Sunday Letter: 02.09.2020

Hello Sunday Letter friends,

Is it windy at your house? Here in Fayetteville, we are about to be blown away.

It was windy yesterday too. I think the wind made the past week fly by more quickly.

Full Speed Ahead

Things are full speed ahead with the launch of my next book. I can’t believe it will happen exactly one month from tomorrow. Thank goodness this is leap year. I can already tell I’m going to need the extra day this month.

How will you spend your leap day? Really, that’s an interesting thing to think about. I realize the idea is to adjust the calendar every three years because of those extra seconds accumulated due to the earth’s rotation. But it feels like a bonus day. A day that wouldn’t otherwise exist. A full day of potential.

Seems silly to do the same ole same ole.

If I think of something special to do, I’ll let you know.

Scholastic Book Fair

This past week, I saw a group of photos about Bookmobiles. I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of them, maybe because I’m not quite old enough to have used one. Or maybe because in an earlier life, I was a kid who borrowed books from one.

I can’t imagine a world without library books.

Anyway, I started thinking about the Scholastic Book Fairs that always set up in our school library. What a highlight! I’m lucky to have been raised in a household that valued reading. I started my own personal library at an early age. As they say—that’s priceless.

Check out these two bookmobile photographs.

In the photo above, see the guy in the white shirt and black pants? I’m pretty sure he’s a time traveler…

In the photo above, notice how well dressed all these kids from the Bronx in the 1950s were! I can assure you, we kids from Mississippi County in the 1960s didn’t look so put together. Even on picture day.

Also, you can read all about Arkansas bookmobiles in THIS Only in Arkansas article written by my friend, Dorothy Johnson. If you love old photographs, you’ll love the ones she included.

Mr. Robinson

Ann Clemmer, who is from my hometown of Keiser, recently shared on Facebook a memorial resolution she crafted while serving in the state legislature. The resolution honored Mr. Sandy Robinson who was my 6th grade teacher and bus driver. Even though Mr. Robinson was my first African-American teacher, this didn’t seem like a big deal to me. I never attended a segregated school. Red, yellow, black and white, we started first grade together and graduated twelve years later. No, the significant thing about Mr. Robinson was that he was my first male teacher.

I feel confident in saying Mr. Robinson was beloved by all. We loved him because of the way he made us feel. He was kind, patient, fair, funny, wise. During our classroom time with him, he made us feel like adults. We were part of his family.

His family? I knew nothing about his family until I read Ann’s resolution. I knew nothing about his honorable service in the U.S. Army. Or that he held degrees from 7 colleges! And that he was a certified mortician. This man who couldn’t bend the pointer finger on his right hand because of a mysterious injury, and who said things like, “Your kindness will never be obliterated,” was simply Mr. Robinson to me. Someone who taught us about light refraction and photosynthesis and the earth’s rotation.

As I read Ann’s resolution I thought about how little I knew about all the teachers who made such a big difference in my life. In this world where participation awards are freely dispersed and celebrities are practically worshipped, the regular people are often the unsung heroes. Teachers and firefighters and next door neighbors deserve honor and celebration.

Thank you, Ann, for honoring Mr. Sandy Robinson. I hope everyone will take the time to click HERE and read the resolution about this incredible man. I’m sure there’s a Mr. Robinson in your life.

Some Critter!

Remember the 70 tulip bulbs we planted in January? Some critter has been digging them up and feasting on them. If he’s not eating them, he is for sure tasting them. We’ve been finding bulbs scattered here and there, gnawed on and tossed aside like sour grapes.

His favorite picnicking spot is on top of a boulder in our side bed. The moss makes for a nice, soft tablecloth. Yes, he’s a messy thing. Most recently, he left behind half a tulip bulb, a walnut shell, and a few random seeds. There may even be part of a pecan shell there.

Is squirrel Thanksgiving in February?

Yesterday I noticed a container of daylily bulbs for sale at Sam’s. I thought about buying them, offering to our critter as an easy meal. But rather than eat the sacrificial bulbs and leave what’s left of our tulips alone, I’m afraid he’d just move on inside the house and start eating my Pancho’s dip.

Anyone have a guess as to what our critter might be? Squirrel, armadillo, raccoon, possum, deer, snipe?

Things Momma Says:

It’s good to be home on the farm even if only one commode works.

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Have a fabulous week, Sunday Letter friends.

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

P.S. Coming Next Week!

There’s so much happening in my book world right now. Next week you’ll get to see the new cover for The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee. I’m so excited about it! Plus, I’ll let you in on other fun changes coming in the 2nd Edition.

Can you take another cover reveal???