Slight Detour: Saturday Slight

Desiderata: Latin, something desired as essential

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As a teacher of high school juniors, where the literature curriculum focused on American works and classics, I asked my students to write, by hand, Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech.

I had learned long before that going through the process of physically writing out what we've learned or what others have said, we tend to remember the messages longer.

I thought about that assignment when I ran across this image of "Desiderata."

Whenever I read the piece, I think about the beauty of each individual sentence and the singular, wise message it suggests.

Putting together all these wise thoughts leads to one very powerful message about conducting our lives.

If only we could remember the sentences every day of our lives, what wonderful and full lives we could lead.

Still, simply reading the message from time to time can be a powerful and effective exercise, same as remembering those words of Martin Luther King, whom we celebrate this weekend.

No assignment today but a suggestion to read the parts and think about each as you proceed through the whole.

It's a lovely piece.

Bill always says the it takes most of the winter for the oak tree to drop all of its leaves.

This year's bizarre patterns with all leaf trees have left some rather ugly scenes with bushes still covered with leaves, only withered up and dead leaves.

At least, the oak leaves are still somewhat pretty. The tree has maybe dropped half of its leaf supply.

If Bill's observation is correct, we may be waiting a long time until spring.

Fortunately, we have another day filled with a menu of sports distractions.

And, that includes the Seattle Seahawks taking on the San Francisco 49'ers in the playoffs at 1:30 p.m. PST.

As noted many times in past posts, I have always loved Russell Wilson, but this priceless observation elicited an instant chuckle.

Good Luck to the unlikely Seahawks in their play-off game today.

At 3. p.m., we'll be going to Les Rogers Gym to watch Willie's Bulldogs host Priest River's Spartans.

Should be a fun game and a good opportunity for local sports fans to get out of the house and come and watch the exciting Bulldogs.

In addition, another ZAGS game for those of us who have survived the last three heart-stopping victories.

Could be more of the same, as Coach Mark Few says, buckle up and get ready for the ride as the ZAGS take on tough and much-improved teams from the West Coast Conference.

Today, they host the Portland Pilots.

ESPN2 at 7 p.m. PST.

Bill and I are pleased that the two Bulldog games today are at separate times.