Second Grade Faces All Grown Up

This conglomeration of faces hangs on my wall in my room. In 1995, I taught second grade in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala: also known as “Xela”.  It was my first year of teaching and I had 11 students. I loved those kiddos for all kinds of reasons. They were my first real class of students, the were from other countries, they were sweet 2nd graders, they were excited to be in a bi-lingual school, they were just lovable, and they stole my heart!!! To this day, I remember each one of them by name and personality!!

We did all kinds of fun things that year and I remember so much of what happened. Since I love Art, we did all kinds of projects. I taught them how to draw faces, because it is one of my favorite things to draw… I even drew a portrait of each one of them before the year was over. This picture above was a project that each one of them did of their self-portrait in small squares and then we connected them all together to make this mural. As I mentioned, it is hanging on my wall today, 12 years later!!

Lo and behold, last week, I got a friend request on Facebook from a name that sounded familiar. I clicked on her profile and sure enough, it was one of my second graders… All Grown UP!!!!!! Her request turned into many of them contacting me, which has made my whole week!! It is amazing to see them 12 years later as young adults. I guess that’s what happens with time.

The coolest thing is that many of them have mentioned things they remember from that year… things that make me smile. That was such a great year of my life. Each child in this world is such a blessing! It has been an honor to be a part of so many kids lives from so many different places.

Faces are a beautiful thing, all shapes and sizes, young and old… and even all grown up!!

Faces on the Wall

I went down to California this summer for my Grandpa’s 100th birthday celebration: which was a story in itself. While I was there, I went through the last bit of things that I still had there in storage. I came across much of my artwork that has been stored away for quite some time. My favorite mediums in university were pottery and charcoal. There were some charcoal drawings that I did in Guatemala in 1996 that I forgot I had done. They are faces. As I was looking at the drawings, and am looking at them today… It’s weird to me how I would display these drawings that I really love. Do I just frame them and put them on the wall? I would love to have them out, but part of me feels strange staring at random faces on the wall… hmm… I guess I could draw landscapes… unfortunately that has never intrigued me.

The Journey

“It is good to have an end to journey toward;
but it is the journey that matters in the end.”

Ursula K. Le Guin

Colorado has a bit of Snow

I’ve been a bit out of touch since the 20th of December. My sister, nephew and I were a few of the thousands that were re-routed as a result of the Denver airport closing!! We are finally in Colorado and it snowed again yesterday… I am just glad we are here this time!!

Back to Dave Matthews

It took me a while to get back to this…. How was the concert?? Well, musically it was amazing! I can see now why this band is so popular. They are so talented with improvisation. It’s like being at a jam session in their studio, but better because of all the lights, people, environment, etc.

One thing that drew me originally to this band is their world-music flavor. You can tell they have been all over the place and their music expresses that. The creativity in sound, story, rhythm, beat and climax of emotion is truly a rush.

People-watching is an adventure for me as well. I love people. My mom always says, “People are crazier than anyone” and I agree. We are an interesting breed to say the least . There were so many people at this concert. All varieties, all very calm and Seattle-ish. We were kind of taken aback at the calmness of everyone. When we all got up to leave in a sea of moving bodies, it was simply a constant lazy-river flow. No one pushed or rushed to our surprise… a pleasant surprise. We all just quietly flowed our way to each one’s respective car or camping site. Pretty amazing, actually for that many people.

There were so many restrictions on what could enter this venue, it kind of made us laugh. Since we were out on the lawn… I brought a small umbrella for the sun, which they said was forbidden to enter… Yet once we got in, there was a man and his wife and daughter sitting on the lawn in front of us and he proceeded to poor all his “hooch” out of clear plastic baggies into his water bottle. I guess they let that in because it was in clear plastic baggies!! Interesting.

Also, there was a bit of cloudiness in the air as a variety of smoke wafted here and there. My friend was allergic… she found out. I wonder how all that got in, when my umbrella was so forbidden?? As I said, we are a strange breed.

So, all in all… it was an adventure. A little of this, a bit of that… I’m glad I went. And… I suppose my concert trend is continuing because I just got invited to another one… I have never heard of this guy either. They tell me I will love his music, however…. I’m a nut for acoustic, folky, funky-beat, creative… story-telling music. This guy’s name is John Mayer. I’m sure YOU’ve heard of him!!

I’m catching up… give me a chance!

Dave Matthews, music