The Count and I....

When Caleb was only about 18 months old, like most little ones that age, he loved to watch Sesame Street. Each day there was a number of the day and a letter sponsor. We started watching because of his attraction to the adorable little red toddler, Elmo. But soon, Caleb began to recognize his numbers thanks to the feisty "Count" who made learning numbers fun. He looked forward to the lively sessions in which The Count would take him on a musical number encounter.

Sometimes The Count would do a dance that was choreographed to a catchy tune that included the lyrics "doing the batty bat"... Scooping Caleb up in my arms, I would bounce/dance him around the room in at a waltz-like tempo keeping time with the music. Laughing all the while, we did this dance each time The Count did the "batty bat" and we would count our way through the numbers one through fifteen each time.

When it was time for a commercial break, the segue was "this portion of Sesame Street is brought you you by the letter ___ and the number ___." Yet one more opportunity for Caleb to have numbers and letters reinforced. Yet one more opportunity for me to laugh and smile with genuine joy as I watched my precious babe.

Today, as I was counting the number of days until I leave for Tennessee (and Caleb) I arrived at the number six and from somewhere in my memory bank, a flashback of Caleb and me waltzing around the living room to The Count singing his number song and the two of us "doing the batty bat". All day I have had an echo in my head: "The number of the day is 6." And another echo: "This portion is brought to you by the letter "T" (that would be "T" for Tennessee!!!)

Tomorrow it will be the letter "P" for Pack and the number of the day will be 5. There's precious little of that left to be done, actually. But every time I turn around I think of something else that I want to be sure to take with me.

Monday's sponsor is the letter "R" for remembering the awful day five years ago when our whole world changed right about the time Sesame Street was airing on PBS. Even the huge amount of joy I am feeling about the upcoming new life I am mapping out for myself cannot overshadow the deeply emotional feelings each time 9/11 comes to mind. Monday's number of the day will be 4 - for the 4seasons that beckon me.

Tuesday's number of the day will be 3 and the letter sponsor will be "F" for friends who want to have one last cup of coffee or say goodbye.

Wednesday will bring with it the number 2. Two more day until I am Tennessee bound! And Wednesday will be sponsored by the letter "G" as in "Getting ready to GO" - GO to Tennessee!

Thursday, I will be mentally waltzing around the room with the number "1" and the letter "C." "C" for Caleb - I will be on my way soon, dear little one! MY little ONE and only ONE more day until I start my trip to be near you once again.

With Friday, the letter of the day has no choice but to be "J" for the sheer joy that has been bubbling up from the very bottom of my heart as I have prepared for the day. And, the number ZERO will lead me to my new life!

With each day full of anticipation, I am amazed that the memories of Caleb, The Count and Me came rushing back with such strength today... But I am oh so glad that they did. It seems rather fitting actually. Caleb is one of the reasons I chose Tennessee as my destination. Caleb is the reason for so much joy in my life. Tennessee promises freedom, joy and Caleb... in just six more days!

Teapot Tales

When I used my teapot collection as the basis for a story in my Story Circle Network writing e-circle, several of my writing sisters suggested that I consider writing the stories of specific teapots in my collection.
After their suggestions, I went so far as to assign names to some of them (and am still working on names for others) Teapot Rose, Teapot Grace and Teapot Belle are all here with you as you read this entry - as are some of the yet to be named teapots.

My pending move to Tennessee seems like the perfect time to act on those suggestions and begin the teapot tales in earnest. Why now? Well... As I mentioned in a previous post, I am not taking all of my belongings with me on the first pass. Some of my belongings are staying behind for now. Some are going to be packed and sent to me. Some will be packed safely for my daughter to keep til she comes up to visit later this fall.

Because I am heading directly into autumn, I feel fairly certain that I will have plenty of opportunities to steep a nice pot of tea and enjoy it in the cool night air. What better way to do so than with one of the teapots from my collection? And, of course, what better vessel for enjoying that tea than from one of my bone china tea cups - of equally sentimental value?

But how to decide which one will go and which ones will stay behind? Now that is a tricky question! It's like asking a mother which one of her kids she wants to take along if she had to choose. Her natural instinct is to want to take all of them - keep them close to her - protect them from others who might not care for them in the same loving way she would. But, in the case of my teapots, it just isn't practical to take them all with me.

Afterall, I am not going to be settling into one place and staying there for more than three or six months just now. And, I certainly know that the more times I pack and unpack those china teapots, the more chances there are for breakage or loss.
And so, it seems as though I find myself standing in front of my teapot collection on a daily basis. Remembering how each of them came into my life. Pondering what their beauty brings to my soul and my kitchen. And reflecting on times shared with others in the enjoyment of each teapot. How to choose? Perhaps letting their stories guide me to the selection will also result in the creation of the teapot tales... I'd like to think so!

Some days it seems that a few of them are shrinking back into the recesses of their display... hiding... not wanting to be wrapped in old newsprint any more... not wanting to be uprooted from the comfortable nitch they have found for themselves. While others seem to be shouting "pick me! pick me!"

My days here in Florida are numbered. ELEVEN to be exact! During the next few of those eleven days, I need to listen carefully to what each of those teapots is telling me. I need to choose wisely so that I can spend those "honeymoon days" of time in Tennessee with the one that will bring me enough comfort to last til I can have the whole collection with me once again.
And, I need to jot down a few notes so that I can continue with the teapot tales once I am at liberty to while away my days and nights entertaining my muse - with tea of course! (Stay tuned for the teapot tales as they unfold to my muse and she whispers them in my ear on the cool autumn nights!)

Cabin Fever

It happens every year about this time - the Florida version of cabin fever. For the most part, I have always attributed it to the fact that, by September, it has been three months or more since it was pleasant enough to have the windows open. Fresh air seems like a figment of my imagination by this time of year here. The stale air of air conditioning is a way of life. And the outside air at nearly 100% humidity most days is so thick that it is beyond oppressive.

This year it's different, however. This year, it is just as hot and humid. The long stretch of closed windows and air conditioned rooms is real. But, this year, I am on the verge of escaping this September cabin fever and my tolerance is tempered by knowing that in a matter of two weeks I will be in Tennessee.

I searched on line today and discovered that it is only in the mid-70's in Kingsport these days. More importantly, I read that the humidity is only in the 60-70% range and the temperatures reportedly are dipping into the 50's at night. I can almost feel the air blowing through open windows, a feel of freshness to the air and nighttime temps that are ripe for "good sleeping weather."

I'm in the process of packing to make the move. And, since this is the first step in the process of creating a new life, I am limited as to just how much I can / should take with me this time. Some things will need to stay behind permanently. Others can be sent to me later. For right now, the essentials and a few things to help me create my own sacred and creative spaces (and of course my two kitties) are about all that are going to fit in my car.

As I sorted through my clothing, I realized that I was choosing some items to take based on the fact that I know the temperatures will be changing to the cooler fall weather soon. Other items were picked to stay behind because for the first time in nearly 30 years I found myself thinking that I won't be needing sandals and white clothing because it is after Labor Day! Honestly!

When I first moved to Florida, it took me a few years to shake that notion that my Gramm had so well ingrained in me as I was growing up in Pennsylvania. And once I got used to the idea that shorts, sleeveless tops, sandals and WHITE could be worn year-round it became second nature. But there was always the longing to wear sweaters, fall colors, and layers for fashion as well as comfort. I know that some will find this to be an odd sort of longing but from a 'fall gal at heart' it is as real as any longing I have ever felt.

In another month or so, I may be shivering under those fall clothing layers. But the one thing you won't find me doing is closing all the windows and throwing on some unnatural way of climate control. Nor will you find me complaining about the cooler weather. I look forward to it with all the enthusiasm of a child waiting for Christmas!