The Power of Newness

       Two days ago I got a new student. Yes, it's true--there are revolving doors in schools. Sometimes one kiddo leaves and a new one comes the next day. *

       And new students--like new projects and new colleagues--bring the need to look with "new" eyes.

      While we were in the middle of our read-aloud on the first morning our new student was with us, in the middle of the story, she couldn't help herself.

        "You have beautiful red hair. It's the color of sunset."

         Well, on the box it said "Hot Cinnamon." And just wait a week or so...the red will soon succumb to the always-victorious gray. "Thank you."

         A few minutes later she--again--could not help herself. "You have something on your arm," she noted.

         "Yes, a tattoo." I tried to continue with the story.

          "How many do you have?"

           "Just one." But if I said twenty-seven, would you all pay more attention to me, in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the other ones?

            That of course led to comments about the tattoos their family members have, while I forged ahead with the read-aloud. In a moment, we were all back together, immersed in the story.

           I'm in the middle of working on a project that is new ground for me. A writer of memoir--usually--I'm walking on eggshells as my beta reader (Julie) reads my manuscript. Fiction is not my thing, and perhaps Julie will wholeheartedly agree after she finishes it.

        What new things/people/pets have caused you to look at things with new eyes?

* And to paraphrase John Mellencamp, "Teaching--it ain't for cowards."