hot dog day

December 9: Stow Lake notes:
Sound of man-made waterfall
Green benches dedicated in loving memory
Rock ledge around perimeter of water (except this spot)
Rocky dirt with a coke bottle lodged into it, murky green water
Yellowing leaves
On verge of being able to see breath fog up
Full of rented paddle boats during warmer months
Black and white ducks with the red eyes
Island of two trees and bushes
On a narrow corner across the street from the Japanese tea garden
Pagoda (Chinese Pavilion) with red pillars and green tile roof (to left of the island of trees)
Bushes of tiny white and purple flowers, dotted with lilies

December 10: Abel stepped out into the hallway and came to an abrupt stop. He wafted the air to his nose with a cupped hand like a sommelier over a glass of fine, red wine. A smile broke out across his face. “It’s hot dog day!“

December 11: Paolo has set upon the job of ruining Santa for everyone in his class. He told them that he asked his mom for a Drop Cam for Christmas so he can set it up and prove to them all that their parents are the ones setting presents under the tree.

December 12: The knitting elective was already shorter than most of our classes. Now it keeps getting days cut for holiday parties. If I want my kids to be able to finish their bunnies before the end of the term, I have to spend about two hours knitting their projects for a week.

December 13: Abel asked me if I had any plain paper so he could make the origami Christmas tree that was in his book. When I told him I didn’t, he went into my learning centers box and took six of my printed mystery math coloring sheets and immediately cut them up.

December 14: Her stomach filled with static.

December 15: Our Christmas tree this year is slightly shorter than I am, but just as skinny. Nick spent the rest of the trip holding it by the trunk with one hand like he was holding a scepter.

December 16: Addie has been drinking from the Christmas tree stand despite he full bowl of water in the kitchen. We keep fin dinging little droplets of water all over the wood floor from where it dribbled out of the sides of her mouth.




much love,
hedgie