In honor of what would have been my beloved father’s ninety-second earthly birthday, I wrote this fish tale based on a treasury of childhood fishing trips. The lessons, laughter, and love shared during those times remain priceless gifts. He loved fishing in creeks, lakes, and rivers, especially with his children, grandchildren, and brothers. Best wishes that he enjoy an eternity of fishing in heavenly waters.
Do you celebrate Christmas in July? If so, how do you deck the halls during the hottest month? I’ve never been to or hosted a sunny Christmas event, but I am now intrigued. After missing out on face-to-face Christmas festivities last year due to Covid, I wonder how many made up for it with a holly jolly July gathering of friends and family.
Hi friends. I was having, uh, some technical difficulties, so I took a bit of a break from blogging.
Whoa! Over two years later and that’s my lame excuse? Technical difficulties? Let me try again. Since the Coronavirus starting spread death, disease, and despair all over the spring of 2020, I have a new slew of excuses of why I could not, would not post a blog. Not with a moose. Not with a dog. Essentially, I gave up on writing. Dammit Donna!
You know, I still can’t get these words right, but I’m going to keep trying until I complete this attempted comeback piece. I want to stick with creativity, and although it’s really hard to put myself back out there, I must. I promised myself I would today after teaching summer school to the many students who worked to recover credits from one of the toughest years in education worldwide. If these kids could try, try again and follow through, then I had to prove that I could as well. What kind of teacher would I be to quit trying?
Eventually, I’ll share stories of what I’ve been up to and how I’ve strived to survive and thrive during the Covid Pandemic, but for now I rather offer a few brief, silly videos of how hard it can be to succeed at giving up.
About ten years ago, some friends and I took a women’s self-defense class at Flying Tigers, a local martial arts school. The class culminated with Master Anton giving us moms a chance to break a board, as our children did in Flying Tigers Tae Kwon Do classes.
Board breaking is a martial arts hallmark to show confidence, technique, speed, and focus. I lacked these things when it came to splitting that pine, and more recently, when writing blogs, essays, and short stories. In both activities, I stopped short of the victory of completion.
Turn up your volume to hear the many lessons and laughs that broke out that day filled with patience, persistence, and support.
Magic can only be found within.
Why oh why do I keep getting in my own way?
1-2-3. I gotta be done with this!
If you are struggling right now, quit quitting. Keep moving and grooving, change things up, find support, hone your skills, and surprise yourself with opening up a day of treasures. If you have a heart of hope, share it. Shine on!
I look forward to writing more, reaching out, and connecting with you. Contact and follow here for more Sunshine (and a chance of Dammit Donna).
Let’s end with some extra motivation found in the The Teacher’s Manual by Thomas H. Palmer:
Try, Try Again
’Tis a lesson you should heed,
If at first you don’t succeed,
Try, try again;
Then your courage should appear,
For if you will persevere,
You will conquer, never fear
Try, try again;
Once or twice, though you should fail,
If you would at last prevail,
Try, try again;
If we strive, ‘tis no disgrace
Though we do not win the race;
What should you do in the case?
Try, try again
If you find your task is hard,
Time will bring you your reward,
Try, try again
All that other folks can do,
Why, with patience, should not you?
Only keep this rule in view:
Try, try again.
Days of Part-Time Sunshine 