On Connecticut Sunrises, a Day of Hard, but Productive Work, and a Time to Reflect on the Luck of My Life (While Putting Books in Conversation)

Earlier last year, I reached out to colleague Dr. Gholdy Muhammad about an educational interlude for The Write Time, a special way to kick off a new year.  I read Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy (link to my reflection on last year's blog), and knew instantly that it was a game changer for how I work with K-12 schools and youth (ready to 'spread flowers' and give Gholdy-stars in my wake). More recently, teachers and I have been putting lots of books in conversation with one another as we think reflectively in our own practices through National Writing Project work. Last night, we were able to record an interview with the writer, thinker, and scholar for The Write Time - the show will debut later this month. Tanya Baker suggested Christopher Rogers for the interview and all I can say is that the entire evening was a gift. I enjoyed every second of their conversation.

I put on a suit jacket to give the appearance of a non-sweatpants existence and found a hotel key in the pocket. That's the last time I wore it, and it was after presenting at the North Texas Teen Book Fest in March (the last hoorah before Covid spread its fatal fingers across the world). It's almost hard to believe that we're heading to the year anniversary, and I cherish the time there with Nic Stone, Nicola Yoon, George Johnson, Kwame Mbalia, Tiffany Jackson, Rose Brock, Neil Shusterman, Libba Bray, Angie Thomas, John Green, and so many more....it was great to feel like a superstar with Dr. Susan James, Kim Herzog, and Rebecca Marsick for the few days we were there.

This morning, I'm thinking about how so many books by the authors that presented are even more phenomenal when put in conversation with Dr. Gholdy Muhammad's work. 

I'm so glad to be thinking about all this with the teachers in my network. Happiness = Happening Upon Luck.

I'm also grateful to yesterday's sunrise that woke me up at 6:30 a.m. with its hot pink and orange hues. I typically roll over and fall asleep for another 30 minutes, but I had to get up and watch it until it faded away. It was that stunning. I knew the day ahead would be taxing (I didn't get to dinner until 10 p.m. - thank you, Chitunga, for saving me) and the light of the morning was in my heart the entire day. The clouds came in, it was cold, but the light that woke me up was marvelous and in my memory.

Hello, Tuesday. How are you? What do you have in store for us today? Zoom, then Zoom, then Zoom, and I see I have another Zoom.

Zoom Zoom Zoom, let's go back to my room, so we can dream it all night, and we can make it alright.

The interview with Christopher and Gholdy was beyond spectacular. I was truly moved. Inspired. 

They brought a sunset to match the sunrise.

And I am thankful.