What Kim's been working on....

One of the requirements of the Institute that I'm involved in this summer is working on personal writing. The idea is that if we are going to be able to teach student's how to write, then we must write for ourselves as well. It has been a growth experience for me. I am in a Reading/Writing group in which we each bring a piece of writing to share, read it to the group, and then make contructive suggestions on how to make the piece better. Unbelievably, I started with poetry. At the end of the summer we submit them to be published in a class anthology so we get the satisfaction of other people reading our work. Here are two things that I've worked on:

Here
(this one a did for the writing course I took in the fall)

I’m a long ways from home
and yet not really

Here is my home
Ashburn, Virginia

The place where I live
because Jacksonville, Florida
never felt like home

I miss Sunday dinners with
Mom, Dad, Lauren, & A.J

I miss Chase – the talker
Baby Caroline is on the way

Yet, that place
despite my family
it never felt like I was meant to be
there

Nothing against the city
or her people

It was like the time I knew I was
in the wrong relationship
Always restless
Understanding that I had to make a change

Have you heard the line from
When Harry Met Sally?
“I knew
just like you know
about a good melon…”

Here, I’ve found the serenity
that comes
when you’re
in the right relationship.

Here I met Jill
teaching at Herndon High School
so
Here I met Erik and was
adopted by the yellow lab, Duffy,
my new family.

Here
I am home

--------------------------------

LIVE LIFE TO ITS FULLEST!

We hear that advice
in times of grief

when a life has been

cut short.

What does it mean?

Is it different for each of us?
Do we pack our days
or
spend them in silent meditation?
Do we focus on responsibilities
work, eat right, exercise, more work
or
frivolous activities
watch TV, read, go shopping?

What does it mean?

Does it mean that we are
simply
doing what God created us
to do?
How do we know
if
we are doing that?
Will we feel serenity
or
exhiliration?

What does it mean?

Is it
simply
that we should not
waste
any opportunity?