Spiritual Journey Thursday: Service

Ruth Hersey is hosting on this Maundy Thursday and asked us to write about service. Check out Ruth's post where you can find links to the reflections of other spiritual travelers. Feel free to join us with your own thoughts. We are an open and welcoming group who post on the first Thursday of the month.

 

In honor of National Poetry Month, I'm sharing a favorite poem, "Everyday Grace" by Stella Nesanovich from the Poetry Foundation website. Please stop now, click on the link, and read her poem.

I chose to write an acrostic using the poet's words, "holy ground." You'll recognize ideas from the poem in my Holy Ground acrostic as I wrote about our theme of service. My gratitude to the poet, Stella Nesanovich, for inspiration for today's poem.

 

Holy Ground 

 

He set the example by washing the feet

Of His disciples. Sometimes you 

Lift a friend through prayer, sometimes

You offer the quiet heart that listens.

  

Gentle expressions of caring concern 

Reveal the hope that stitches

Our precarious world together. Simple actions can 

Unleash goodness in a world so in 

Need of solace. Offer a smile, listen, reach out.

Decide now to extend grace everyday. 

                               - Ramona Behnke 

SOL 31/31: Bookending my Fifteenth Year with Poems

I started working on this fibonacci poem for Day 31 three days ago. It wasn't until this morning that I noticed that I had kicked off this month of writing with a free verse poem, "A Cheer for Day One." And poems became my favorite style of slicing as you can see by this breakdown of the 11 poems (sorted by format) created during this month.

1 free verse poem

1 tricube (for day 3, of course)

3 haiku

1 limerick (for St. Patrick's Day) 

1 cento (thanks Kim for the inspiration)

3 fibonacci (thanks Natalie for reminding me of this form)

1 book spine poem

And with no further ado, I bring you my final poem (a fibonacci*) for this month of slicing.

Our 

month

concludes.

Story threads 

weave a tapestry

connecting our community.  

*fibonacci poem -  6 line, 20 syllable poem. It follows the Fibonacci sequence for syllables in each line. The six lines have a syllable count of 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8 respectively.

See you on Tuesdays! 

Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for creating this challenge and providing the space and support for us year after year. And thanks to this magnificent community for sharing stories with me and encouraging my writing life.

 

SOL 30/31: Book Spine Poem

A fellow blogger (sorry, I can't remember who) shared a book spine poem yesterday and I realized that I hadn't used this form for a slice this month. Some years I use it several times.

The books all came from my library book basket. Limiting the number of books you use is key to a quick book spine poem and sometimes the stars seem to align with just the right titles as they did for me this morning. 

Dear writer,

Enchantment

for a girl becoming. 

 

Goldenrod

guests on earth,

the forest of a thousand eyes.

 

Keep moving, 

trust,

gather grateful.  

 

This is my fifteenth year participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge, writing every day during the month of March. Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for creating this challenge and providing the space and support for us year after year. And thanks to this magnificent community for sharing stories with me and encouraging my writing life. 

SOL 29/31: Open Windows and Rabbit Holes

I come home from church ready to write the post I decided on during a wakeful period last night (it took me awhile to remember what it was), but it did come to me.

I notice an open window for Ms. Chiubooka Writes. I'm plagued this year with disappearing comments. I try again to leave comments on two different blog posts, but I ultimately put up the white flag and resort to the Contact button on her blog. Good grief, I don't know what is happening! It's not like I'm a newbie at this game.

And then I notice another open window. When I woke up last night and couldn't sleep, I did not succumb to the siren call of Instagram on my phone. Instead, I looked at my sadly neglected emails, convinced that this task will definitely put me back to sleep. 

I leave an open window to the Choice Literacy Special Edition: Spring Break. It's about thriving, a word I've often considered for my OLW. There's a letter from editor in chief, Ruth Ayres, an original co-founder with Stacey Shubitz of Two Writing Teachers. Ruth's letter is followed by five completely free articles (for the next week). You'll want to check them out. 

I still need to read the fifth article, but I'm interrupting this rabbit hole to bring you this slice first. 

My favorite article (so far) is Maintaining an Adult Reading Life by Dana Murphy, who also used to write for Two Writing Teachers and sliced with us back in the day.

When I read Gretchen Schroeder's article, I click on her Instagram account, mrs_schroeders_shelves. It turns out that I already follow her! I click on The Correspondent book cover and find a blog post about letter writing on her blog, "Spontaneous Delights" (don't you love that name?).

Then I force myself to write today's slice, saving that last article/rabbit hole for later today.   

SOL 28/31: By the Book

Inspired by Elisabeth's post today, I share my answers to some of the questions posed by The New York Times "By the Book" column:

Describe your ideal reading experience.

Outside, under a shade tree, in a mosquito free environment, with temps in the 70s. If I can’t have the mosquito free environment (hard to find in NC), I’ll take a wintertime read in my recliner, wrapped in a cozy blanket, with a cup of Ghiradelli hot chocolate beside me.

What books are on your night stand?

James by Percival Everett (my book club read for April); The Power of Stillness by Hess, Skarda, Anderson, and Mansfield; A Field Guide to the Heart by Georgia Heard & Rebecca Kai Dotlich; Unlocking the Heart: Writing for Mindfulness, Courage, and Self Compassion by James Crew and A Rhythm of Prayer: A Collection of Meditations for Renewal edited by Sarah Bessey.

What’s the most terrifying book you’ve ever read?

The first book club I belonged to (which I started in 1987) read Orson Scott Card’s Lost Boys in 1994. This book still sends shivers down my spine. I don’t normally read supernatural thrillers or horror. 

What’s your favorite book no one else has heard of?

The Liberation of Gabriel King by K. L. Going was my favorite read aloud to share with my 6^th graders. It’s about the friendship between Gabriel King and Frita Wilson who faced their fears and discovered what courage was all about during the summer of 1976. It has some great scenes for reading aloud and meaty topics for discussion.

What’s the best book you’ve ever received as a gift?

The Random House College Dictionary (1972) gifted to me by my best friend’s parents, Patsy and Byron Rodden as a high school graduation gift. It’s made all the moves and holds precious memories from the days when I used a dictionary much more frequently than I do today.

What’s the last great book you read?

It’s a tie between The Correspondent by Virginia Evans and This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger.

How have your reading tastes changed over time?

I went from reading Snip, Snap, Snurr picture books to the Bobbsey Twins to Nancy Drew to Trixie Belden to Cherry Ames, Student Nurse to books by Victoria Holt and Catherine Cookson. Today my favorite genres to read are historical fiction, literary fiction, memoir, and middle grade novels.

You’re organizing a literary dinner party. Which three writers, dead or alive, do you invite?

Dinner parties are way too much trouble. How about a sit and chat evening around the fireplace with everyone’s favorite takeout dishes? I’ll make dessert!

I would invite Lois Lowry (Gossamer and Number the Stars), Kate DiCamillo (Because of Winn Dixie and The Tale of Desperaux) and Aubrey Hartman (The Lion of Lark-Hayes Manor and The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest). I listed two favorites for each author. I told you I loved middle grade novels!

SOL 27/31 & Poetry Friday: A Twilight Poem and Recent Library Finds

Marcie Flinchum Atkins is hosting Poetry Friday and asked us to share a poem about twilight in honor of her new book, When Twilight Comes, arriving on Tuesday. I'm reposting a twilight poem I wrote while in Utah earlier this month and sharing two new poetry finds from my library. 

 

Sunset beckons me

Nature's marvelous paintbrush

Springtime spectacle

Photo taken by me!

March 7, 2026 

Millcreek, UT

 

 

For A Girl Becoming was a serendipitous find on our library's New Books table. As soon as I saw that Joy Harjo (a favorite poet) was the author, I snatched the book off the table. The words from the inside flap wonderfully capture the essence of this book/poem: "Captivating verse accompanied by radiant paintings conjure homes, generations of family, a land of desert horses and mountain rain, and offer the promise of guidance and the gift of belonging." I need this book to add to my collection of books that promote story and generational connections. You'll want it too!

 

I love it when a poet uses the picture book format for a collection of poems. This book arrived on my holds shelf recently. DearAcorn (Love, Oak): Letter Poems to Friends is a collaboration of nature poet, Joyce Sidman, and award-winning author and illustrator, Melissa Sweet who teamed up for this delectable book of letter poems about our natural world. The book concludes with a one page how-to for children, "Writing Letter Poems".

 

Have you discovered any new picture books of poems recently? 

 

 

This is my fifteenth year participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge, writing every day during the month of March. Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for creating this challenge and providing the space and support for us year after year. And thanks to this magnificent community for sharing stories with me and encouraging my writing life. 

SOL 26/31: A Faithful Writing Life

Credit for today's post goes to Sally who left a note for us at the end of her post: "If you are getting stuck for ideas, see if you have anything saved as a draft. Might just be the thing to get you to the finished line of this March 2026 challenge!"

Thanks, Sally for the inspiration to check my drafts where I found this almost completed post.

Today I'm sharing a few quotes about writing from my commonplace book, a handmade book I won from fellow slicer, Girl Griot in 2014.

"The holy is always there, like a luminous lifeline. In the end, it is a matter of opening the soul to seeing. (Fran Haley, Lit Bits & Pieces, 11-2-22)

"Writing is a daily practice, an opening of my heart to the whispers of my soul." (Carol Varsalona, Beyond Literacy Link) 

"When I see my days as a writer, life shimmers." (Ana Valentina Patton, Start With a Story, 2-10-26)

"And when I have a faithful writing life, I find the words, I find the story." (Leigh Anne Eck, A Day in the Life, 2-28-17)

I offer this post and these inspiring words with gratitude to so many of you who help me have a faithful writing life.

This is my fifteenth year participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge, writing every day during the month of March. Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for creating this challenge and providing the space and support for us year after year. And thanks to this magnificent community for sharing stories with me and encouraging my writing life.  

SOL 25/31: An Illustrated Haiku

A haiku with accompanying photos demonstrates how quickly spring's pageantry vanishes:

 

Blossoms herald spring

Daffodil beckons hello

Leaves whisper summer  

 

 

    

SOL 24/31: A 'Ta-Da!' List

I first heard about the 'Ta-Da!' List on the podcast, Happier with Gretchen Rubin, Episode 134. Instead of a To-Do list, a 'Ta-Da!' list looks back at a day and celebrates the things you accomplished.

My 'Ta-Da!' List for Tuesday, 3-24-2026

 

Ate breakfast 

 
Finished prepping two boxes for mailing including gift items, cards & poetry, packing material, taping exterior of packages for secure mailing, & finding correct addresses

 
 Watched grandson from 10am-12:30pm

 
Read two picture books and several chapters in a Geronimo Stilton book

 
Started mixing chocolate chip cookies with grandson

 
Paused the mixing process for an emergency run to elementary school with another grandson's lunch 

 
Prepared grandson's lunch, baked a pan of cookies, and began cleaning kitchen (which grandson said was very messy) 

 
Had a visit with a friend who moved up her 2:30 visit due to other commitments

 
Ate lunch, Went to the post office, Tried to write a blog post

 
Had a scheduled FaceTime call/birthday chat with the Three Rees

 
Delivered cookies to neighbor, Squeezed in a walk

 
Reheated leftovers for dinner, Ate, & Loaded dishwasher

 
Dashed to daughter's to get youngest grandson to bed while she & husband lead Scout groups for oldest and middle sons

 
Home, Wrote this post

   

Want to know more about the 'Ta-Da!' list? Check out this post by Brianna Schubert.

 

This is my fifteenth year participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge, writing every day during the month of March. Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for creating this challenge and providing the space and support for us year after year. And thanks to this magnificent community for sharing stories with me and encouraging my writing life. 

 

SOL 23/31: Floors and Ceilings!

Here's the quick AI explanation:

"The "floors and ceilings" approach to habit formation is

a framework used to build consistency by setting a minimum baseline ("floor") to ensure action, and a maximum limit ("ceiling") to prevent burnout. This technique addresses the main failure point in forming new habits—relying on high motivation to perform large, unsustainable actions—by focusing on small, repeatable behaviors that create momentum regardless of daily circumstances."

Here's the goal I'm currently working on:

I want to deal with the paper in my life. I have more than one box of paper that I've collected from surfaces and stashed into boxes.

The floor or baseline goal is dealing with one piece of paper from my latest box of paper. The ceiling (or maximum limit to prevent burnout) for me is spending ten minutes dealing with paper. Can you tell that I can get overwhelmed quickly?

The key to success seems to be where I place the box! I recently put the box where I see it every night when I pull the decorative pillows off the bed. So even if I've failed to deal with paper during the day, there's the box reminding me: "Just one piece of paper." Last night, I dealt with one piece of paper and seven sticky notes.

About those sticky notes - I'm trying to limit their ability to proliferate by using a wire bound journal for notes to self. When I finish dealing with a page of them, I merely rip it out of the journal.

What tips do you have for dealing with the paper in your life?

Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for creating this challenge and providing the space and support for us year after year. And thanks to this magnificent community for sharing stories with me and encouraging my writing life. 

SOL 22/31: Springtime

Day 22 deserves another Fibonacci poem. Kudos to fellow slicer, Natalie, who reintroduced me to this poetic form which follows the Fibonacci sequence for syllables in each line. The six lines have a syllable count of 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8 respectively. Credit goes to Greg Pincus for creating this form. 

 

 White 

bud,

redbuds,

glad pansy.

Promise of rebirth

Witness of His resurrection. 

 

Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for creating this challenge and providing the space and support for us year after year. And thanks to this magnificent community for sharing stories with me and encouraging my writing life. 

SOL 21/31: First Wheels

Natalie's post yesterday reminded me of the 6 line, 20 syllable Fib (Fibonacci) poem. It follows the Fibonacci sequence for syllables in each line. The six lines have a syllable count of 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8 respectively. Credit goes to Greg Pincus for creating this form.

I tried to leave a comment for Natalie, but it didn't show up. So I'm leaving it here: "Naps are so refreshing, glad you enjoyed one yesterday." And thanks for the nudge to write a Fibonacci poem. 

 

First 

wheels 

glide to 

school playground.

Grandpa adventures,

a treasure chest of memories. 

 

 

My how time flies! These grand boys are now six, nine, and ten years old. The six and nine year olds have a brother who is four. The ten year old has two sisters, four and almost six. 

 

Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for creating this challenge and providing the space and support for us year after year. And thanks to this magnificent community for sharing stories with me and encouraging my writing life. 

SOL 20/31 & Poetry Friday:

This week's Poetry Roundup is hosted by Tanita S. Davis.

Kim Johnson is featuring a living poet each day in March for Slice of Life and using existing lines from the poet's poems to create a Cento. The Cento, from the Latin word for “patchwork,” is a poetic form composed entirely of lines from poems by other poets. You can read more about Kim's process for using this in the classroom here. 

I decided to play with lines from a favorite children's anthology, Falling Down the Page: A Book of List Poems edited by Georgia Heard to create today's Cento.

 

 Poetry Fields 

My friends the words

What secrets are they holding?

Moon breathes,

listen for the right rhythm.

 Light the moon at night,

then dance a poem.

Dream! 

 

Lines taken from these poems in Falling Down the Page: 

1. "Words in My Pillow' by Naomi Shihab Nye

2. "Are We There Yet?" by Heidi Roemer

3. "Message from the Moon" by Lara Anderson

4. "Things to Do If You Are a Pencil "by Elaine Magliaro

5. "Things to Do if You Are the Sun" by Bobbi Katz

 6. "Things to Do If You Are a Pencil" by Elaine Magliaro

7. "Things to Do Today" by Liz Rosenberg

 

Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for creating this challenge and providing the space and support for us year after year. And thanks to this magnificent community for sharing stories with me and encouraging my writing life.

 

SOL 19/31: Gathering Glimmers

Yesterday fellow blogger Trish (Jump off; Find Wings) introduced me to a new word, unshazamable.

She referenced Rob Walker's post Unshazamable on his blog The Art of Noticing, with this explanation of the word:

“Unshazamable” refers to that rare occurrence—when the databases are unable to find/name that tune, when algorithms fail, when there is nothing to which it refers. It is its own creation, something beyond. Walker concludes his post with these words: “Tapping into something enjoyable that didn’t come from a database doesn’t have to take the form of consuming a particular cultural object like a rare song; it could be an experience, a moment of presence.” 

I've often referred to these moments as glimmers. According to AI: "Glimmers are small, everyday moments that spark feelings of safety, connection, and joy, acting as the opposite of triggers." Yesterday I had a glimmer or an unshazamable on my way to book club. 

I leave a bit early so I can help if daughter has any last minute chores to be done before book club. We live near a road where everyone drives the speed limit, 40 mph. I notice a gathering of deer on my right side, near the road, as if they are waiting for a break in the traffic. After a quick glance in my rear view mirror to ascertain that no one is behind me, I stop for the deer. Unfortunately, traffic on the other side of the road does not stop. I continue waiting and finally there is a break in the traffic. I count: one - two - three - four - five - six - deer as they cross the road. A remaining timid duo stands fearfully at the edge of the road. Traffic on the other side of the road picks up again as I wait for this mama and her little one. Finally, seven and eight are safely across the road just as I spy an oncoming car in my rear view mirror. I savor this "deer crossing" as I pick up speed and know that I have tomorrow's slice!

Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for creating this challenge and providing the space and support for us year after year. And thanks to this magnificent community for sharing stories with me and encouraging my writing life.

 

SOL 18/31: Picking New Books with My Oldest Book Club

 

 

• 
  
• Today's post is handwritten (see image above) so I could play with my new Sharpies and typed for efficiency.
• I belong to several book clubs, but this is my 28th year with this particular book club, MI Bookwomen. 
• After years of voting on books, we returned to an older format that allows the host to choose the book. 
• I picked The Correspondent, but so did someone else, so I went to my second choice, This Tender Land. 
• Our book club is trying out a completely Zoom format this year because so many of us have moved away. Previously, we used a hybrid in-person/Zoom format.
• True confession: This book club did not choose Isola, but I'm reading it for another book club and loving it so much that I fudged and put it on this list. James IS our April book club pick and I haven't read it yet. So many have loved this book!  
• Share a favorite book that you read recently or long ago in your comment.    

Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for creating this challenge and providing the space and support for us year after year. And thanks to this magnificent community for sharing stories with me and encouraging my writing life.

SOL 17/31: A limerick is not a quick write . . .

 

There once was a grandson named Jack

Of good books he never did lack 

We went to Walmart

He pushed round a cart

'Til wind sent us scurrying back.

 

If you read my Fortunately, Unfortunately post yesterday, then you know that grandson Jack was the hero of the hour who notified our visiting guests that high winds were ten minutes away! 

In the evening, this Grandma asked if it was okay if I indulged him with a quick library run, even though we had gone that morning. He had a hold he NEEDED badly. It was only after arriving home that I learned it was volume 10 (he has Volumes 7.5 and 8 checked out, but is still waiting on volume 9). I'm always game for a library trip, even if it's the second one in a day! 

Jack's current book obsession!

Jack ends the day with Dad's dark chocolate cream pie!

SOL 16/31: Tale of a Crazy Weather Day

Fortunately, on Sunday afternoon, we (daughter, myself, niece, and sister-in-law) were anticipating a kid-free Monday morning.

Unfortunately, the crazy weather patterns moving across the country meant no school for daughter's three boys.

Fortunately, we seemed to be escaping the worst of the weather patterns in the morning with nothing dire headed our way. We headed out to the library and then stopped at Walmart for a few items. 

Unfortunately, my daughter and husband were unable to reach us about deteriorating weather conditions because Walmart has lousy internet service.

Fortunately, a woman at the other end of the aisle where grandson and I were shopping called out frantically to us, "Ma'am, ma'am, severe winds are ten minutes away." We hurried to the front of the store and I got in line to check out.

Unfortunately, niece and sister-in-law were clear across the store & we couldn't reach them by phone. 

Fortunately, I dispatched grandson to share the impending imminent wind announcement. We checked out, hustled to the car, and headed home. 

Unfortunately, in the interim, son-in-law's work asked them to shelter in a stairwell to avoid high winds and a possible tornado, increasing daughter's worry about us being out and about. 

Fortunately, according to my husband, angelic intervention reached us in the form of the lady at Walmart who warned us to head home immediately.

Unfortunately, daughter was quite distressed by the time we arrived home. 

Fortunately, the storm passed by without too much altercation and we all settled in for a quiet afternoon. We even enticed Grandpa to stay with the three grandsons so we could make a quick trip downtown to a favorite gift store. Then we all headed to our favorite pizza place for dinner. 

Unfortunately, the restaurant was almost empty and shortly after our pizza arrived, we learned why. High winds arrived with rain literally blowing sideways. Son-in-law checked the weather app and we learned we might be there for a bit. 

Fortunately, we enjoy each other's company and the time to wait out the storm passed quickly.

Unfortunately, when we arrived home, the sheets to cover their new blueberry bushes had blown completely off the plants even though they were secured by heavy chunks of wood.  

Fortunately, we laughed about the exposed berry bushes and daughter recovered them in anticipation of low overnight temps.

Unfortunately, windy conditions make our 42 degrees temperature feel like 27 degrees. (Hang in there, berry bushes!)

Fortunately, tomorrow will be sunny with no chance of precipitation, good news since we'll be driving our company to the airport!

Unfortunately, winds will make it feel colder than the actual temperature. 

SOL 15/31: Party Time!

Leigh Anne's party has begun and she asked us to assemble an analog bag or basket (new-to-me trend). I listed my collected items in handwriting and took a photo too. I can't wait to see what's in  your bag!

              Can you tell that I'm book obsessed?

 

 See you at the party!

Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for creating this challenge and providing the space and support for us year after year. And thanks to this magnificent community for sharing stories with me and encouraging my writing life.

SOL 14/31: If we sliced in February . . .

I get on my soapbox about this time every year. If we sliced in February, we'd be halfway there! But I digress, I started this post to share why I've been slammed ever since I returned from Roots Tech. Here's my bio (written by me) for the 15th Anniversary Family History Discovery Day:

Ramona, a retired educator, is a recent transplant to North Carolina after residing in the Seattle area for 23 years. She has a lifelong identity as a reader. However, her journey to becoming a writer of stories began in the 21st century with an incredible group of sixth graders. This journey continued as she encouraged the members of her congregation to write their family stories and committed to writing a family story each week in 2020. Join us for inspiration to bind the hearts of your family through family stories and  discover the key to ongoing success in this endeavor.

As we began a month of writing slices in the classroom in 2012, it was my sixth graders who encouraged me to post my slices to my blog. Up until that point, I had only been a lurker at Two Writing Teachers. What a wonderful fifteen years I've enjoyed as a slicer here at Two Writing Teachers. This is where I was born as a writer and what a journey it is! Here's the description of the class I presented today at our Celebrate Family History Discovery Day, written by my friend, Denise.

 

Ramona shares how she has taken "eating the elephant" of family stories and broken them down to small, manageable "bites" to record and save cherished family lore that might otherwise be lost. She is a teacher and cheerleader "extraordinaire" and will inspire you to save that moment you have in your memory and write it down for the next generation. 

 

What fun to be dubbed a cheerleader of family stories! Of course, two classes I wanted to take were happening at the same time as my own class. Why does that always happen - the conundrum of dueling classes, ever present at conferences? 

 

My niece and sister-in-law (visiting from TX and OK) and my daughter are coming to pick me up for dinner. As Bugs would say, "That's all folks!"

 

Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for creating this challenge and providing the space and support for us year after year. And thanks to this magnificent community for sharing stories with me and encouraging my writing life.

SOL 13/31: Currently I'm . . .

This is a familiar format, someone (I can't remember who) used it yesterday and credited their inspiration to Elisabeth. I'm combining it with Elisabeth's "write in six minutes" format. Can I do it?

WATCHING - nothing, too many other commitments on the horizon to spend time with TV

READING - Isola, an intriguing HF, for next week's book club meeting

LISTENING - trying to finish Project Hail Mary before the movie comes out 

FEELING - scattered with too many pots on the fire

PLANNING - a run through today of my Binding Hearts Together with Family Stories presentation 

LOVING  - that my niece Kara and sister-in-law Kathy will arrive Saturday from TX & OK for a spring break visit

WISHING - that my issues with comments disappearing would disappear. They didn't start until the 6th! Everything was fine until then. What happened? It's making me crazy. My apologies to so many slicers whose comments disappear when I try to post them and I can't figure out why.

That took nine minutes. Am I just a slow writer?

Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for creating this challenge and providing the space and support for us year after year. And thanks to this magnificent community for sharing stories with me and encouraging my writing life.