Seeing Robins in January

Yesterday, I finally got out of the house and took a walk. I went in the morning before the wind chill picked up and was very glad I did. I guess if you bundle up it's not so bad. I felt like people must in Minnesota or Saskatchewan! It was bright and sunny and I ended up staying out for an hour. I wandered over to the State Office Campus cause I had a feeling they'd keep their sidewalks clear (I was right) and as I was leaving I heard them. Yep....robins. To my advantage I had my phone with me so I took some pictures. That's why they are not so clear.

As exciting as it is to see spring harbingers in the dead of a pretty cold winter, you can't help but wonder if these birds made the right choice. There's no exposed grass, no unfrozen ground. How will they eat? Will they starve before spring? So seeing them was bitter sweet.

Nature does as it will whether we humans like it or not. We sure do try to impose our will on everything don't we, but whether we like it or not the climate will do as it pleases. This winter has been one of the coldest I can remember. At least there is one awesome factor. In 34 days it will be March! And the daylight is getting noticably longer!

Hope Springs Eternal!

Obama's Letter to His Daughters

I got teary eyed reading Obama's letter to is daughters! I'm pretty excited about the fresh transition set to occur on Tuesday!

http://www.parade.com/export/sites/default/news/2009/01/barack-obama-letter-to-my-daughters.html

Here's a piece below:

I want all our children to go to schools worthy of their potential-schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill in them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them to have the chance to go to college-even if their parents aren't rich. And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity.

I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that you'll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in each other.

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

Here we are in a new year. This is perhaps the best holiday of the year, it's the one filled with promises and hope that somehow, this time, things will be better. And honestly, what is the meaning of life without hope.

A few years ago I participated in some workshop at the Rensaelaerville Institute and we were asked to think about our purpose in life. As a kid I really believed in my mission in life being fully connected to the meaning of my name, which is "helper of humankind". That's a heavy moniker, leading one to think of all sorts of self-sacrifice (ok, in my case, maybe not), but it can have an earth bound meaning too. So I help people, well I am a teacher, so I guess I did live up to that name after all! But back to the workshop and our purpose.

Guess I learned that day that my purpose in life was to bring hope to others. Although I often shroud myself in humor and glib discussion, I take that charge rather seriously. I tend to find the bright side of situations, am a bit of a polly-anna, and try to bring a solution to every problem. I work with a tough crowd, but most of them make it through. I'm happy to have found the niche as a special ed. teacher.

This year of course, is the year of the Obama inaugeration! It's so exciting to have someone new in office who will offer a fresh perspective and....HOPE! You can bet that's one piece of TV I'll have my DVR set for! I feel like it's 1992 all over again and we are getting to start over!

So a fresh year, fresh chances for all! Always exciting to move forward; to have fresh hopes, and hopefully live to see them through!

Happiness, hopefulness, and Health in 2009 !