Sunday, September 11, 2022

 Sunday, September 11, 2022

    I left early for church but arrived at the same time. I saw Judy and Paulette in the parking lot. Judy begged me to join them inside the church. I prefer sitting outside on the south lanai because of the continuing presence of Covid and because it’s freezing cold inside the church. Judy chose where she usually sits because she likes to be close to the altar and supports a young military vet with PSTD. He recently moved to the Big Island to live with his mother. He was reconnecting with the church in a big way. He liked sitting up front, too. He was surrounded by some of my favorite people in the church, all invested in supporting this young man.

  After mass, I said hello to Sandor and got my hug. He agreed that my eye exam at the DMV was probably inaccurate. The viewfinder distorted my eyes’ relationship to the glasses. It forced me to view the numbers through the middle section, designed for computer viewing. However, he was concerned that I might be experiencing some macular degeneration. He would call me later and schedule an appointment to get testing.

    I had my Sunday appointment with the M & W sisters. They both do great work. Second-grade M could probably use more writing practice. Her verbal expression skills are weak. She has asked to “play” the Gating Game in the past several sessions. Today, she asked to “play” the question game. She has trouble with some of the abstract concepts. I wasn’t sure if this was a problem specific to her or if I was asking something unreasonable of a child her age.    

   Sixth grade W wanted to continue with the Gating Game. She is in her first year of a high-power academic private school. It’s a big change from the public school. So far, she is doing well. I asked her how she was doing with the reading requirements. She said she liked reading. “Words are patient.” What a remarkable statement. I shared it with Judy immediately. I will share it with all the children I teach.