November 12, 2019

By Pam Harlin, Meemic Foundation Director
 
I’m not an oxymoron girl, but it sure seem as though I’m living in an oxymoron world. I try to live a pretty straightforward life. I’m about as normal as they come. I get up in the morning, drive to work, work and then drive home. I try to eat balanced meals. I celebrate the major holidays. I enjoy my family. I watch reality television. (Isn’t that normal?) So I’m sure you’re wondering what’s the reason for this ranting about an oxymoron world? 
 
Because almost suddenly, we got close to 9 inches of snow on Monday. (I live in southeastern Michigan.)  
 
Nine inches.
 
On Nov. 11. Fall snow. Isn’t that phrase an oxymoron? It is not supposed to snow like this – we’re only 49 days into autumn. This harsh blast of winter has me clearly confused. (Oh, and to be clear we are all on the same page, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “oxymoron” as “a combination of contradictory or incongruous words,” like for example, the contradictory phase, FALL SNOW.)
 
Now don’t get me wrong, I love a good snow. The deafening silence of snow at midnight is an experience that puts you alone together with nature. But not two weeks before Thanksgiving.
 
The idea of an early winter is going over with me like a lead balloon. I don’t like it. I don’t want it. And I know … I’m being a big baby. But I want my seasons to come when I expect them to come. No snow until Christmas Eve.  My rules … please.   
 
As I process the reality of the weather outside, I hope you see that there is nothing incongruous with The Meemic Foundation and our focus to support education! 
 
It’s old news that the Foundation has presented some amazing grant rounds this year. Every year, we offer year-round grant opportunities. But this year was different. By year-end, we will have offered a record-breaking 15 grant rounds (wow!)! Throughout 2019, we offered grants for classroom resources and supplies like 3D printers, Chromebooks, bean bag chairs, flexible furniture, hydroponic butterfly gardens, STEAM kits, school supplies and more. And we have partnered with amazing education-minded businesses like Robo3D, littleBits, Varidesk Education, Nasco, Teacher’s Discovery, Teachers Pay Teachers and more. 
 
In my unbiased opinion, joining the Meemic Foundation Club to gain exclusive access to all of these grant opportunities makes The Meemic Foundation the only choice for school staff and administrators. I hope you agree and share this opportunity with your fellow education colleagues!
 
Good grief, I counted 13 oxymoron phrases in this blog (including my debatable “fall snow”). I had serious fun with this. Can you find them all?