Poetry Friday -- Gratitudes

Dear Poetry Friday Peeps,

I feel like there has been a wrinkle in time, and I am right back where I was last week. 

A week ago, I had completed a rigorous day-by-day to-do list that culminated in packing for a weekend away at a Casting for Recovery alumni reunion. On Thursday evening, I ignored Franki's "How are you feeling?" text and crashed. I will finish my Poetry Friday post in the morning, I told myself. 

But you all had other plans for Friday, didn't you? 😁 😉

There are no words to describe what the gift of your words means to me. I've said "Gobsmacked" on more than one occasion. I'm also humbled, dazzled, blushing, teary, and filled with gratitude. To Franki for hatching this plan, to Irene and Christie for helping to make it happen, and to all of you -- thank you, thank you, thank you!

The hardest thing about this gift is that I've only been able to begin to take peeks at all of the posts. I tried to get started while at the retreat, but the weather was too nice, the bluegills were biting, and the trails needed hiking. Then, when I got home Sunday, I hit the ground running. There was another week-long rigorous day-by-day to-do list: the last of the grading, report cards, RTI plans, field day, final preparations of student gifts, bringing home the last big items from the classroom, and then, last night, after the In Real Life meet-up of my Wright Elementary and Depp Elementary Team Hahn students at a park halfway between the two schools, like last Thursday night, I crashed. I will finish my Poetry Friday post in the morning, I told myself. 

And now here I am. Friday. The last day of the 37th week of my 37th year of teaching. How am I feeling? Tired. Fulfilled. Devoid of regrets. Amazed. I did this thing. 

Finally, FINALLY, I will be able to read through last week's roundup and savor your words. You will help me to look back and reflect on a the magnitude of my impact. I think that's probably the biggest gift you have given me. In case I ever doubted myself (actually, for all the many many times I failed and doubted and despaired), you have shown me -- unequivocally -- that I've made a difference in the world. 

What a gift. 

Thank you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Books About Books and Reading

Cupcakes for everyone!!

Thank you, kind readers, thank you.

You made our 7-day Blogiversary a week to remember! So. Much. Fun.

Not only that, you helped us refresh and reinvigorate our sidebar list of Books About Books and Reading.

Here are the new titles we added:

The Lonely Book by Kate Bernheimer
Miss Brooks Loves Books (And I Don't) by Barbara Bottner
The Year of the Book by Andrea Cheng
Otto the Book Bear by Kate Cleminson
Henry & the Buccaneer Bunnies by Carolyn Crimi
A Bedtime Story by Mem Fox
Miss Smith's Incredible Storybook by Michael Garland
A Story for Bear by Dennis Haseley
The Gentleman Bug by Julian Hector
The Reader by Amy Hest
How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce
Open This Little Book by Jesse Klausmeier
It's a Book by Lane Smith
Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
We Are in a Book! (An Elephant and Piggie Book) by Mo Willems
Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates


POETRY
Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It: False Apology Poems by Gail Carson Levine
BookSpeak!: Poems About Books by Laura Purdie Salas


NOVELS
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak


PROFESSIONAL
Book Love: Developing Depth, Stamina, and Passion in Adolescent Readers by Penny Kittle
The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child by Donalyn Miller