Perseverance: How to Become a Hamilton Star

Or a star in any career, I suppose.

I watched Renee Elise Goldberry's Tony Acceptance speech.  She mentioned that she spent her child-bearing years pursuing both her career and motherhood, and that she was so happy to be able to stand there with a Tony and say that, and to also pay tribute to her parents. I looked up her history and found a nice article on Cosmo that shows the path to success is not easy.

On... What? Seizing the Moment.

Found a page of writing from last year to type up that's still relevant:

"...as I've been driving around Stamford-Greewich, feeling like, it's no longer me and MY future that matter, it's my kids. 
It's one thing to have that vague notion-- it's another to look back on your life and think, WOW- there was a time when it was all about me and I totally didn't appreciate it or make the most of it!"
And this brings me to my feeling about Lin-Manuel Miranda...

And if my time is up, have I done enough?
(Why Hamilton is so great.  There is so much of the universal in it, told through those specific stories.)

HOW did Lin write two great musicals?
What kind of a brain can do that?  How did all that music get in there?

Which brings me back to my brain, which I can feel just isn't as flexible and agile as it was when I was, oh, 22, when I did what I think was my best writing.

Bronx Zoo: Gorilla Toddlers

We were so lucky to get to the Bronx Zoo: Congo before it was crowded.  We got a good close look at a gorilla's foot:

And I was struck by how much gorilla toddlers act like human ones.

Lane is often sitting on me like I'm a couch:

Proud of Obama's Presidency, Blacks Sad to See Him Go

Looking at that photo... I think, My God, it has been a miracle.

That New York Times article captured a lot of what I feel and think.

What a gorgeous couple.  What a different-looking couple than has ever walked an inaugural parade.

Numerous times over the past 7 years, I've been driving and thought to myself, My God, we have a black president.  I just never thought that would happen, if I ever thought of it at all.  Good.  Lord.  

When your child learns to write

When your child learns to write, and writes on your favorite  jeans... while you're wearing them.

I felt something gently caressing my leg, and later realized it was these letters, being written in permanent marker.

I'd say that's the death knell for these jeans.  Jeans that saw me through meeting my husband and having two kids.  

My Writing Life is a Grasping Octopus--

Always searching and scanning.

Maybe it's like a scanner- like a security camera.

That's how I operate in the world.  I'm built to scan for writing topics.

That was honed when I was an English major, searching for topics, and also for my column and article topics.

I always made my life into topics: Nathan and eye contact.  The first graders.  Placentas.

Always alert.  I am an always alert person.  I'm on high alert for topics.

Good Read Alouds

Very short, good for Pre-K

Don’t let the Pigeon Drive the Bus

Bark, George!

Kindergarden

Interrupting Chicken

Bark, George! (How about the genus kid in Q's class who was like, "He ate the vet!"  I had never thought of that.  Geez.  This is why you need to listen to kids.  In many ways, their brains work better than ours!)

More 1st grade-y

Rude Giants

Great books to share but maybe not as good read alouds, or good read alouds but then give kids a chance to re-read on their own to see the visual aspects.  

Officer Buckle and Gloria

The Library Card (first story "Mongoose")

Favorite but has a pistol in it:

Custard the Dragon- Ogden Nash

Other favorites not everyone might approve of:

The Tushy Book