Welcome to my cauldron of creative musings.
Breathe it in.
. . .
And sometimes, with just the stirring of a springtime breeze through an open window, life seems so delicately beautiful.
. . .
SnapDragon is a writer who utterly enjoys stacks of unused notebooks.
Follow Snippets of SnapDragon for her take on this crazy world.
Hello, Dear Reader.
I’d like to take a moment to reflect.
On life as a new mom? No.
On how dish-washing gloves are my new prized possession? It’s true, but no.
On how American society is eerily similar to the movie Idiocracy? Not today. (But stay tuned. Or, just look for the understated theme in every single one of my blog posts.)
ANYWAY.
I’d like to reflect on why it is I’m here. As in, here in this beloved blogging community.
Read on if you wish, yo.
. . .
I am a writer.
And as of late I’ve made a conscious effort to claim this as true, without caveats:
I’m a writer. . . but I haven’t published anything.
I’m a writer. . . but I spend most of my time reading.
But, but, but.
Enough of that shit.
We know who we are.
. . .
As I’ve mentioned numerous times, I am an anxiety-prone individual. Unfortunately, this sometimes manifests as paranoia.
I wish I were joking.
And, I can’t even give you one of the many ridiculous examples of this, without my heart racing.
So the idea of creating this blog, posting photos of myself (all appropriate!), and hitting the “Publish” button for all to see?
Call it baptism by fire, friend. It’s a form of healing.
It was (and is) my way of proving that I have a right to be here.
That I am an adult.
That I am entitled to opinions.
And that that’s okay.
Period.
. . .
It may sound selfish, but when it comes right down to it, I write for me.
It’s like coming home after spending the day at the beach, and feeling the cool stream of the shower on my skin.
Fresh. Clean.
Reborn.
It’s therapeutic to (somewhat) organize my jumbled mess of thoughts, and to feel accountability among an unseen–and even unknown–audience.
When I started blogging, I thought maybe a handful of people would follow. Friends, mostly.
So the fact that this has blossomed into a community–truly–is an added bonus.
It’s the buttercream frosting on this dense, toothsome, cold vanilla cake of ours.
So what are we waiting for? Take a big ol’ bite.
. . .
I remind myself that I am human.
And so are you, love.
And we are in this crazy-ass world together.
Let’s be friends.
. . .
SnapDragon is an educator, writer, artist, and homemaker. She enjoys being in bed by 10.
Follow her Two-Bit Musings and more on Snippets of SnapDragon.
Also, check out her contributions to Pointless Overthinking.
Once upon a time–or, really, about twelve years, twenty pounds, and a box of hair dye ago–I worked at an ice cream shoppe.
I took a certain pride in my important, dessert-based work.
Candy combinations. Cream in the hopper. Icing perfectly dolloped.
I was good at it.
And even though it was “just a job”, it got me through college.
It was, in a lot of ways, my home.
I spent hours with those people. Laughing. Discussing life in all its uncertainty. And I will never see them again. It’s most unlikely, anyway. That, or we would simply fail to recognize each other.
And it’s funny: more than a decade later–two degrees, a teaching career, a marriage, dozens of plane rides, and a beautiful son later–I’m a stone’s throw from that same ice cream shoppe.
And when I hear certain albums (namely, Boxer by The National) I’m suddenly back in my Corsica, driving to work. Pulling my almost-black hair into a ponytail, and treating myself to a cold brownie slice as I set up business for the day. Feeling both the thrill and anxiety of my 20s, weaved together in a sort of oddly-comforting blanket.
Little did she know.
(she smiles)
Yes, my friend.
For maybe the best is yet to be. *
. . .
SnapDragon is an educator, artist, and homemaker who enjoys life in the slow lane.
Follow her Two-Bit Musings and more on Snippets of SnapDragon.
*Quote by Robert Browning
Dear Society:
I love you. Always remember that. We are in this together.
And as your friend, I need to tell you a few things. . .
(clears throat)
. . .
Dear Society:
Please stop assuming the rules don’t apply to you. Every single one of us has places to be.
Please stop spewing out bullshit news articles that haven’t been proofread. You’re embarrassing yourself. And me.
Please stop throwing money at problems that require nothing more than time, expertise, and compassion.
Please stop labeling our writing as Women’s Lit.
Please stop making fun of libraries and post offices. They keep this place sane.
Please stop demonizing people for their mistakes of the past. Accept their apologies and move the fuck on.
Please stop assuming we are the only species that deserves a healthy habitat.
Please stop saying literally when you mean figuratively. No, they shouldn’t just change the definition.
Please stop creating caricatures of entire groups of people, and then freak out when someone draws one of you.
Please stop acting like you were never young.
Please stop feeling sorry for yourself. You are not the only one who has experienced heartache.
Please stop excusing the institutions that oppress our bodies and minds.
And please. . . stop forgetting that everyday we are making history.
We. are. better. than. this.
All of my love,
SnapDragon
. . .
SnapDragon is a writer who wants to be part of the solution.
Follow her Two-Bit Musings and more on Snippets of SnapDragon.
If I ever get out of here*. . .
If I ever get out of here, I will do the following, in no particular order:
1. Happily take my lazy ass to the gym. I’ll walk for 30, elliptical for another 30, and inevitably be in a brighter mood for the rest of the day. Also, I might even shower there. I figure the place will never be as post-pandemically-clean again.
2. Fix my face up like Lucille Ball. I don’t think I’ve worn makeup for almost a year. Truth be told, I think I like buying it more than I like wearing it. But, after being stuck in the same cycle of sweatpants and loose tee shirts, with no place to go, I’m ready for a little glamour.
3. Gorge myself at Morimoto. If dining out were a sporting event, I’d be eligible for an Olympic medal by now. I miss it. And while I’ve only been there once, Morimoto in Philly is off. the. chain. So when business is booming again, we are going. And we’re having drinks, and appetizers, and all of the heavenly avocado-and-cream-cheese sushi rolls our little hearts desire.
4. Spend a weekend at Wildwood. Growing up, Wildwood, New Jersey was my family’s vacation spot. And oh, how I love it, Dear Reader! And right now I want nothing more than to pack up the car, grease myself up with SPF 26,000 and enjoy the salt water taffy. Crowds on the Boardwalk? No. Problem.
5. Wander aimlessly. I think what I miss most during this shut down is simply the ability to stroll. Like, among people. Like, going downtown to breeze through a book shop, or a quirky boutique, or farmers’ market. Even making polite conversation with passersby. Because, as George Costanza reminds us, we are living in a society.
So please, Powers That Be, let us out of our cages soon.**
. . .
SnapDragon is an artist, educator, and strong believer in the after-school snack.
Follow her Two-Bit Musings and more on Snippets of SnapDragon.
*. . .“thought of giving it all away, to a registered charity. All I need is a pint a day. If I ever get outta here . .”
** So that we can start complaining about everything again and find ourselves wanting nothing more than to be at home
Meet the three personalities of SnapDragon X.
Hi!
Whether you’re new to Snippets of SnapDragon, or one of my faithful readers (I think I’m up to 8?) welcome back to another day in the Blogisphere.
Several years ago I wrote a piece about the many facets of my personality, or the handful of alter egos that make me me. I actually shared it with my high school students as a beginning-of-the-school-year exercise. I thought about digging it out of my files and uploading it today, but then thought, Nope. It’s always better to start fresh.
So here we are.
The painting you see above is the first “real” piece in my artistic catalog (as an adult, that is). It’s hung on our dining room wall, perfectly placed so that when I am curled up on the love seat in the adjacent living room, I can see it clearly.
At first I didn’t know what to think of it. Is it finished? Is it too cartoony? Too colorful? Too bizarre?
It doesn’t matter. Because it’s me.
All three pieces.
So travel with me as I define each woman you see. Consider it the unholy trinity of SnapDragon X.
Girl One:
Call me Charlotte. I’m the library-loving soul who wears colorful high-top sneakers and gets excited about fruit-flavored lipgloss. I decorate the walls with an array of magazine clippings, ranging from photographs of potted plants to headshots of famous people I do not know. I’m a teacher. I love routine. My classroom chalkboards are pristine and filled with color-coded journal prompts. My eyes are missing because I only come to life by interacting with others.
Girl Two:
Call me Rita. I’m the whisky-drinking, foul-mouthed redhead who wants to keep the party pumping. I sing, I dance. I take a chance by telling the truth and encourage everyone present to do the same. We’re on the same side. There’s nothing to be afraid of. I tell myself that I’m allowed to be me, and people can take it or fucking leave it. Then when I’m alone I spiral into an abyss of self-doubt and delusion.
Girl Three:
Call me Heather. I’m the empath of the group. No matter your story, I feel a connection to you because we are both human. I rejoice in your success. I cry for the loss of your father, though we never met. There is a cavern of emotion inside me, one that drains me and makes me want to hide in the bathtub for hours on end. I love me, I love you. I want us to forgive.
I am SnapDragon.
It’s a pleasure to meet you.
Feeling those Sunday Blues?
Here’s five of my favorite things that almost always make me feel better:
5. Watch Food Network.
While Chopped would not be my first choice of shows when I’m feeling anxious, there are plenty of selections on Food Network to lift my spirits. There’s something about seeing a bright, clean kitchen being utilized by a professional chef that quells my anxiety. Following along with the process (even from the comfort of my couch) I feel happy when I watch these G-rated culinary adventures. Barefoot Contessa will always be my favorite. Ina Garten invites us into her gorgeous home (and herb garden!) while making something scrumptious, usually for her husband Jeffrey. It’s too cute.
4. Pick a Task, Any Task.
I do not like to feel lazy, especially on Sundays. But I’d be straight-up lying if I told you I clean the house from roof to basement every seven days. My chores are typically piecemealed throughout the week. But on Sundays, when I’m prone to overanalyzing everything in life, accomplishing a task can work wonders. A load of laundry, grocery shopping, or even getting rid of the clutter on the kitchen counter makes me feel like I’ve opened a window to let the sunshine in.
3. Get Out, Yo.
When I’m in a funk, sitting around only exacerbates my foul mood. Getting out can certainly be paired with the Pick-a-Task Strategy, but even if I drive to the local Dunkin’ Donuts for an afternoon coffee, the fresh air revives my soul. I try to remind myself that walking around the neighborhood is absolutely free and is available at any time. Mother Nature has a way of making things better.
2. Dive into StoryTime.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a novel, a sitcom, or blockbuster hit, the world of fiction is a vast and magical one. If I’m feeling like life’s biggest turd, it helps to watch or read about someone else’s fucked-up life. (I advocate for purely fictional characters; The Real Housewives and the like stress me out. But you do you.)
1. Remember that Tomorrow is Another Day.
Easier said than done, I know. Sometimes I feel like my anxiety or depression will never go away. But it always does. It always passes. I’m really, really trying to take my own advice here. Just like a buzz, moods wear off. I like to take a shower, nap, and pour myself a mug of tea (preferably one of the herbal varieties, like Relaxed Mind or Stress Relief. Sure, it could be placebo. But if you feel better, who cares?)
And so, those are just a few little perk-me-ups that I keep in my moody blues first-aid kit.
I truly hope this day finds you well, Dear Reader.
You are strong.
You are beautiful.
You are human.
Snippets of SnapDragon 
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