The Scampering Horse

We recently made a trip to Apache Junction, Arizona. Ian's dad had a heart attack, and died, and was brought back to life through CPR and intubation.  For a couple of weeks there I had a lot of worry about him and what it would mean to Ian, and my own grief to process. Thinking about mortality is hard. Dads in the ICU is hard. Over our spring break we were able to visit the Mesa area, spend some time with family, hang out briefly with friends, and enjoy the sun. Also soda. Turns out I love soda, especially mixed sodas such as can be purchased from Sodalicious, and Soda Rush. I prefer Soda Rush, and my drink is the Miguel: Coke, coconut, and fresh lime. It is the best thing ever. Some other highlights from the trip were meeting my facebook friends the Rogans, having lunch at Cafe Rio with Janette Skinner, Thai food with Boyce and Jeremy (college friends) going to the beautiful Gilbert temple on my own, rock wall climbing with Jenifer Hall, visiting w ith Kristi Harris, getting photo

I remember the smell of pencil dust. Do you know that smell? The aroma, and yes, for me it was an aroma, that came from placing my yellow pencil in the correctly gauged metal hole,  twisting the handle, feeling the tension on the pencil, and the dust sprinkle from the bottom container, because that seal was not made for keeping dust in. That dust represented words I hadn't yet written, or a test I was about to do well on. It was the promise of writing. Sometimes the sun would hit the dust just right, and it would look like pixie dust. Pencils are my jam. I like Ticonderoga pencils best. Their lead is like chocolate, and the erasers work like smooth operators. Mistakes with Ticonderoga pencils feel like an adventure, and a chance to feel a pencil live up to its full potential. I have always wanted to be a teacher. Since I was a little girl. Well, a teacher and a writer. I am figuring out the seasons and reasons for each of these roles. This year I really dove into the role o