As time flies faster and faster, sometimes whole seasons seem to disappear in a blur of whirling calendar pages! We’ve just moved, and home is chaotic. But summer is short, and I want to make sure I don’t miss the whole thing. So I’m looking at my book, Lion of the Sky, to identify iconic summer moments I want to experience this summer.
Each season gets six riddle-ku in this book, and I’ve used the summer riddle-ku to make a list of things to do. Here’s my plan:
- Dandelions – Easy peasy! Just have to figure out my wish :>)
- Mosquito – Another easy one. They find me :>(
- Sandcastle – Wow. I haven’t built one in years. All right, I’ve got to get to a lake, pronto!
- Baseball – My niece is an awesome softball player, so I’ll get to one of her games—and maybe a St. Paul Saints minor league game, too.
- Fireflies – I don’t see these every year. I’m going to make it a point to be extra observant when we’re driving at twilight past large meadows and farm fields. I’m hoping being more aware will help me witness this magical sight this summer!
- Fireworks – I’m not a big fan of Fourth of July gatherings, to be honest. The crowds, the mosquitoes, and did I mention the crowds? But…it’s been a while since we either went to 4th of July fireworks or to one of the many small-town summer festivals that often include fireworks (Rhubarb Days, Corn Festival, etc.). I’m vowing now to be somewhere this summer where I watch a real fireworks display (not just someone a few streets over setting them off—yowza).
I like this. This feels like a doable summer bucket list, and it’ll get me out doing a few things I haven’t done in years–or that I missed last year due to the pandemic. What iconic summer moments are you looking forward to? Anything inspired by a book that you’re hoping to do?
[My Classroom Connections posts share a way to connect one of my books or poems to a classroom topic–often something timely that you might be covering in the next month or so. Please share this post if you have educator friends who might be interested–thanks!]
2 Responses
Laura, what a great idea your summer bucket list is. I love it! How I enjoyed sharing your Lion of the Sky book in my last poetry class. the students especially enjoyed your lion of the sky poem and it was inspiring to them. I just thought of a couple things to out on my summer bucket list.
1. Be more observant of fireflies as you said (I actually saw a good show of them one night, but not as many as I saw as a child.)
2. Prepare for my Highlights workshop The Craft and Heart off Writing Poetry For Children 9/19/ ‑9/23/21 at the Retreat Center, by reading more poetry and writing more poetry. I have been wanting to take a class like this for years. I am so looking forward to learning from Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Georgia Heard, Janet Wong, and Rebecca M. Davis! Yay! Is anyone also doing this retreat?
3. Take photos as usually do, but to actually use them as photo prompts instead of forgetting to.
Hope your husband and you are settling nicely into your new home. Hope you feel inspired and lighter by decluttering all the boxes you guys did. That’s going on my bucket list even though I’m not moving.
4. DECLUTTER!!!
Thank so much for your inspiration and enjoy being observant of fireflies and the rest of nature.
What a lovely list, Gail. Full of life, productivity, and creation :>)