What I Learned This Week(ish) #7

1. Tempe Splash Playground will make summer bearable.  It is large, in charge and staffed with lifeguards and a first-aid station.  We finally got over there for the first time this afternoon.  Olivia particularly enjoyed the slide.

2. Strange things are afoot. Based on casual observation, I'm guessing there must be 50 Circle K's within a 1 mile radius of where we live in Tempe. The other, sad, washed-out looking Friendly Marts must have something to offer to stay in business, but standing in their poorly maintained parking lots, there is no way to tell what it might be. Circle K. What else do I need?

3. I have a lot to study for this reading endorsement test.  I think.  I waver from confidence to despair every time I sit to study.  I need to find out what percentage the written portion represents.  I can do multiple choice.  Oh, yeah.

More later, blogsumers.  

Swinging

Swinging with my Daughter

I give her a small push

seat myself in the swing next to her

pump my legs two or three times

then hold my legs in front, swinging, watching her.

She pulls and pumps.

Me in my windbreaker and work pants

She in knit pants, snags in the knees

    her unzipped sweatshirt hanging from her shoulders

    her mouth orange from cheese puffs

I slow and wait

until we swing in unison

Then, as she accelerates

I pump my legs and we keep time with one another

metronome

for the melody

of this fall day

adagio

She watches my legs

up

and back

up

and back

and keeps rhythm with me.

her face parallel to mine

her satisfied smile, her two missing teeth

her dark hair flies off her forehead

and back into her face.

two strands trapped in the corners of her smile

I pull and push faster

climbing higher

toward the palms

silhouetted in  a pure blue

Lightness

Weight

Lightness

Weight

Lightness

Weight

We defy gravity

opposite one another. 

ahead, she turns to laugh

behind, I lean back

to view my topsy-turvy girl.

I slow my legs

allow the earth its pull.

She pumps hers...

then stops. 

We slow

arcing past each other

at odd

syncopated            

lengths

our feet trail in the sand

we hop off

I offer my hand

Photo from another lovely Himmel Park visit: