En route to school this morning: “Mom, did you know Jesus had a lot of bunny rabbits?” Why, no, I did not know he had a lot of bunny rabbits. “Can we get a bunny rabbit for Easter or my birthday?” No. “Why not? Even Jesus got to have rabbits, and he died on a… Continue reading In Honor of Easter: Here’s to Jesus, His Rabbits, and the Revel Stoke Among Us
Dear Mr. Nelson, The day you called for an interview at Lin-Wood Public School was May 3, 2003, the very day we lost our Old Man on the Mountain. The phone rang, and I didn’t hear it right away because I was celebrating my graduation from a Masters in Education program. The music was loud,… Continue reading Dear Mr. Nelson: Thank You for 44 Years in Education
When I was a freshman at Connecticut College in the early 1990s, my beloved hometown of Merrimack, NH elected a Christian Coalition majority to our school board. The margin was something like 6 votes in a town of roughly 26,000 at the time. Please don’t fact check me, but it was very close. I did… Continue reading Why I Vote and Participate in Annual School District Meetings as a Teacher and a Mom
I met a dear college friend for breakfast the other day in the city. While parallel parking on a wide street with plenty of room to go around, an angry woman gave me the finger. Try as I might, I can’t figure out why she felt I deserved the finger. There were other spaces–… Continue reading Dear Abby: I Need Your Advice
Morgan Clark’s voice compels people to listen; within her lyrics and talent live the excitement, hope, and idealism of young musicians following their hearts to Nashville, country music’s capital of the world. When I hear Morgan sing–whether an original song written for a friend who died sadly too soon or a cover title, I want to cheer… Continue reading From Northern New Hampshire to Nashville: Miss Morgan Clark Has Found Her Voice
Dear young able-bodied couple parked in the HP spot at Dunkin Donuts, Normally, when I see a car parked in an HP spot, I look first for a handicapped placard or special “handyman” license plate, as my husband Geoff calls them affectionately. Not seeing one, I sometimes wait for the person to return to his/her… Continue reading An Open Letter for People Who Park in HP Spots and are NOT Actually Disabled
For most local children, the Kanc, a classic, magical rope tow, is where they learn to ski, learn to love to ski, and then, maybe, depending on the kid, learn to race, therein developing an incredible race program from the bottom up. Kanc Carvers is one of those experiences kids remember forever, first as little… Continue reading Circle of Life for Lin-Wood Kids at the Kanc (Title Credit to JJ Bujeaud)
The teachers at our elementary school have said to me on more than one occasion that if we believe 50% of what our kids tell us at home about their day, then they will believe 50% of what our kids tell them at school. There was the day Carver told Mrs. Rand that his only… Continue reading The 50% Rule
Sadly, this past weekend, a large chimney fire in our neighborhood destroyed two families’ homes, completely displacing two local teenagers and their dad. Upon returning to school on Monday, I could only give hugs. Incredibly mature and with tremendous perspective, the oldest, a senior, smiled and said, “Everyone got out safely, and we have a… Continue reading Fire in the Mountains
I killed a mouse this morning. In a trap, mind you, not with my bare hands. The worst part is that I’ve been hunting mice for weeks unsuccessfully. Not yet 6 AM, I picked up the white trap splattered with what appeared to be dried chocolate milk, next to the garbage can, wondering aloud to… Continue reading Of Mice and Men and Morning Duty
