The Hana Chronicles: Month 5, Day 22

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June 12, 2026- Hana may well be a foodie. Her eyes lit up, and she sat forward, for each bite of solid food that I presented to her at lunchtime. She is definitely already a member of the Clean Plate Club.

She then burns it all off, working incessantly at little push-ups, and crawls around the play pen. She also likes to have her feet up in the air, grabbing them with opposite hands. Then comes the power nap.

We took a walk through Hoblitzelle Park, this morning. It wasn’t all that hot, but the humidity hung in the air. Hana abides the morning walk, but when I suggested going out again this afternoon, she was very firmly not interested. I checked the temperature-and my granddaughter had it right.

Instead, I put on a Beatles tune, “Bungalow Bill”, one of their sillier songs and mimed it, which she giggled at. I danced around with her afterward, to “Give Peace A Chance”. She lost interest, though, after the twelfth repetition of the title verse.

I was asked, recently, whether I will be traveling any time soon. Some people think that, as soon as Hana can walk, my work here should be done. No, it’ll be “done’ when she is independent enough (age 7 or 8) that my presence does not need to be 24/7. My granddaughter comes from sensitive stock, and needs to know that she is deeply loved.

I miss many people across the country and the world. Those who are true friends know that my work on her behalf is worth every minute. They also know that they will always have a special place in my heart. Hopefully, I’ll see many again. For now, there is social media and there is e-mail.

Sixty-Six for Sixty Six, Part XII: Healing

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March 3, 2017, Prescott- 

Some kids asked for Beatles music

In particular, “All You Need Is Love”

Teacher put on Scottish folk tunes,

and bagpipery, instead.

The focus was on painting Tartans,

on sheets of felt.

Emotional healing is the hardest,

because the medicine is so fleeting.

Painting, music and dance

are the remedies she has chosen

for our charges.

Some resist, because the pain

is just too deep.

For me, there is also

the element of fasting.

I kept it simple,

explaining that I simply

don’t eat lunch,

until after Spring Break.

It is a far less onerous

mental task,

now,

then back in the days

when I needed to cast off

my consuming ego.

Most folks, though,

find healing begins

when they are seen and heard.