Lynn M. Dixon's Blog

Conditions on the ground: The government was shut down. People were not being paid. Air traffic controllers were calling in sick. TSA workers were not coming into work. Airports were backlogged as thousands of flights were being cancelled daily. Federal workers were also at home. Some were taking second jobs to pay the bills. People were losing their SNAP benefits (a government food assistance program). Food depositories were seeing new longer lines while the people panicked as the holidays approached.

The days were dismal, and the people were generally feeling both overwhelmed and hopeless. And the news headlines did not brighten the matter. A UPS cargo plane exploded in Louisville, Kentucky as it took off, killing the flight crew and several people on the ground. A day later a beloved NFL football player was found dead a few days after making his first touchdown on national television.

To top things off, Chicago was blanketed with a heavy downpour of snow which interrupted everyone’s lives and even the season of autumn. The snow fell on top of the leaves, so winter was all mixed in with the fall season.  What else could possibly go wrong?

And then, it happened. The Northern Lights appeared. Not for just one day, but for two days. It was as if the celestial beings said, “We see you. We hear you!”  And the people gathered in amazement as they watched and witnessed a miracle in action. Neighbors looked at the sky together as the community bonding was enhanced. They all looked at the skies with child-like wonder.  Oh, the beautiful colors! It was a hushed reminder that there are powers greater than us.

The wide array of all colors from the spectrum of the rainbow lit up the early morning sky. It changed the dark news headlines to bright hues. Pictures from the witnesses were on the news, the Internet and on every form of social media. And after the visit from the powers on high, guess what else happened?

The government reopened. The air traffic controllers and TSA workers returned to work. Federal workers reported. SNAP benefits slowly began to be credited to accounts. And who do we have to thank before Thanksgiving?  Well, I would say thank you to the appearance of The Northern Lights that silently reminded us of who is really running the show!

Lynn M.
November 15, 2025

It is not only a time to ‘stock-pile’ or take an inventory of what went well this year, but it is also time to purge. It is the perfect time to get rid of the extraneous. There is a saying that says in essence that, “if you have not used it in a year, it’s probably time to let it go.”

This is well worth looking into as 2025 comes to a slow end. We can question ourselves and say, “Do I really need to hold on to this?” It may be old paper files, old books and just general stuff. There are strong chances that they may have served their purposes.

Or it could be about purging those digital files. That is a whole other task. The other day, I spent an inordinate amount of time clearing out old stored emails. It could be that the goals have already been reached. Holding on to the old stuff weighs us down both mentally and spiritually. We may unknowingly be in the process of creating bad karma. We must bless those events of the past and let them go.

We can gently let the people go who are no longer a part of our lives. If we still own personal phone books, we could look inside and note how many of those names can easily be deleted. How many of those people are no longer a part of your 2025?

Also, our digital contacts certainly need serious updating. Some names simply need to be deleted or even blocked so they will never, ever make the mistake of calling us again. A block is a sure thing.  Regardless of the reason and there may be multiple reasons, a good block and delete is definitely in order. The neighborhood children used to say, “It’s old, tired and stanky.” So, let it go!

The same holds true with our wardrobes – the clothes, coats and boots.  Someone else could possibly use those items. As the idiom goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”  I often make drops to our local donation bin. Once I have let it go, I never think about any of those things again. In fact, I let out a sigh of relief as I close the hatch after making each donation.

Though I am not a minimalist, I firmly believe that less is more. We have to admit that the heavy baggage holds us back. I have seen people who are stymied in life because they can’t let go of the junk. Once our lives end, someone else will throw it all away and possibly leave it in some alley. Yes, that is a hard reality, but it is indeed a fact.

So, purge now! Start making way for the new. Expect new contacts, new clothes, new boots and coats. As you get rid of the old stuff, your shoulders will lift and your face will turn to the sun with a bright smile.

Lynn M.
November 8, 2025

Once again, we find ourselves in the midst of a new harvest season. It is time to take a peek in our rear-view mirrors. As we look back, we can see what we have accomplished so far in 2025.

We may ask ourselves the following questions: “What went right? What did I do well? What needs tweaking in my work? In my attitudes? In my personal perspectives? Or, how can I adjust my view of things? How can I better relate to people? How do I see the world, in general?

It is always comforting to know that our work is not in vain. Surely, the work of our hands helped someone , if not many. We can feel assured that someone benefited from what we gave from the work of our hands and hearts. Our efforts will most likely have far-reaching effects like a stone skidding across the great waters.

As we move closer towards the Thanksgiving season, which is a time of gratitude, we should be able to simply relax and smile. As we quietly reflect, we should make a list of the good that we have shared with others and the good received along the way. As our list grows, we can see that our cornucopia (horn-a-plenty) is filled to the brim.

It is filled with love, gratitude, humbleness, patience, honesty, positivity and laughter. And, in our cornucopia, there are remnants of good conversations shared with both new and old friends. As we remember those meaningful experiences, we should relish in our peace- the peace that passeth all understanding.

Lynn M.
October 26, 2025

,

October leaves fall all around,
Making little or just no sound.

Soon, to be raked in nice, neat piles,
Causing achy shoulders. No smiles.

Deepening colors thus appear,
Echoing that autumn is here.

As if a masterful paint brush,
Just stroked the beauty with no rush.

Harvest! Orange pumpkins dot the scene,
Causing observers to be keen!

Lynn M.
October 12, 2025

The other day, I was listening to Bebe Winan’s This Song. He talks about writing a song which was a love letter. Of course the music is smooth. He has that Midas Touch when It comes to both his songwriting and his delivery. This Song first came out in 1997, but we know that music it timeless.

There are so many types of love letters that one might receive from others. There are those from our romantic partners which are indeed special. Only a handful of people actually take the time to sit down and put pen to paper to express their feelings. Those letters are memorable, even if the actual letters have been lost over time. They are forever etched and imprinted the heart.

Then, I thought of a small piece of luggage that I lost while moving from location to another. It was filled with love letters from my students over a six-year period. Though they were not romantic in nature, they were grand expressions of gratitude, appreciation and adoration. They were all hand-written and they came from their hearts.

The agape love from my students and their parents have helped me rock steady when other parts of my life seemed to be unraveling from the seams. They served and still serve as a buffer and a glue to reassure me that my labor is not in vain. Simple strokes of appreciation truly make me continue to give it my best.

Love Letters. Whether agape love or romantic love, love is still love. It sustains.us. It soothes us and it makes us try even harder to make an honest difference. Children and young adults let it flow and rip freely when adults sometimes seem reluctant to give that nod of approval. But, that’s cool. It is what it is.

As I look at the little notes from pictures hanging on my fridge, I think of Bebe’s lyrics when he wrote, “No special reason. Just thought you should know.” Free expressions coming straight from the heart are a lift indeed!

Lynn M.
October 4, 2025

Whenever we lose someone close to us, we may feel shock, anger or even a sense of abandonment or any of the seven stages of grief. If the person had endured a long period of illness, we are relieved that they are no longer suffering, but we are stunned just the same.

When the fog evaporates and we can finally see clearly again, we may say softly, “Okay.” It happened.” But we are still in pain as we acknowledge that we have lost a dear one. We slowly move towards acceptance and we are no longer petrified nor immobilized by sorrow.

If we are lucky, we will have years to absorb it and wholeheartedly embrace the circumstances as we understand the cycle of life. People are born and people die. They pass away from sight though their words and actions stay imprinted upon our memories.

Over time, we learn that they are still closely hovering around like an angel. At the least expected moment, we may have a laugh-out-loud moment when we recall certain conversations that only the two shared. This is a reminder that they are still somewhere watching over us. Those are the gains.They are forever with us.

Every person with whom we had close ties, altered us in some way. Our lives are richer because we knew them. And, even after they pass on, they leave remnants of themselves embedded deep down in our souls. Kahlil Gibran’s two book titles say it all in either A Tear and A Smile or Tears and Laughter. Though the tears may flow, the smiles will surely come as we remember the good times.

There are many famous phrases about parting but I believe that the French proverb says it best. “Partir, c’est mourir un peu” (Parting is to die a little).

To my cousin, Nita.

Lynn M.
September 27, 2025

My sisters and I left Carver High School when the family moved to Chicago in the early 1960’s. The oldest sister graduated from Carver in Memphis and the other three of us went on to graduate from Hyde Park High in Chicago.  But my sisters held on to their contacts there and one just attended what could have been her 60th Class Reunion. She stayed in contact with the Memphis crew over the years.

So here, I look back at my one year at Carver Junior High where I spent one memorable year as a 7th grader.  For starters, I was in an all-girls homeroom for reasons unbeknownst to me. But homeroom only lasted for a few minutes each day, so it really did not make that much difference. Ms. Grandberry was our teacher and all I remember about her is that she was pleasant, had a couple of dimples and a great smile.

Then there was Mr. McClellan who taught Spelling. He was an animated teacher and to this day I am a decent speller and quite conscientious about my writing. He was up on the second floor along with Mr. Black who taught History.  I remember Mr. Black as being tall, astute and quite knowledgeable. Then there was Ms. Walton who taught Social Science.  I recall her reassuring us and calming our fears during The Cuban Missile Crisis.

There was Ms. Blackwell who was located at the far end of the second floor. She taught Art and I will never forget trying to replicate a scene using the one-point perspective theory. She truly left her mark on me because I have sketched over the years. 

And there was Ms. McDavid who baffled us all. Whenever she gave a test in, ( I believe it was Geography), she re-seated the class. Those with the highest scores sat in the first row, so if you were in row four over by the windows, anyone walking pass knew that you weren’t doing that good in her class. Whew!

And lastly there was our beloved principal, Mr. R. B. Thompson. He was small in stature, but he ruled with an iron fist. The rules were clear and if you did not play by the rules, all other students knew it. Those were the days when teachers could still paddle students if need be.  At any time, you may see the star quarterback or the Casanova-lover of the school bent over getting a few licks with the school paddle in front of their admiring fans or girlfriends. That was embarrassing enough for them to hopefully make better choices in the future.

I have very fond memories of my one year at Carver, though I was in junior high. The school building was rather new, and it housed 7th through 12th grades. We had a huge field in the back to play on for recess, and for baseball games. And the gym was our happy place where we sometimes had dances. They were called sock-ups because we could not wear street shoes on the gym floor, and we danced in our socks.

Yes, Carver where the school colors were red and white, and the mascot was and still is the almighty Cobra. That one fantastic year helped shape me and Carver definitely had a hand in who I am today!

Lynn M.
September 20, 2025

Ah, the calm of September! That is what I feel as the cool, gentle breezes envelop me when I sit close to the lake. The cicadas still sing loudly and remind me that summer is not quite over yet.  The trees are still full of leaves, although I had to clean a few fallen leaves off my car this morning.

That was a silent reminder that autumn is officially making its grand entrance very soon. The green trees will soon be arrayed in rich colors before they shake off their arborous beauty. Of course, the wind will do its part and blow the leaves all around causing those rakes and leaf-blowers to come out and help clean up the mess.

September, my birth month along with four other immediate family members, shows up every year to help put us all in check. It is the season for cooling minds, deep breathing, calming down and getting things in order.

Phrases like back-to-basics, reality check and resetting all come to mind when I think of September. The travel luggage must be unpacked, and the summer photos should be safely filed away. The summer gear must go back into its normal spot. Summer is truly in our rear-view mirrors.

It is time to pull out the sweaters, cardigans and light jackets. And it is time to dust off the planners and make certain that the alarm clock is working and the watches have new batteries. It is the month to settle down, buckle up, get in tune with the order of the universe. The days will be getting shorter, and the cicadas will soon retreat underground. This signals us to pull out a few trusty affirmations such as I can, I will, I must or just do it. Then, we can move forward with a certain peace in every step!

Lynn M.
September 13, 2025

As we get ready to say goodbye to this wonderful summer, I must say that I welcome the incoming fall season. It reminds us that it is time to get back-to basics. Children return to the classroom and the trees will soon change the colors of its leaves. Autumn makes me think of order and calm and it reminds me that the earth is still rotating on its axis, Mother Nature is taking care of things.

Personally, my two favorite seasons are fall and spring.They are generally neither too hot nor too cold. Like in the story of TheThree Little Bears, the porridge was ‘just right’. Both seasons are mild, cool and refreshing in so many ways. 

The other day, we were having a discussion in a classroom about various places and their temperatures. We recalled that all places do not have all four seasons. Some places have never seen snow or if they have, it was a very rare occurrence. But here, in the Midwest of the USA, we enjoy the fullness of fall, winter, spring and summer.

When I lived in places that did not get all four seasons, I felt as if something was missing. I kept waiting for Mother Nature to softly remind me that it was time to change the wardrobe or prepare in some way for the upcoming frigid temps. But while living in the sunny south, it did not happen. Once I visited Houston during the Christmas holiday, it was 80 degrees on Christmas Day. Everyone was wearing shorts!

Being a Midwestern at heart, I silently cherish all four seasons. It is a quiet reminder that we are constantly changing and evolving as we keep in step with nature’s plan. We can now take a few deep breaths and give thanks that we survived this past summer. We can slow down and enjoy the calm breezes that clear the cobwebs from our minds. While moving at a slower pace, we will soon pull out those sweaters and light jackets.

And the truly wise will begin to stock up those cupboards, pantries and shelves during this autumn season. We never know exactly how fierce Old Man Winter’s roar will be, but we know he is certainly coming. In the meantime, we can savor a few aha moments as we walk on our tippy toes, adjust our circadian clocks and enjoy the magical gifts of this season!

Lynn M.
August 31, 2025

Reading, writing and mathin’ to pay bills,
While always scouting for the best deals.

Cicadas loudly sing evening song.
Making us forget all that went wrong.

Summer is winding down to a halt,
That last minute fun must now be sought.

Those back-to-school items will be bought,
So children can hear what’s being taught.

Warm summer breezes soon turn to fall,
Leaving behind great days had by all!

Lynn M.
August 16, 2025