My Opinion...

These lines conclude Mary Oliver's poem - "When I Am Among The Trees" -

Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, "Stay awhile."
The light flows from their branches.


And they call again, "It's simple," they say,
"and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine."

To go easy, to be filled with light, and to shine.  My lord...
Our two oldest kids are wrapping up three days of CSAP tests, those standardized whoppers that claim to be about learning but are really about funding.  I'll bravely roll the dice and say there were no questions on those tests where the answers were go easy, be filled, and shine.  That's my opinion.

After dinner last night, all three kids donned fleece and bolted for the trampoline.  The days are teasing us with just a little more light, just enough for a few more jumps.  As I watched the evening news tell stories of the world that is, the laughter from my children outside was an echo of the world to be.  That's my opinion.

The sun's teasing ceased and it suddenly grew dark.  Meredith said call the kids in, John.  But I did not, could not, at least not for a few more minutes.  I said aw, they're fine.  I felt they had not been among the trees much the last three days.  No, they had been bordered by strict timed sessions and sharpened pencils and question after question after question, questions really about money.  I stood at the window and watched the three that bear the name Blase as they jumped with ease, filled with laughter, shining even in the dark.  The aspens in the distance quaked in simple approval.  That's my opinion.

Go easy, be filled with light, and shine.