Slice of Life Post for March 15, 2025 (12:28 to 12:59 p.m.) by Barb Edler

I love Saturday mornings when I do not have to go to work. Unfortunately, I slept little last night. I’m worried that the day ahead will find me getting hangry and snappy. I would try to rest, but there’s no time for that.

When I am feeling particularly anxious, I try to calm myself with breathing exercises and busying myself with mindless things that distract me from going down dark and toxic tunnels. Perhaps, one of the best things I can do is a little self-care by walking and enjoying a view or two. Tomorrow, I hope I can share a few photos of a treehouse adventure my family is going to enjoy this afternoon. I definitely need a nature break.

In the meantime, here are a few of my favorite places to walk. Hope you will enjoy my views.

I’m sharing my “Ides of March” poem that shares my sense of foreboding when considering the state of affairs of our educational system in Iowa and nationwide. The prompt is from Leilya Pitre’s Open Write Prompt at Ethical ELA today.

Foreboding 

I hear the weird sisters call
Beware something wicked this way comes
as ominous clouds brew,
a toxic smell blooms.

I fear for my children
listening to a tyrannical brood call,
You need to be white and straight
or you're gonna be treated with hate.

A garden of rank grows
dismantling public schools
I have to ask, where will we be
when our young cannot read?