Jessica Dofflemyer

Posted on August 25, 2011 by Jessica Dofflemyer

Book Order Blues

Jeb wakes before the sun and emerges from his bedroom clutching the latest Scholastic book order catalogue. He wants to sit together and peruse his top picks.

Ever-supportive of nurturing the love of reading, I acquiesce and surrender my writing hour to a different kind of literary exercise. Flipping past Amelia Bedelia and Captain Underpants, my son goes straight to the featured Lego section. I wish that I could craft this post to reflect my pride in his earnest bookwormishness. But alas, that would be misleading.

In reality, his aim was in another vein. His index finger pointing to the highlighted Lego DS video game, available for only $20.

Bypassing nearly all things book, my morning writing was being thwarted by an electronic game and the ensuing push and pull of “please, mom, please, this is the only thing I want to buy.”

Ugh.

No poetry to post this morning or any kind of inspired perspective. The Scholastic book order form has been temporarily shelved, though I’m not budging on my refusal to purchase video games through the school’s book catalogue.

Come on, Scholastic! Give a mom a break.

Well, I’m laughing, actually. I guess they gave me a post. Even if it is completely mundane.

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Jessica Dofflemyer

Of Course Things Like That Can Happen

“…And still,

Light stretches its arms

Open even more

And shouts to you, because you are His lover,

To forget your harsh actions of the past

And just Dance!”

~ Hafiz from “Of Course Things Like That Can Happen”

Posted on August 23, 2011 by Jessica Dofflemyer

After Snooze

Just as my fingers move to type some sort of expression on the beauty of ‘switching channels’, Jeb’s alarm sounds with an early morning wake-up.

He sleeps, undisturbed. I hit snooze.

I was coming here to say something about how life offers opportunities. Maybe it’s a music concert, or a hike through the woods. A late-night conversation with a friend. Sometimes these experiences expand us. All those petty worries, they dissolve in the wake of something greater. Some broadened perspective. Something that feels alive and vibrant. Something more tangible than thought.

I know snooze won’t last much longer in this morning’s writing hour. I’m going to have to bring my expanded self to a breakfast session of study time. Jeb’s got a math test today. I’ve got a long work day ahead.

I get to wink at the mundane details. Maybe even laugh when they try to fit me in their boxes. I’ll let expansion carry me.

Smile at that alarm…there it is. It chimes awakening.