Welcome to the Wakefield Doctrine (the theory of clarks, scotts and rogers)

Here we are again, the weekend and the TToT.

A bloghop of longstanding* it is hosted each weekend by Kristi. She invites all to join in on the fun. The theme is simple: write and link a post that lists and otherwise describes those people, places and things that have made you feel grateful. We, in our compilation, are not limited to the interval of time since last you linked. We wave the banner of a-chronology, i.e. no limits or restrictions on the period (or sequence) of time in which to search for items of gratitude. Could be since last week or since the first week back at the dorm after the Christmas break in your sophomore year at college**.

I will cite the following:

1) Una

2) Phyllis

3) the Wakefield Doctrine because it allows me the opportunity to employ two alternate perspectives on the world around me. It helps.

4) work (’cause it provided me with the occasion to drive down the coastline yesterday (for our geophilic readers: from North Kingstown down to Westerly)

5) This week’s excerpt from ‘Almira’. (Set up: Almira Ristani is now Mrs. Almira Gulch. Her husband, Sterling Gulch, went and signed up for the US Expeditionary Force to fight in Europe for the closing phase of WW I. He bought into the well-intentioned, thoroughly un-realistic notion of a  ‘the war to end all wars.’ (Before anyone discounts the optimism that is all too characteristic of the outlook of the young, consider the price many are asked (or tricked) into paying.)
In any event, Almira now has a degree in elementary education and here we watch her interview for her first teaching position. ( Almost forgot! Almira is now burdened with a prominent and bordering-on-disfiguring hooked nose. The result of being beaten very badly when she was sixteen years old. A severe broken that, for lack of medical care, healed into its present form. Other than this one feature, she is a thin young woman with light brown hair and eyes the color of a sapphire if it was born of a ruby and an emerald. A passing stranger might describe her eyes as vague and somewhat unfocused. If that stranger stopped and spoke to her, their opinion would change. They would then, provided they had the vocabulary, describe eyes that were locked on a world (or a part of a world) beyond the cold granite-and-brick world of a turn-of-the-century mill town. )

Looking out her office window before the interview, Sister Aloysius watched as the young woman rode into the schoolyard on what, she believed, was the biggest bicycle she’d ever seen. As she watched, the woman jumped from the bike and spent five minutes re-arranging her clothing. This included putting on a hat from a wicker basket attached to the back of the bicycle’s seat. Her smile of approval broadened, almost into laughter, as the young woman kicked a stray ball back to the knot of boys, their kickball game rescued by a stranger. The enjoyment on her face as she did so ignited a burst of laughter from the children in the school yard. The principle of Our Lady of the Intercession smiled and waited for her job applicant to arrive at her office.

The interview went the normal course for a teaching position interview; reading of records, explanation of grades and awards, likes and dislikes. There came the point in the conversation where there was no longer any information or insight into the candidate’s schooling or qualifications left un-noted. Nothing remained to discuss other than the applicant’s face.

Sister Aloysius asked point-blank, “So, Mrs. Gulch, how do you expect you’ll respond to the looks and the stares of the ruder people? Parents of children, particularly those children who require extra attention, are not always the kindest of people. Our parish is, in large part, working poor Catholic families. Does that pose any problems we should discuss?”

Almira smiled and replied, “I grew up among the working poor. My husband, Sterling is from the other end of the social order, where wants are few and choices plentiful. I believe I’ll be fine with parents from any background. After all, it is the children in my care, not the adults.”

“I believe you’ll do just fine, Mrs. Gulch, just fine.”

 

6) Speaking of writing, you owe to yourself to go over to the Six Sentence Story. Every week a bunch of them, what want to write stories, gather and share what they writ. Very cool bunch hang out there. Besides Denise, theres Paul Brad and our friend Mimi and Pat Brockett  and Deborah Lee and Lisa and Reena and Kristi and D.Avery and Violet and ever so many talented writers.

7) the weather… say what you will about climate change¹, but this winter we haven’t had snow on the ground for more than three days in a row.

8) THIS SPACE AVAILABLE (If you’re out there, like the idea of participating in a ‘gratitude blog’, but feel you need to have more of a list before linking, this space is available for a trial run. Send in what ya gots and I’ll post it.)

9) something, something. Hey! Friend of the Doctrine, Cynthia posted a video on ‘the Facebook’. you totally gots to go and watch. The topmost video/post.

Try clicking here.

10) Secret Rule 1.3. (just a second ago you were, all, “hey! I made it to Item 9!! That means…. that means, one more and you’re done. Which is totally something to be grateful for!)

* in blogosphere years it’s been, like, 23 years since this bloghop was launched by CS Lewis’s grandniece-in-exile, Lizzi Lewis. The Doctrine was among the original ten co-hosts (no, not normal, but the ‘hop has never been what anyone could accuse of being ‘typical’ or ‘ordinary’.)

** we will so not be visiting that era for this post.***

*** lol

1. no, better not… someone from one of the younger generations might be reading this and, if I were them, I’d be really kinda pissed off about our Gaia abuse.

…’cause it’s a rainy Sunday morning and what day of the week is more conducive to time travel than a Sunday morning?

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