park" is part of the National Park Service's 100 year birthday celebration.  http://www.nationalparks.org/ook/every-kid-in-a-park   

Info on the initiative can be read at the White House Blog  https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/02/19/let-s-get-every-kid-park

NPS Web Portal for teachers
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2013/09/national-park-service-offers-teachers-web-portal-educational-materials-parks23920

Who Do You Think Should Be On the $20 Bill?

I think our money has become citizen art and helps tell our history.  I sporadically look closely at the money I spend.  During the state quarters it seemed there was lots of publicity and excitement.  The other day someone drew my attention to a quarter, on the back it said "Homestead".  I wondered about it as I fed it to the pop machine.

On the news tonight I heard about the Women on twenty's campaign  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/03/03/this-group-wants-to-banish-andrew-jackson-from-the-20-and-replace-him-with-a-woman/ .    A secondary reason for removing President Jackson from the twenty dollar bill is for his role in the Trail of Tears.

The first person I saw was a picture of Alice Paul.  She took an active role in working for women gaining suffrage. She organized a huge parade of women on March 3, 1913 the day before President Wilson's inauguration.    She organized the "Silent Sentinels" (this was the first time that anyone picketed the White House).  Women maintained a silent vigil at all the White House entrances.     Women maintained the vigil 6 days a week from January 1917 through June of 1919.

There are 15 candidates and everyone is being invited to vote for three.  All fifteen women are amazing women.  These women made huge contributions to American society.  You can vote for your choice at http://www.womenon20s.org/

I think it is time to put women on the money.

#18, What was the Dog Chasing?

I was walking past the office when I heard someone say the dog chased _________.  I didn't hear the last word.  Chasing who or what, my mind tried to make sense of the sentence.  Was it a stray chasing __________?   People didn't seem alarmed.  So not a stray chasing kids.  My mind still tried to sort out the meaning.  Finally I asked, what dog?

Jane said, "the dog across the street".

Not as much information as I wanted.   He's a sweet Spaniel and not barky.   "What was he chasing?"

"The deer. They're gone now."

I stepped into the principal's office to get a better look through her window.  Then I saw them going through someone else's yard, several more houses down the street.

I rarely see them.  One of the neighbors sees them going through the alley as she leaves for work about 6:00 am.  Tom said he thinks they sometimes bed down under the lilacs outside our fence.  When I was talking to Ida about them she told me they often come to her daughters yard to drink from the fish pond.

It hard for me to wrap my head around a herd of deer living in the middle of our city.  Up in the heights there are antelope that stay around some of the schools.  I've been to Helena, our state capitol and you can go to some of the old historic homes and see deer laying in people's yards.  I guess the deer really enjoy the city gardens.  I'm not sure the gardners are thrilled with the deer, but I enjoyed seeing them.

#17, It's Going Fast.

This past 2 years have been very busy, and they are speeding up.  This afternoon I decided I needed to do some major planning so I didn't miss any deadlines.  I looked at the calendar and counting this week we have 12 weeks left in school.  Where did the time go.

The other day my sister-in-law, her daughter, and grand-daughter were visiting.  Kayla mentioned graduation.  I looked at her and made a very stupid remark, "You're graduating?  When did this happen?"

She looked a little crushed, "Why is everyone surprised I'm graduating?"

"No.   We are wondering how you grew up so quick."  She smiled and I was forgiven my stupid remark.

Our grand-niece is graduating high school.  Our granddaughter is a 5th grader.  It was only yesterday when she was a baby.

Recently I caught a headline that said - Tom Selleck was turning 70?  It doesn't seem possible.  I look at myself and wonder where did the time go?

As a kid I thought being in school for 12 years was FOREVER!  I am now teaching some of my previous students children.  I'm on the 2nd generation of students.   Time keeps flying.

12 weeks of school -  Its going fast.

#16, Banana Bread to Go

Dan is feeling better.  He is starting to try and torment me.   The stories of my getting lost are legion.  At times when I leave for the store or to run and errand he will ask, "Now do you know how to get there?"  and he will proceed to tell me where it is.

I decided to go get us both a fancy coffee at the nearby CityBrew.  I don't go there very often.  Today when I pull up the young man at the window greets me by name.  Smiling.

I mentally review if he is one of my previous students.  I do not recognize him either as a previous elementary student nor as one of my college students.  Perplexed I wait.

He comes back, grins.  "Your husband called and would like a slice of banana bread."

Laughter, "He said, you would be driving a white Prius."  He continues, "We laughed over the call."  He waits for me to approve the addition.  "Now your name is firmly in my mind."

I laugh and look at his name tag - Ty.  His name is now firmly in my mind as well.

Arriving home I put the banana bread in my purse and carry in the two drinks.  I talk about the drinks and my husband tries to see if I have his requested treat.  I pretend to not know what is going on.

Finally he says, "Did you get the banana bread?"

I let him off the hook and take out the bag and hand it to him.

And we laugh.

#15, It's Toe tapping Time

What do I write about.  My mind seems to hover outside myself.  Not upset, not worried. Just not interested.  My usual pleasures don't speak to this mind.  Even reading doesn't hold long.

I am outside looking in.  Interested, not excited. hovering, watching, waiting.

I hear the dogs barking in the distance.  Tank must have found one of the squirrels.   Wait - it was a dog strolling by.

Watching, waiting, tired, no energy.   I feel weary.

I have been here before.  Watching, waiting, weary.

Eventually, time passes and I will resurface, I will re-connect to friends and family.   My body and mind will again try and find a working partnership.  

Years ago a mentor told me this is toe tapping time.

I asked, "What's toe tapping time?"

She, "It's when your soul knows you are waiting for what's next.  It's not here yet.  You have to wait.  It's toe tapping time."

This time, in my here and now, I wonder, I wait, I watch.  Yes it's toe tapping time.

#14 - The Wind Whispers

Today was my technology day.  A group of teachers from around the area meet.  We have teacher facilitators sharing ideas, knowledge and skills.  I always look forward to attending Cadre.  Today is the last for this year.  Today is PI day - fun to celebrate.  So why do I feel empty, tired distant?

I just came in.  Its warm outside.  I see green plants peeking out of the ground and even a few early bloomers.  The breeze is stirring a few tenacious leaves still attached to tree limbs dance and flutter. I can hear the bell like tones as the chimes keep the rhythm of the whistling wind.  All this framed by a gray sky.

Warm outside

Green plants peeking

Flowers blooming early

Tenacious leaves still clinging to branches

Dance and flutter

Chimes ring and call

As the wind whispers

To the gray sky.