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Tuesday, December 2, 2025

A Bump in the Road

There have been many bumps in the road as I journey, but I always try to move forward. After twisting my ankle In October, I tried the usual remedies, ice packs, and elevation but they did not work. A few days later, an xray showed a fractured ankle. While this  bump in the road made me antsy for days, I decided that I needed to bring nature inside. 

The healing time may have been and still is a bump in the road but with friends and family it became a time to move forward. Nature nurtures my soul during it's annual autumn fashion show. 

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bumpy rides are annoying
and at times soul destroying
 so to the countryside we go
spotting trees with color flow

nature eases antsy stresses
that life sometimes addresses
listen to fall's quiet voice
strike the cord and rejoice

Being in the moment is the positive choice!
©CVarsalona, 2025 
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A month later, I visited my foot specialist doctor once again. I waited with bated breath. Would she approve my travel to Denver for the NCTE Convention? After spending Zoom time preparing a presentation on free verse with my talented poet/authors, Matt Forrest EsenwineGeorgia Heard, and Allan Wolf, I was eager to take the trip. After all, the last time I saw my writer, poetry, and and literary friends was at the 2019 NCTE Convention in Baltimore. 

With an ankle that was still in the early healing stage, I was more than happy to wear the stabilizing boot, walking with a walker, and using a wheelchair in the airport. So off I went to Denver hoping  for four days of learning and enjoyment.  Both were found but that's another Slice of Life.

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A poem from the past that brings peace to me:
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Thank You To:
  • Melanie Meehan for organizing a breakfast get-together for Two Writing Teachers' friends at  the NCTE Convention. 
  • Matt Forrest Esenwine  and Irene Latham for their open invitation to the  Poetry Peeps evening event at  the NCTE Convention.

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I now join Two Writing Teachers on their special day, Giving Tuesday. "Every year, on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, this organization leads a movement encouraging others to give. This could be giving your time, creativity, care, or any act of generosity you can share with others."

I give you my Slice of Life with inspiration from the season of autumn in Virginia, and nature photography turned into digital art image poems. 

2 comments:

  1. Carol,

    Nature is such a balm.

    Love this part the most:

    ""I decided that I needed to bring nature inside."

    And this too:

    ""listen to fall's quiet voice
    strike the cord and rejoice"

    I, too, find peace and healing in nature.

    Glad you were able to make NCTE and participate in the healing of poetry and of community.

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  2. Carol, nature offers its own brand of healing. The colors of autumn brighten our mood when we feel depressed because of an injury. Swirling leaves give us the desire to heal so that we can be out there dancing with them. The scents comfort us like a warm blanket. Take care and speedy recovery. Bob

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