Committing to the Blog--and to My Writing Work

I named this blog LOVE WHAT YOU DO AND FEEL THAT IT MATTERS, referring to my work as a teacher and tutor trainer at East Harlem Tutorial Program as well as my creative work as a writer of children's books for Capstone and other publications as well.

But now that I have been, as we used to say in the theatre, "between engagements" for five months, I have been thinking about what those words really mean to me. I believe that I bring passion into whatever I choose to do, whether it's giving information to patrons at New York City Ballet, helping with a mailing at the NYC Audubon Society, assisting walk-up kayakers in Astoria, donating platelets for the New York Blood Center, or crafting questions and answers to help students prepare for high-stakes tests.

If it's worth my time, it's meaningful to me.

But as someone who has been work-centered much of her life, these months have been challenging for me. I research job opportunities, write the best cover letters I can, and send my applications off in hopes of finding a new mission, somewhere to bring my enthusiasm, energy, and commitment (as well as earn the cash to pay my bills!). I believe the right opportunity is out there, and that my continued efforts to connect with it will succeed.

In the meantime--I'm going to keep DOING WHAT I LOVE...in every way I can. I'll post here what I do and what I learn from it.

I just read about a wonderful children's picture book that I wish I'd written--

My Hands Sing the Blues: Romare Bearden's Childhood Journey by Jeanne Walker Harvey and Elizabeth Zunon (Sep 2011)

and it ignited a desire in me to get back to the work of a writer: creating from the heart.

STAY TUNED!

SEEING ROOSEVELT ISLAND UP CLOSE...AND AMAZING!

Sunday kayaking was great, but Monday's trip from Long Island City to Hallets Cove was spectacular--a bit unnerving at time, but also very exciting! We set off and crossed the East Channel of the East River to Roosevelt Island and then paddled HARD against the current along the rocky shore (!) and around the tip to the western side. I was very nervous but also excited that I was doing it!

My partner in the kayak was Joyce, who lives on Roosevelt Island, and who brought Argos, her little dog, who travels with his own Personal Flotation Device!

I knew I was in good hands--she's very experienced--and so I stayed pretty calm. I loved seeing the old smallpox hospital up so close,

but I agree with Joyce that the building going up for the FDR Four Freedoms Park is UGLY and block-ish. Too bad...

The current was with us on the way up, and we paddled enjoyably up to the Lighthouse, where we met a friend of Joyce's and had our photos taken. (I wish I looked as fit as I felt, darn it...those life jackets are not flattering!) But I felt so happy...and enjoyed the paddle to the cove.

Later, I got to take out one of the single kayaks (thank you, Bob!) and paddled around for about 20 minutes. I did like the feeling of controlling the direction and speed of the kayak. In a two-seater, you have to depend on the person behind you to direct the boat, while you simply paddle your heart out. That's hard for me sometimes!

Later, we paddled downriver in the East Channel, first along the island side, and then crossed over as a group. The sun had come out late in the date, and the sky was beautiful.

We worked hard to get the kayaks back to the boathouse, help hose them off and carry them inside. Some celebratory watermelon topped off the day.

Thanks to Steve and Ted and Katie and Joyce and Argos and Voula and Deborah and the other Katie who is president of Green Shores.

REVELING IN NEW YORK CITY AT WATER LEVEL!

Today, I had the amazing opportunity to see my favorite place in the world from a different point of view--and I loved it! I joined up with the Long Island City Community Boathouse to paddle a kayak from the famous Pepsi sign

across the east side of the East River, and all along Roosevelt Island, past the ruins of the old smallpox hospital

underneath the 59th Street bridge

all the way to the top end of Roosevelt Island near the beautiful lighthouse...

and finally over to Hallets Cove for a day of helping with walk-up kayaking.

When it was over, we paddled back, with the current, and all the kayaks "rafted" by holding on to each other's boats as the current carried us under the 59th Street bridge on the way back to the boathouse for a cookout.

What an amazing and glorious day! 

Thank you, Steve and Ted and Bob and Detrick and Katie and Dave and all the other volunteers for a day I'll remember forever.