Boyd Hill March 8, 2018

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FL Botanical to Largo Preserve March 7, 2018

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snow day

As it snows there today a foot or more in early March

We are fifteen hundred miles south of you

Living this winter in another time of life

Where no school cancellation snow days happen for us.

It has been half a year since you set up your own household

Establishing your independence, enjoying your self-reliance

And now you are taking care of us in our absence

Watering our plants and forwarding the mail.

I remember the time it snowed a blizzard on your birthday

When you were in preschool and so excited for your party

I drove around and picked up your playmate friends

Making that celebration happen despite the weather.

That day is one of countless memories that visit my thoughts

When I lie half-awake in the very early morning

Drifting in and out between past people and places

Now that there’s no alarm clock rousing me off to work.

Happily the storm brings you a gift holiday from teaching fifth grade

A chance to rest up and recover your emotional energy

For a job more complex and involved than I could manage

Needing to teach social life skills not just the subject matter.

What I can do is set down these words keeping up our tradition

Thinking you value this form of annual acknowledgement

You are a good person doing your best doing well

Making me proud how you handle life’s challenges.

I look forward next month to resuming our weekly dinners

Hearing the passionate details of conflict and resolution

Listening to the way you approach solving problems

Using your excellent people skills to work out solutions.

John Chesnut March 6, 2018

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