Spring Cleaning

Mom helping me plant flowers at my own first house- spring 1990.

by Janet Sobczyk, 2013ⓒ

There's something about the first warm days of spring
that makes me want to clear leaves out of flowerbeds,
sweep the porch, clean out the cars, and
wash my windows and curtains.

I don't feel that strongly about those things
at any other time of the year, so why then?
Maybe it's because of my mom,
who set a fine example for years.

Twice a year, spring and fall, without fail,
she would go full speed cleaning the house and cars.
She washed walls, windows, and floors.
Always top to bottom, of course.

All the furniture would be moved, cleaned, rearranged.
The vacuum would probe every corner.
Sometimes tiny treasures were found
under the couch or behind the console TV.

As a child I enjoyed watching her.
Sometimes it was best to stay out of the way
before being enlisted to lend a hand.
But I always enjoyed the finished results.

Rooms that almost glowed.
Everything seemed so fresh and pretty.
I loved the novelty of furniture in new places
and clean windows open to the breeze.

This is the first year that Mom is not spring cleaning.
She talks about wanting to work in the yard
and needing to clean windows.
But she doesn't have to now; she is in "assisted living."

She can't quite adjust to having things done for her.
After so many years of spring and fall cleanings,
she still thinks it needs to be on her to-do list.
I guess a woman's work really is never done.

Monica's First Communion

It's the time of year for many children to be receiving their First Holy Communion and it brings to mind the year that Monica received it. 

For me it was as stressful as a wedding because of her contrariness, so typical of children with Down syndrome.  Would she wear the fancy dress? (Yes, but not be happy about it.)  Would she wear the flower and ribbon veil?  (Absolutely not!)  Would she process down the aisle with her classmates?  (Yes!)  Would she remember what to do when she went up to Communion?  (Sort of.)  Would she stand still for photos or smile?  (Some yes, some no.)  Would she use good manners at her party?  (Only after taking off the fancy dress and getting into comfortable attire.)

Monica with her Godparents

Monica and Peter show off her banner.

Monica and Joe celebrate afterwards.

Monica's First Communion
 by Janet Sobczyk, 2013ⓒ

The pretty white dress,

was too fancy for her taste.

The simple ribbon veil

was not to be tolerated.

But high heeled shoes

made her feel like a queen!

Now, would she perform?

Stand in line?  No way!

Smile for a class photo?

You've got to be kidding!

But add a brother or two

and her smiles were real.

She sang all the songs

and said all the prayers.

When it was finally time

she walked up with Dad

and willingly received Jesus,

her bread of life.

Mass was soon over,

it was time to party! 

But not until the dress

was hung on display,

so she could finally wear

comfy clothes instead.

The next Sunday she

knew just what to do.

No pressure, just joy.

Not standing out,

she was part of the crowd,

quietly happy and proud.

A Poinsettia at Easter Time

A Poinsettia at Easter Time

Every year at Christmas Tom gives me a poinsettia plant.  And every year when it looks all dead in late January, I throw it out.  

This year I learned that poinsettias are a lot like rose bushes.  If they are pruned, they survive a dormant stage and sprout greenery again.  So I tried it and was tickled to watch it coming back to life!  I realized that this plant's stages have a tangible correlation to Christmas joy (in its red and green beauty), Lenten sorrow (in its dying), and Easter Resurrection (in its new life).

I don't have much of a green thumb, and many would think my "revelation" is elementary, but watching that plant change from December through March has given me a lot to think about this Lent.  Not just about Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection, but about the daily deaths and rebirths, losses and gains, that humans experience in our daily lives. 

Seeing that plant turn green after looking so black and wilted, gives me hope for healing in any areas of my own life that have felt dead and lifeless.  It helps me to remember that painful losses are our pruning, and with time and patience and care, the pruning can lead to beautiful changes.

Happy Easter to all!

City Ducks

Sue with white duck, Jan and Ann with brown ducks.

   I wrote this poem as part of a series on pets we had when I was growing up.  The variety of pets we owned in Iowa is a testament to my mother’s love of animals.  That legacy continues with stories of pets that my children have had, too. 

  The ending of this poem is a happy note that we made the right decision for the ducks.  But as a child, I was sad that the ducks did not come to us or seem to remember us.  

Important note:  I do not endorse giving baby ducks or chicks to kids for Easter, unless the family lives on a farm.  I recently read an article about a duck rescue org that gets flooded with Easter ducks when the family realizes how much care (and poop scooping) they require.  Some people think these ducks can just be released at a pond or lake, but ducks do not usually survive the transition from tame to wild.  It's just as abusive as abandoning an unwanted cat or dog.  So please do not consider this a promotion for giving ducklings as gifts.

City Ducks by Janet Sobczyk, 2012ⓒ

One Easter I got a gift,

a most unusual gift,

a cute little baby duck.

My sisters got ducklings, too,

and we loved them as our own,

three baby ducks for three girls.

We didn’t live on a farm,

Dad was a city banker

and Mom just loved animals.

The ducks stayed in a small pen

in our warm basement at night,

and played outside everyday.

Their little fuzzy wings grew

and sprouted long, sleek feathers

which they flapped and learned to fly.

From our shoulders they took off

and then fluttered to the ground,

like proud mamas we helped them.

Ducks in the city, oh my!

Cars would pull over to watch,

It was an amazing sight.

When they became fully grown

we knew they needed more room

to swim and fly and be free.

So we took them to a farm

and said our last sad goodbyes,

we hated to leave them there.

But we went back to visit

and found our three ducks swimming

on a pond with their new flock.

This blurry photo is my daughter, Andrea,
 with a duck she was given
from her camp's taxidermy collection.

They looked happy and took off

with dozens of other ducks

soaring up into the sky.

Lucky the Leprechaun

This is a lantern poem.  The lines have syllables from 1 to 5, which creates the shape. It's about a small St. Patrick's Day decoration that I display on a little shelf in our bathroom each March. 
  
One year the leprechaun started moving around the room.  I never knew for sure who was placing it in different spots each day, but I suspect my husband started it and the kids joined in.  It has become a bit of a tradition that the leprechaun moves each year.   

Last year I took photos of his "antics" and then shared the story with the first graders where I work.  I could honestly tell them I've never actually seen him move, but somehow he ends up in different places. Their reactions changed from disbelief to excitement when I showed them the photos. 

Some students thought the photos proved he was real, like the characters in  the movie, "Toy Story," which come alive when people aren't looking. They named him Lucky and wrote sentences about him.  Their illustrations were priceless.  :)

Lucky the Leprechaun

by Janet Sobcyzk, 2012ⓒ

Green

Plastic

Moves unseen

Surprises me

Where will he be next?

Lucky on our shower door

 

Celebrating Heritage

Some schools celebrate St. Patrick's Day a little differently.  Instead of everyone wearing green, students are encouraged to wear the colors of their heritage or an ethnic costume.

In 1998 this is how my two daughters looked in Polish heritage costumes (not authentic).  They took homemade Polish cookies to their classes as a treat.  

Found old photos!!

At long last my old photos have been located and I have had fun inserting some into my older posts.  Check them out  by going to my blog archive at the left.  Click on "2012" and go to the posts in June, July, and November.  Gotta love old photos!