Texting with my daughter one evening

Hi, darling! I haven't seen you in a while, so just checking in. How are you?

Message by Iolanthe Good: Hi Mama! I'm doing well 😊 work, knitting groups, chorus... And I got to see Mary this weekend (for her birthday)!, Wednesday, February 19 2020, 7:53 PM

Hi Mama! I'm doing well work, knitting groups, chorus... And I got to see M-friend this weekend (for her birthday)!

Message by Iolanthe Good: How are you? How was the zero waste meeting last night?, Wednesday, February 19 2020, 7:53 PM

How are you? How was the zero waste meeting last night?

Message by You: My mean students keep giving me lots of proofs to grade. That's how i am., Wednesday, February 19 2020, 7:56 PM

My mean students keep giving me lots of proofs to grade. That's how i am.

Message by Iolanthe Good: 😂, Wednesday, February 19 2020, 7:56 PM

Message by You: ZWL last night was fun -- June, Baolin, and Baolin's 2-year-old came over., Wednesday, February 19 2020, 7:56 PM

ZWL last night was fun -- [these people] and a 2-year-old came over.

Message by You: We read a Raptitude post which was beautiful., Wednesday, February 19 2020, 7:57 PM

We read a Raptitude post which was beautiful.

Message by Iolanthe Good: Raptitude?, Wednesday, February 19 2020, 7:57 PM

Raptitude?

Message by You: https://www.raptitude.com/2020/02/how-to-create-gratitude/, Wednesday, February 19 2020, 7:57 PM

https://www.raptitude.com/2020/02/how-to-create-gratitude/

 . . . pause to read the article . . .

Message by Iolanthe Good: That is lovely, Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:05 PM

That is lovely

Message by You: So I tried to practice imaging my students all gone -- but that made me too happy. Instead I'm being grateful for my socks., Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:06 PM

So I tried to practice imaging my students all gone -- but that made me too happy. Instead I'm being grateful for my socks.

Message by Iolanthe Good: Only a couple more years until you can retire... Then you can make your students go away., Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:07 PM

Only a couple more years until you can retire... Then you can make your students go away.

Message by Iolanthe Good: It's good to have nice socks 😀🧦, Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:07 PM

It's good to have nice socks

Message by You: And it's kind of a miracle that Prewash doesn't eat them. (My socks, I mean)., Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:08 PM

And it's kind of a miracle that Prewash doesn't eat them. (My socks, I mean).

Message by Iolanthe Good: Hahaha, Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:08 PM

Hahaha

Message by You: The pres (, Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:08 PM

Message by You: The pres (Barbara) told me today a student told her about coming to my house. He was terrified of dogs, and I gave him a squirt bottle., Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:09 PM

The pres of my college told me today a student told her about coming to my house. He was terrified of dogs, and I gave him a squirt bottle.

Message by You: He was really grateful because he wants to get over being scared of dogs, he told her. I knew exactly which student that was., Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:10 PM

He was really grateful because he wants to get over being scared of dogs, he told her. I knew exactly which student that was.

Message by You: Prewash didn't eat him, either., Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:10 PM

Prewash didn't eat him, either.

Message by You: He was worried that Prewash would resent him for carrying the spray bottle, but I'd tried to reassure him she was too happy loving all the other students in the room., Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:11 PM

He was worried that Prewash would resent him for carrying the spray bottle, but I'd tried to reassure him she was too happy loving all the other students in the room.

Message by Iolanthe Good: That's good! (That it helped him, that he told the Pres, and that Prewash didn't eat him), Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:11 PM

That's good! (That it helped him, that he told the Pres, and that Prewash didn't eat him)

Message by You: Or his socks., Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:12 PM

Or his socks.

Message by Iolanthe Good: You're really thinking a lot about your socks tonight 😆, Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:12 PM

You're really thinking a lot about your socks tonight

[* see Raptitude footnote below]

Message by You: Well, Neil's in Israel, and I don't want to grade my students' proofs. I've got to think about something. My socks never complained about their grades., Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:13 PM

Well, [my husband] is in Israel, and I don't want to grade my students' proofs. I've got to think about something. My socks never complained about their grades.

Message by Iolanthe Good: You could knit yourself a new pair of socks? It's almost time for SockMadness to start!, Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:14 PM

You could knit yourself a new pair of socks? It's almost time for SockMadness to start!

Message by You: Nah, I think I'll just be grateful for the socks I have. And then I'll move on to being grateful for, I dunno, office keys., Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:16 PM

Nah, I think I'll just be grateful for the socks I have. And then I'll move on to being grateful for, I dunno, office keys.

Message by Iolanthe Good: And Prewash! She's such a good dog 💙, Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:16 PM

And Prewash! She's such a good dog

Message by Iolanthe Good: Was Israel on the original itinerary? I don't remember where Neil was going, Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:15 PM

Was Israel on the original itinerary? I don't remember where [that dude] was going

Message by You: Israel with Brother Cliff (so he's actually doing it, for the whole week), and then Rwanda. Also, a bunch of Holocaust sites. It's a genocide tour of sorts., Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:17 PM

Israel with Brother Cliff (so he's actually doing it, for the whole week), and then Rwanda. Also, a bunch of Holocaust sites. It's a genocide tour of sorts.

Message by Iolanthe Good: Neil enjoys a very different kind of travel than I do, Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:18 PM

[That dude] enjoys a very different kind of travel than I do

Message by You: Amen, sister., Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:18 PM

Amen, sister.

Message by You: Okay, glad to hear you're well. I'm going to get some sleep so I can finish grading properly in the morning., Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:20 PM

Okay, glad to hear you're well. I'm going to get some sleep so I can finish grading properly in the morning.

Message by You: Love you lots., Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:20 PM

Love you lots.

Message by Iolanthe Good: I love you too, Mama!! 💙💙💙, Wednesday, February 19 2020, 8:21 P

I love you too, Mama!!

*footnote:  a paragraph from the Raptitude blog, for context on why I kept writing about socks:

"I’d do this [negative visualization] on a smaller scale too, such as imagining my socks disappearing, just long enough to feel my clammy bare feet against the damp insoles of my boots. A moment later, I’d drop the fantasy, and discover anew just how much comfort a cheap pair of sport socks was adding to my life in that moment."