I was up well before 5:30 but then ignored the alarm and went back to sleep until 6. In my walk, I am emphasizing lifting my right hip up and to the left. When I watch myself do this in the nude, I can see my abdomen shifting over. The view of my aging body is s not for the faint-hearted, but it is interesting.
I took care of the garbage after we got home from our walk. I checked Elsa’s skin. Wow! And Oy! The wow part is where I applied Willard’s water. The oy part is where I didn’t. The friend who recommended Makes No Claims, otherwise known as Intrasound, also recommended Willard’s Water for skin conditions. When I looked for it online, I discovered it is now carried by Walmart. Walmart? Amazing. Now it’s called Dr. Willard’s,
When I read about Willard’s Water online, I discovered it was initially designed to clean grease off machinery. Those who used it found it had other benefits. I suspect rashes cleared up when it spilled on them. While I know the water as a cure for skin problems, that is not on the list. It is recommended for internal use to clear up all sorts of issues. It’s an old-fashioned Elixir. I have been applying it straight to affected areas on Elsa’s skin, although it talks about the diluted solution.
The mother of the student I worked with this summer said she was going to send me something. Today, I found a card in the mail from her. She sent me a Target gift card. Amazing. You have no idea of how rarely I have had any parent express appreciation. When I was working in a charter school in New Jersey, I was amazed when the principal told me that parents thought I walked on water. They never shared these positives views with me. Quite to the contrary, they would tell me how other teachers helped their children or how they were late developers, meaning they would have been successful even if I had not intervened.
On that note: I was told that a child I had worked with wanted to talk to me. She had asked for some help in reading, incomprehension. With good students, I have developed a method that can make a difference in one session. I didn’t get any feedback on our work. Thinking she wanted another session, I pushed her mother to allow me to talk to her. (I am doing this for free.)
I finally got her on the phone. She didn’t sound happy to hear from me. I asked her if she wanted to work with me. She said no. I said, fine. I was under the impression that she did. I asked her if the work we had done helped. She replied, “A little.” Then I asked her if she was understanding more when she read. She said yes. I asked, “A little or a lot.” She said a lot. Who knows? I found out that she was bullied into calling me to tell me that she was doing better; that was why “She wanted to talk to me.” Not. Some adult wanted her to express gratitude. In my over fifty years of teaching, if ten children have said thank you for my help without being pushed by some adult, that’s good. This child was downright hostile. No, she did not want to say thank you. No, she did not feel she owed me appreciation. I’m used to that. In fact, it is usually me who thanks the kids for allowing me to work with them.
Yes, I feel that my thanking them is appropriate. I am grateful that the students trust me enough to let me see their problems and allow me to help them. Being a student is a vulnerable position to be in. When you’re a student, you’re always in a situation where you’re the lesser one; the teacher is the greater one. It takes a healthy ego. Many of the kids I work with don’t have that ego. They are struggling to keep their self-image intact. Having to express gratitude feels demeaning, sadly. But that’s their problem.
I took my shower and was ready to head out for Zola’s house by one for our one thirty luncheon appointment. I bought croissants at Costco’s yesterday, my contribution to the meal. I also brought along Judy’s book The Hidden Face of God, which I read and reread. I finally figured out what made this book so unique. Most science books tell you a lot about what is known and make a few comments about the remaining areas of exploration. This book mentions what is known and spends more time discussing, in great detail, all that is still unknown, unsolved, and perhaps insoluble for the foreseeable future.
There were six for us for lunch. I had proposed having lunch at Zola’s house because she has this tremendous open-air lanai. The air would be moving at a good clip, and chances of getting the virus significantly reduced. I had forgotten about the incredible view. The food was great, and we had some good laughs. I was going to stop off at Home Depot on my way home to pick up fans and a faucet, but I was too tired. I headed home for a nap.
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Musings:
Before Mike died, he expressed dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party. He said they couldn’t get their act together. Now, I realize why they can’t.
The Republican Party is monolithic; everyone is the same. I heard on the radio that a twenty-year-old Republican will be the same as and hold the same views as an eighty-year-old banker. The Democratic Party is the party of diversity.
The Republican Party, true to itself, works to eliminate differences. It openly aims to make this country Christian and, in less overt ways, works to make this country white. The Democratic party overtly aims to work or harmony in diversity. Finding a way to meld diverse groups into a cohesive whole is much more labor-intensive.
The question is to we want diversity, or do we want to eliminate all those who do not support the white Christian lifestyle? What kind of country do we want to be? The irony is that Christ advocated providing support for the outsiders, those in debt, the sinners, and those not of his tribe.
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