Sue wrote to me, ‘.. wondering how the weather is being there. I mean, I SHOULD already be knowing this, as obviously our mind is shared! *LOL* Take a look at my blog posting for evidence. ..’ We both live with mutual synchronicities of thoughts and feelings! Some might even use words like telepathy. I flew to Sue’s blog post and, no-surprise, discovered her writing about Randy Pausch. Knowing that she’s also a big Appreciator of him. While I know Sue has a chronic major illness, we talk and co-create every day and it never ever comes into the day we create together. She has never complained, or said she can’t do something. All I receive is a continuous, and “expanding exponentially” as we love to say here, outpouring of unconditional love and support. In alignment with my previous blog, and, most especially my heart and soul, “Sue, I love you, and appreciate you, more than words can express.” You are ‘Happy Sparkle Thoughts’ personified, you walk your talk, you are a remarkable human being, and I am blessed beyond measure by your presence.
This is Sue’s blog:

Today is Saturday. YAY! I AM excited- not only for the fact that it is going to be a day of admittedly “sloth- like” activity for me- but, also I am appreciating that I am alive. Living with a chronic major illness could be quite difficult, if I allowed it to be. I am choosing a different way, and it is working quite well for me. Finding the right balance of physically being able to DO all of the various tasks in any given day (and the time!) is something I am still working on- as I have not yet perfected the art of “juggling elephants”. The Summer Lunch program is so much bigger than it was last summer- it really is mind- blowing when I take the time to actually “think” about it. You see, last summer I lived here, and noticed that after the kids finished their lunch, they were reluctant to leave- but had “nothing to do”. Sooo, I began selecting certain books to read aloud to the kids. I had a group of about 8 kids, and thought I was doing well.

THEN, I decided to “ramp it up” a notch, and began setting guidelines and rules for participation. I bought an assortment of “educational games”, and various toys (Legos and Tinker Toys are a HUGE hit!)- sidewalk chalk for the blackboard, and trying to add relevant reading materials to the “lending library”. EACH child that wants to play with the toys??? FIRST, they have to sit down, and complete two (minimum) worksheets (one math, one writing) before they are allowed to play. And, for every ten worksheets they complete to my satisfaction (90 or above), they get to pick a “prize”. I have bought crayons, scissors, glue sticks, decorative pencils, fun looking erasers, fancy notebooks, folders, etc, etc.. notice the theme? *LOL* You see, most of these kids are not able to have these supplies like their fellow classmates- and it does impact their self- esteem. AND while I do “feel” badly about this, at the same time, I want to encourage “responsibility” and a sort of work ethic. Most things in life are not free- nor (this is what I am believing, you can disagree) should people travel through life with the attitude of “entitlement”.

I have happily discovered that if you set the bar high enough, these kids will rise up- and even surpass expectations. I guess I am doing something right, because now the average attendance is between 32- 34 kids. Daily. Hahahahah- and the really rewarding thing is to watch the incredulous look upon the faces of those adults who are visiting my program for the very first time. The most common two comments are, “These children are so well- behaved!”. Hah! Sometimes I think to myself, “You thankfully were not here yesterday…”. The other comment that pleases me to a degree beyond explanation is, “You mean these kids are asking for worksheets, and they like to be doing them???”. Yes, this is very true.

Several weeks ago (due to my not-yet-perfected elephant juggling) I ran out of printer ink for a few days, so I had to make copies (at the main office) of some worksheets that I had already made. Who says kids don’t remember??? *LOL* I was informed by quite a few assertive individuals, in varied levels of dismay, “Miss Sue, I’ve already done this one!!! Why can’t I get a NEW one?”. A great lesson for both the kids- AND myself. They definitely appreciate the new worksheets- and I learned that, indeed, they are “paying attention”, even when I have my doubts! AND- this summer, I have a whopping average attendance of between 32- 34 kids. On some days, I just manage to achieve some semblance of “order” but on those days when I am having the MUCHLY appreciated help of my volunteers?? *sigh* I can actually “feel” the positive energies- and am knowing I am exactly where I need to BE “in-this-moment”.

So. I really wasn’t planning on writing all this, it just kinda “oozed out”! I do want you to know, dear reader, mysterious and known- that I am “being” a bit sad today, and contemplating my own “life’s purpose” a little more closely. I do not have the health problem that Randy Pausch lived with- but.. on some days I do feel the “ticking of time” quite loudly. I found out yesterday that he has sadly moved on- and I am SO thankful that he had the courage and foresight to leave us with his “essence”.. in this video. I may have blogged about this video before- but I DO “feel” this topic is worth revcisiting every once in a while. It IS a little over an hour long. I also assure you, that if you are not doing anything else??? THIS video will be well worth your time.

This is my “Happy Sparkle Thoughts” for you today. LIVE… LOVE… and please remember the JOY that living does bring to us.