CREEK ROAD GANG
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Thoughts from the Editor:
March 2010
copyright 2010
When my daughter was two, one of her favorite books was The Little Engine That Could. She’d bring it to me at least ten times a day, and we’d read it again and again. We’d point at the pictures, chug and strain and whistle with that little train; chant “I think I can! I think I can!” At last, we’d cheer in triumph as our little train managed to climb to the top of that big hill, and we’d delight in the easy trip down the other side. Believe in yourself, work your hardest, don’t give up, and you’ll reach your goal. I used to think, what a wonderful message that book gave to children!
Not just children, though. One wonderful thing about The Little Engine That Could is that it has such great possibilities for lots of real life applications, well beyond childhood.
I don’t know how the weather’s been this winter where you live, but February has been a very challenging month in this area of Pennsylvania. We had two big storms within a one-week period that hit us with a combined total of 44 inches of snow. We had a week off, and then got another storm. Then nature teased us with some warming; not sufficient to melt all the snow, mind you, but at least there was some degree of melting, so the snow on our deck was down to only twelve to fourteen inches. Then the weather forecasters began to talk about something I’d never heard of: a “snow hurricane” heading our way. Day One of the event wasn’t much more than an inconvenience, but then we got Day Two. This latest hit us with another foot or so of snow, and had the added benefit of heavy winds, which brought lots of drifting.
Late this afternoon, my husband and I were back to doing things together. Our couple time centered on trying to clear some of the areas of packed snow and ice on our driveway that were left in the wake of the plow we’d hired to dig us out again. “I think I can! I think I can!” set the rhythm for my shoveling. I believed in myself, worked my hardest, didn’t give up, and my husband still managed to clear more than twice what I did before we both concluded it was time to go in. Did we reach our goal? Well, we didn’t get down to pavement for the whole driveway, but the garage is free and clear, the base of the driveway was widened, and we definitely made a dent in the slippery stuff. And, as Scarlett O’Hara used to say, tomorrow is another day. In our case, it will be another day of battling snow and ice, so I am really glad that February ends!
In fact, now, with the end of this snow-filled February, here we are – March 2010 – with the seventh issue of Creek Road Gang. Twenty-seven different writers have contributed. Over 1,400 computers have connected with the site to see what we’re about. We even have a Facebook page! (You too could become a Facebook fan of Creek Road Gang!) Not a bad beginning for the little magazine that thought it could.
Of course, we haven’t reached the top of the hill we’re climbing. We’re still developing, still growing, still becoming. It may be quite a journey ahead, and I expect we may never get to the part where the road’s completely smooth and level. But the journey is exciting, chugging upward is exhilarating, and the view from here is great! There’s lots of room – join us!
Not just children, though. One wonderful thing about The Little Engine That Could is that it has such great possibilities for lots of real life applications, well beyond childhood.
I don’t know how the weather’s been this winter where you live, but February has been a very challenging month in this area of Pennsylvania. We had two big storms within a one-week period that hit us with a combined total of 44 inches of snow. We had a week off, and then got another storm. Then nature teased us with some warming; not sufficient to melt all the snow, mind you, but at least there was some degree of melting, so the snow on our deck was down to only twelve to fourteen inches. Then the weather forecasters began to talk about something I’d never heard of: a “snow hurricane” heading our way. Day One of the event wasn’t much more than an inconvenience, but then we got Day Two. This latest hit us with another foot or so of snow, and had the added benefit of heavy winds, which brought lots of drifting.
Late this afternoon, my husband and I were back to doing things together. Our couple time centered on trying to clear some of the areas of packed snow and ice on our driveway that were left in the wake of the plow we’d hired to dig us out again. “I think I can! I think I can!” set the rhythm for my shoveling. I believed in myself, worked my hardest, didn’t give up, and my husband still managed to clear more than twice what I did before we both concluded it was time to go in. Did we reach our goal? Well, we didn’t get down to pavement for the whole driveway, but the garage is free and clear, the base of the driveway was widened, and we definitely made a dent in the slippery stuff. And, as Scarlett O’Hara used to say, tomorrow is another day. In our case, it will be another day of battling snow and ice, so I am really glad that February ends!
In fact, now, with the end of this snow-filled February, here we are – March 2010 – with the seventh issue of Creek Road Gang. Twenty-seven different writers have contributed. Over 1,400 computers have connected with the site to see what we’re about. We even have a Facebook page! (You too could become a Facebook fan of Creek Road Gang!) Not a bad beginning for the little magazine that thought it could.
Of course, we haven’t reached the top of the hill we’re climbing. We’re still developing, still growing, still becoming. It may be quite a journey ahead, and I expect we may never get to the part where the road’s completely smooth and level. But the journey is exciting, chugging upward is exhilarating, and the view from here is great! There’s lots of room – join us!
~ Kate Lydon
