Saturday, August 25, 2012

Spring's Kind Words

The writing class I taught, which began in the dark of the winter winds, has concluded in the twilight of the much welcomed spring. Three women, all with their own agendas, their own goals, came together and thoughtfully, and with extreme humor, lifted each other to a place, which I believe, never occurred to them they would go. At least not in the beginning.

The individuality which expresses itself in writing is a constant amazement to me. Thank goodness it always surprises me how the right words, the collective thought, conveys a new way of looking at a situation or an idea, which may appear, at first, mundane or irrelevant. For me, this provides hope. It’s a reminder each new day may start off with a pearly haze over the sun, but in the same way the jet stream alters the atmosphere, by evening, events not possibly imaged, have transformed lives and directions. This happens every day...all over the world. 

Good writing takes you on the same trip. Reading the first words, ready to be sent off to one place and then, quite startlingly, when reaching the end of a piece, you discover you’ve arrived on a beach you never knew existed. Someone’s thoughtful introspect of words well chosen has the same effect. Said with kindness, it only takes a minute, a few seconds, to impart a positive change. Whether written or spoken.  I saw it take place on the last night of our class and it made me want to come back for more. 

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Pho and Bun…Try it, Just for Fun


On Saturday the line will be out the door, and while Vietnamese food is relatively uncommon when dining out, this diminutive restaurant boasts fresh, humble ingredients. What happens when those ingredients are united, is what makes this place truly notable.

Spring rolls, hot and sour soup, and fried rice diminutively pepper the menu. Are they serving Chinese food or Vietnamese you may ask?

Vietnamese food certainly has influences from other countries such as China and Thailand, but it’s the fine subtleties to each of those dishes; fresh mint, lemon grass, Vietnamese sausage which makes these more common foods, unique. Names such as pho and bun dominate the menu…but you’ll just have to go there to find out what they are, as any description here would be an injustice.

I hesitate to give the name and location as I would prefer the lines stay short, but it would be unfair for me to keep this sparkling gem to myself.

Pho Vietnam Restaurant

56 Padanaram Road

Danbury, Ct

Open 7 days a week

Sunday to Thursday 11-9

Friday and Saturday 11-10.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Fractions


Today I had to help a 2nd grader with fractions. Retrieving buried information from my early elementary years proved comical. The little girl, Annie, who waited patiently as I drew a picture of a circle to illustrate a pie, Then the hard part came in explaining how all little parts of the pie make up a whole.
    After I finished with homework help at the library, I thought of my mother. Today is the anniversary of her death. I couldn't help feeling her presence as I struggled to make sure Annie knew the correct answer.  Or a celestial chuckle when I had to get her attention. Math has always been a struggle for me. My lack of homework skills never made it easier. The nights with my mother trying to explain mathematical concepts appeared while I googled an example for my young student.
       Now I'm sitting with a glass of red wine wondering if I should take a class to brush up on my math skils.
My mother's happy to see me writing and at least wanting to get the right answers in life.