New Sensation at 9

The first time I meditated was in the fourth grade.
We were in the auditorium
of our elementary school.
It was used for assemblies, book fairs.
I was with my class
and we were sitting Indian style
facing our teacher
in much the same way
yoga students do.

Our teacher was cool.
She had these sterling silver
glasses with dangly star charms
and she wasn't like
other teachers.
She did things different with us,
like on that day in the late 80s when
she played new age music from a
hot pink boom box.

She then asked our nine-year old minds to
imagine flying through the sky.
This was every kid's dream anyways.
She had us fly over
"snowy mountains,"
then "sandy beaches,"
"farmlands," and eventually
our humble California town
called "Alta Loma."

We felt the breeze and smelled
the smells, just thrilled
to use our imagination.
I like remembering this day.
It was the first time
I recall feeling refreshed at school,
like I just got out of a
swimming pool
or bathtub.

I felt calm, not anxious.
This was a new sensation
given to me by a teacher.
I was even allowed to chew three pieces
of spearmint gum and
not get in trouble.
I know she saw because
our eyes met and I was
chomping away.

I was only nine but thanks to her,
I felt like a grown up.
She didn't make me spit out my gum
so I was able to relax like I was at home.
For the first time,
I flew
and chewed gum at the same time:
something I never did before.
Isn't that what school's all about?

Meditation Music: James Newton Howard - Soundtrack to the film "Grand Canyon" TAKES A FEW SECONDS TO LOAD... WORTH IT!