I sit down at the desk as if for the first time, moving slowly like water. I’ve just now arrived. Everything around me is in piles. My shirts, their shirts, the beginnings of fifth grade handouts that I will hold briefly before deciding whether or not to recycle. Two pastel berets stacked one on top of the other, blankets, pillows, books books books. It’s so sticky here. Slowly, slowly.
This morning I woke to a glowing in their room, the shades still pulled down from the night, my rechargeable reading light illuminating a pencil drawing propped up in front of a pillow — a person seated, eyes closed in meditation long hair flowing, an altar set around the drawing. Tiny colorful Model Magic pot, pearl bracelet, pyramid crystal, pretty little gourd a gift from Mexico, Claddagh ring box, wooden foot roller on a small cushion. Now, they watch tv.
We listened to les cigales, saw the rainbows, kissed the stone, walked 20,000 steps in the city, ate the garlicky snails, dipped into the cold sea, got stung, carried the bags, met the singer and carried her coffee, cheered for the bike riders, walked with the ponies, tended the turf fire, talked to the cows, rode the carousels, sat in a dark dark room, sat in sound ceremony in a sky space, collaborated with a new partner, painted the tee shirts, painted the room, swam in the warm pool, ate our dinners outside, listened to the cicadas…
I borrow a list from one of our new teacher’s first day activities, a welcome back scavenger hunt*.
Drank lemonade
Went on a long car trip
Went to a beach
Got a haircut
Watched cartoons
Spent time with a grandparent
Worked on an art project
Read a new book
Ran through a sprinkler
Played a board game
Saw a movie in a theater
Went to an amusement park or a theme park
Had a birthday
Got ice cream from an ice cream truck
Hung out with a cousin
*I wonder how many of these you might check off your list. I wonder if you’d like to choose one and share a few sentences about it in the comments.
It makes me smile to think of it.