The Red Wheelbarrow

The next two weeks we will be reading "Love That Dog" by Sharon Creech. I love this book. It's so special. I love the way this book takes some of my favorite poetry and introduces it to kids. I love that.

Tomorrow's poem will be William Carlos' Williams "Red Wheelbarrow." The students will be writing poems that start with the phrase "So much depends on..."

I will start mine -

So much depends on a good book -


Now how do I end it?

A Birthday Reminder...

Next week, the beautiful Natalie June will be eleven. Now what to get her for her birthday? I have no idea. It used to be so easy. Barbie dolls. Baby dolls. Lincoln Logs. Now she is just five inches shorter than I. Do we just go to the Gap? Do we go get a manicure together? Do I buy her an ipod dock?

I started mourning her childhood. And then, thank goodness she made her own tree fort. A little girl would do that. A little girl would take all of her dad's tree branches and just use them before he started cutting them into his wood pile for his shop. I don't have to say goodbye to her childhood just yet.

When her birthday approaches, I always remember what it was like to be an expectant mother. I remember the dreams I had. Once I dreamed that I had her at home. I couldn't make it to the hospital on time even though we lived two blocks away from the hospital. I dreamed that I took her in my arms and told Jason, "Look, it's a Natalie June." I had dreamed she how beautiful she was.

A week later, I had my ultrasound. The technician wasn't going to tell me what she was because Jason didn't want to know. I told the technician that Jason wasn't his patient. I was.

Oh.. and in case you didn't know... I was right about Nat being a girl.

My sister was pregnant at the same time. She was convinced that she was having a girl too. I said, "Sorry. I dreamed Natalie was playing with a little boy." And of course, I was right.

One thing the surprised me about being pregnant was how much Natalie moved. I remember taking a bath and watching her kick around. My belly looked like a microwave popcorn bag with all the movements.

I knew people could feel the baby move. I knew moms could feel the baby move. But I was surprised at how you could practically see an elbow move back and forth across my belly.

Halloween...

I will always be creeped out by Halloween. I think it stems back to the Halloween movies. Now, my mom and dad were pretty protective, but for some reason, we had HBO and when mom's rheumatoid acted up any TV channel was free game. So my sister and I watched pretty much whatever we wanted.

Another thing that freaked me out is that Red Lake Falls was a wild town back in the day. I mean WILD. Like kids riding-around-the-back-of-pick-ups-yelling-at-little-kids and-old-ladies wild. Red Lake County was so wild that Brooks teens burned down their school. Red Lake county was so wild that the Oklee School janitor would stand guard Halloween night to protect the school. This is not a hyperbole.

One year, a particular wild group decided to burn down deserted homes. Our house was a century old and at the time pink. Metal siding pink. Our house was very, very ugly before my parents remodeled it. I remember hearing my parents whisper about the arson that night. I must have been about Allie's age. I was so scared that I cried so hard I hyperventilated.

My mom had to sleep with me that night.

Things have calmed down quite a bit in Red Lake Falls. Thank Goodness. I need my sleep.

Talk

Jason and I bought a different car - not a new car - but a car that has a working horn. A car that has windows that roll down. I have cruise control.

For some reason, this amazes some of the ninth graders.

"Mrs.Aakhus I love your new car."

"Woe... Mrs. Aakhus nice car."

"Hey... " They turn to their friends "Did I tell you I got to see the inside of Mrs. Aakhus' car?"

I suppose my rusted-out-crashed-up mini van was not the epitome of cool.

Natalie

The past few weeks Natalie has been inspired to write. I love it. She is an awesome writer. Her poetry is so sweet, kind, and magical. She's always reminded me of her father - opinionated, clever, and concise. It's nice to see a little of myself in her. Sometimes, I've wondered if this tall blond-haired beauty could be mine. Can you doubt maternity?

Now, I know. She has a little bit of her momma in her. When I read her poetry and other works from school, I can see she will be even a better writer than her momma!