After an extended heat wave, which seemed unusual for this early in June, I finally felt a cool breeze from the east on my morning walk. Is this heat wave really that unusual for us? I’m sure I could do a search and find out, but I’m really not that curious. It’s been hot and my air conditioning works, thank goodness.
During my walks I have to dodge hundreds of cicadas. It is indeed 2024, time for the 17 year cicadas to come out and play in the Chicagoland area. Their time is coming to an end, however, and it’s been fascinating. We have way more cicadas up our trees and in our yards than we did 17 years ago.
And now? I have spotted 3–not hundreds, just 3–annual cicadas. I think I heard them singing in the trees yesterday, too. Not specifically those three; all the others I didn’t spot! Their song is more familiar than the harsh, deafening sound of the periodical cicadas.
Some of you may have noticed that my writing has been more periodical than annual; I haven’t writing anything since 2020. My last blog post in 2021 wasn’t even words; it was all photos! My draft folder doesn’t even have anything more recent.
Teaching took over writing. I just finished my third year of teaching second grade and will continue teaching in August. Where I used to follow bloggers, I now follow teachers. I used to obsess over my website and my next blog post; now I obsess over behavior management and lesson plans.
Life changes.
But during my morning walk (which I am now able to do again because summer!) I started to think about writing. I thought…I don’t have to obsess about that next blog post. Perhaps I could just jot down some thoughts. It’s okay if it’s not great reading material. It’s okay if NO ONE reads my posts. Perhaps, for the summer, I will put down the chalk (that is, a dry erase marker) and pick up a pen (that is, type on a keyboard).
I rather like that idea.
