Since last March, I’ve moved to Detroit
A city of surprising beauty
A city of murals and unexpected green
A city resilient and determined.
Since last March, I’ve lived through a screen
Learned, taught, shopped, worked through a screen
Dreamed, planned, connected through a screen
Survived through a screen
Since last March, I’ve said goodbye
Goodbye to students, colleagues, friends,
Goodbye to prairie and pronghorn, eagle and blue sky,
Goodbye to certainty and ease.
Since last March, I’ve said hello
Hello to new students and new teaching challenges,
Hello to urban wildlife–raccoons, opossums, a colony of feral cats
Hello to change and adventure.
“Since Last March” is a form I first discovered on Fran McVeigh’s blog and have used several times to kick off a new month of March slicing.
the dirigible plum 
So happy to ‘see’ you again. Can’t wait to read about all that’s new from one of my favorite writers.
Oh wow, that’s such a wonderful compliment. I’m so happy to be back! At least for March! Looking forward to reading your posts this month.
I love this reflection, especially with the current state of what has happened “Since Last March” for all of us.
It was too overwhelming to think much about all that has happened this year. I wanted to include more reflection about that but just couldn’t.
What a lovely way to structure your first slice. I feel for your life through a screen…:( Hope you get to live more in the real world soon!
Me too! This year been the year of the screen for sure, though I am grateful to be safe behind it!
You can share much in a poem of good-byes and hellos. Moving is a big change in life. Wishing you resilience and joy on your adventure.
Thank you! I’m always surprised by what this structure allows to be conveyed.
So much new in one year where time has felt so blurry. Great format!
Time has felt so blurry! The longest year ever! The shortest year ever!
Hooray! I’m glad you’re back. And I cannot wait to hear about the colony of feral cats – because I’m certain there’s a post or two in there… and Chipotle? and all the rest. I’ve missed you, my blogging friend. Here we go again.
Oh yes, there will definitely be feral cat posts–and Chipotle posts!
Oh wow, quite the nostalgic memories there. I can only imagine what those prairies and pronghorns are like from the distant shores of Australia but I can sure relate to eagles and blue sky….Detroit, I can say as a non-American, it conjures up some very industrial images, so I’ll look forward to seeing you reveal your new life further. This is such a great way to write a slice!
I always pictured Detroit as very industrial too–giant factories churning out cars! It’s surprisingly beautiful, however. Very green, fantastic architecture, and so many murals–art everywhere you look! Thanks for your comment!
So glad you decided to be here, and that I’m here too. Love this form and Fran. Thank you.
I am so glad you’re here. Still surprised that I am!!
I love the hope and forward-facing stance of this piece. So glad you decided to do the March challenge!!
I wasn’t planning to, but what would March be without slicing?
We don’t always think about the changes in our lives over a period of time. This is a great way to chronicle them.
This year the changes have been large. Usually they are more subtle, but still interesting to track through this format.
So glad you’re back! I can’t wait to read your book posts and cat posts.
Reading has been hard for me during the pandemic. But I can definitely slice about that!!
So happy to see your posts! WHOO HOO!
Thank you! I can’t wait to catch up on your blog!
I grew a great big happy grin when I saw your name in the comments, Elisabeth! So grateful I am to join you here again in our slices of life. While receiving a letter in the mail is a top notch high quality best of the best method of connecting, I’ll take the slices of life as a close second. Nope, third. Zooming is second!! I’m looking forward to reading your words each day and seeing what you are up to in the days of your life, dear friend! 🙂
I am glad to be here! And I am going to have to slice about the unexpected delights of good old-fashioned letter writing now that I have rediscovered it! Thanks for this lovely, warm comment. It felt like a hug!
Dear friend, I am glad to see you back! I wasn’t going to participate this year either…
I love your poem from today and reading your writing (both blogging and in a letter… I know-I need to write back). I cannot wait to read your posts this month
I really don’t know how I’m going to find time for all my letter writing AND slicing–but somehow it will happen. I keep telling myself to write less, go short. Brevity is not my strength!! So glad you are here too!
Me either! Know that I have already composed many letters to you in my head already… I will get there soon!
Welcome back! I’ve missed your posts and you. Isn’t it great that even though you moved, we can still be in touch through SOLC?
I do love that about March! it’s wonderful to catch up with friends! I have missed this community!
Lots of changes. But through change comes so much growth. This is a great start to the challenge!
So many changes this year! Many more than usual! Surely there are more slices in that??
What a great slice and a great way to start the March SOL challenge!
Thank you! It’s so good to see you again this year!
What a wonderful poem! Your resilience in moving across the US and then having the entire plan upended by a pandemic is really impressive, and I love how you summarized both the good and bad. Thanks for the great post!
Thank you! it’s certainly been the oddest year, to put it mildly. All very unexpected. But also so much to be grateful for.