I had the most delightful day on Tuesday: I was invited to our Mayor's Spirit luncheon at noon and then to the dedication of our Integration Historic Marker at 5:30.
The Mayor's Spirit luncheon has been held for 12 years now. Its intention is to gather people of all races together to celebrate the spirit of unity. The actual luncheon was held in City Hall, right in the room where meetings are held, and about 20 8-top rounds were squoze right in there. There was hardly room to walk between tables but that sort of made it more fun.
The speaker was an older gentleman who was the first to sit in the whites-only section of the local movie theater, which is no longer standing. A parking lot now sits between our newspaper building and a row of businesses, in downtown SmallTown.
He attended the local mostly-black college, and integration was an issue across the south at that time -- 1964. He and three buddies, also 3 "light" girls and the one white student, walked from the college to the theater. The 4 black fellows bought tickets for the upstairs, where blacks had to sit at that time, and the white guy and 3 "light" girls bought tickets for the downstairs, white-only section. Then, they traded tickets. The 4 lighter-complected folks went upstairs, and the four black fellows trooped into the main seating. Don't you know their hearts were pounding!!
The ticket lady called the manager and he begged the boys not to proceed. He did not want a scene. The young men assured them they were entirely peaceful; they felt it was time for integration to come to SmallTown. The manager pled with them; he was retiring soon and they could cause a scene in only a month. But the group had walked all that way with this one intention, and they were pretty determined.
So the manager called the police. The boys were arrested. Apparently the lighter-skinned folks' invasion of the upstairs was not against the law. They were not arrested.
The boys went to the jailhouse. They were told to stand outside until the back door could be unlocked.
The man, in recounting the story, recalled the irony of being arrested and then being told to stand outside the jail.
Inside, they sang and prayed until their college president bailed them out in the morning. The theater integrated within 2 weeks and the rest of the town followed that year.
The man is a pastor in Buffalo, NY, and flew down for the day. He stands about 5'5" tall, and wears a large white collar to denote his profession. He walks with a cane, but stands proudly and told his story with a great deal of gentle humor to relieve the tension of the story. It was a great story and I felt so lucky to hear it first-hand.
That afternoon, we all met again, this time at the site of the theater, where a large bronze plaque had been set into the sidewalk commemorating the activity at the theater. At the top was a short poem written in 1924 by a local black guy that went something like this:
"You can write a tune of sorts on the black keys;
You can write a tune of sorts on the white keys;
But it takes both keys to make a harmony."
In the center of the plaque was a condensed version of the story and across the bottom of the plaque are raised piano keys. The plaque was unveiled, photos were taken, and we walked across the street to a reception.
This small city has a public art committee that is developing about 50 similar plaques to spread all across the town. At some point in the future, you will be able to get a booklet from the tourism office, and follow the history of the city by following the trail of plaques from here to there and back again.
It was a very nice affair and I will remember it always.
Friday, March 30
Monday, March 26
Good News, Bad News
The good news is I got home ok.
The bad news is I had 2 red dashboard lights steadily on, or blinking, alternately, the whole way.
The good news is I had a sweet supportive DH on the phone like a zillion times asking me, "How are you now?"
The bad news is the traffic stopped on 85 in four separate places, and the car would run really, really rough...while 2 red dashboards were steadily on, or blinking, alternately.
The good news is that I did *NOT* miss the exit from downtown Nearby City to I-77, as I usually do.
The bad news is I could not run my AC as it would make both those frikkin dashboard lights go crazy.
The good news is the building where I had to meet with a consultant today, is also the building where the police dept is, so when my car would not crank, would not even click, I was able to go back inside and ask a nice man in blue if he could possibly help me, instead of calling AAA and waiting 45 minutes for a wrecker to come jump the car and put me into the worst traffic window of the day.
DH has gone to nearby smaller city to get a part from our old Mercedes guy.
If it's not fixed tonight, I have to drive DH to work tomorrow morning at 4:15 so I can take his car.
I sang the following song all the way home!
"Oh, God, you are my God,
And I will ever praise you.
Oh, God, you are my God,
And I will ever praise you.
I will seek you in the morning,
And I will learn to walk in your ways...
And step by step you'll lead me,
And I will love you for all of my days.
And I will love you for all of my days,
And I will love you for all of my day-ay-ays,
And step by step you'll lead me,
And I will love you for all of my days."
The car was shuddering and blinking and I was rolling sweat, and we made it all the way home.
The bad news is I had 2 red dashboard lights steadily on, or blinking, alternately, the whole way.
The good news is I had a sweet supportive DH on the phone like a zillion times asking me, "How are you now?"
The bad news is the traffic stopped on 85 in four separate places, and the car would run really, really rough...while 2 red dashboards were steadily on, or blinking, alternately.
The good news is that I did *NOT* miss the exit from downtown Nearby City to I-77, as I usually do.
The bad news is I could not run my AC as it would make both those frikkin dashboard lights go crazy.
The good news is the building where I had to meet with a consultant today, is also the building where the police dept is, so when my car would not crank, would not even click, I was able to go back inside and ask a nice man in blue if he could possibly help me, instead of calling AAA and waiting 45 minutes for a wrecker to come jump the car and put me into the worst traffic window of the day.
DH has gone to nearby smaller city to get a part from our old Mercedes guy.
If it's not fixed tonight, I have to drive DH to work tomorrow morning at 4:15 so I can take his car.
I sang the following song all the way home!
"Oh, God, you are my God,
And I will ever praise you.
Oh, God, you are my God,
And I will ever praise you.
I will seek you in the morning,
And I will learn to walk in your ways...
And step by step you'll lead me,
And I will love you for all of my days.
And I will love you for all of my days,
And I will love you for all of my day-ay-ays,
And step by step you'll lead me,
And I will love you for all of my days."
The car was shuddering and blinking and I was rolling sweat, and we made it all the way home.
Sunday, March 25
Summer Plans
I am blogging only because I try to do so on a weekly basis now that I am home less often. However, I have so little to report. Let's see...
LO's band concert was Tuesday night. It was great as usual.
She is busily practicing for her PBS (that's Positive Behavior Students) Talent Show, which is this Thursday evening at 7:30. I have seen a few of the acts when I go to pick her up, (I go a bit early so as to catch a little of it) and there are singers, a very cool skateboard act with ramps on the stage and rock music, dancers, and LO. There is more but I have not caught it yet. LO is playing the theme song from the Young & the Restless on the piano. It has lots of pedal action, which is new for her. Her band instructor has patiently mentored her on this piece, including how to hold her hands suspended above the keyboard as the last note dies away. It's quite charming.
We had a bit of a flurry this week trying to get her into Music Camp at a nearby university extension. It's their 25th year of this program and it has a great reputation. I called them before mailing the application. They are just now opening applications postmarked February and many instrument spots are already filled. Fortunately there were a few flute spots and a few more piano spots available, so we sent in with a request that she be placed in flute (first choice) or piano if that's filled, likewise please admit her the first week (first choice) or 2nd week if that is filled. DH is in Mexico on the second week so would miss her closing recital on the Friday night; that is why we prefer the first week. We are in hopes that by opening the choices to four options, she can get in somehow. Her band teacher and piano teacher had to recommend her and they both marked that she is an outstanding musician. Cross your fingers on this one. If she does not get in this year, we will send in the application in January next year. Just wish we had known about the program a littler earlier this year.
If she gets to go, she will stay in a dorm room with one other girl her age. There are RA's on every floor, and she will dine in the dining hall. I spoke with a couple of college students who help with the camp every summer, and they said the kids all have a blast.
In addition to that camp, I have signed her up for two separate weeks of tennis camp, day-camp, at the local college. She is taking three art classes at the museum where I work, and last night our Exec Director asked if I need for her to help as a classroom assistant some this summer. What a nice opportunity! LO is excited about this chance and looks forward to doing this.
Well, now she is talking about going to a wilderness camp so I am off to cruise the internet in search of. ....
LO's band concert was Tuesday night. It was great as usual.
She is busily practicing for her PBS (that's Positive Behavior Students) Talent Show, which is this Thursday evening at 7:30. I have seen a few of the acts when I go to pick her up, (I go a bit early so as to catch a little of it) and there are singers, a very cool skateboard act with ramps on the stage and rock music, dancers, and LO. There is more but I have not caught it yet. LO is playing the theme song from the Young & the Restless on the piano. It has lots of pedal action, which is new for her. Her band instructor has patiently mentored her on this piece, including how to hold her hands suspended above the keyboard as the last note dies away. It's quite charming.
We had a bit of a flurry this week trying to get her into Music Camp at a nearby university extension. It's their 25th year of this program and it has a great reputation. I called them before mailing the application. They are just now opening applications postmarked February and many instrument spots are already filled. Fortunately there were a few flute spots and a few more piano spots available, so we sent in with a request that she be placed in flute (first choice) or piano if that's filled, likewise please admit her the first week (first choice) or 2nd week if that is filled. DH is in Mexico on the second week so would miss her closing recital on the Friday night; that is why we prefer the first week. We are in hopes that by opening the choices to four options, she can get in somehow. Her band teacher and piano teacher had to recommend her and they both marked that she is an outstanding musician. Cross your fingers on this one. If she does not get in this year, we will send in the application in January next year. Just wish we had known about the program a littler earlier this year.
If she gets to go, she will stay in a dorm room with one other girl her age. There are RA's on every floor, and she will dine in the dining hall. I spoke with a couple of college students who help with the camp every summer, and they said the kids all have a blast.
In addition to that camp, I have signed her up for two separate weeks of tennis camp, day-camp, at the local college. She is taking three art classes at the museum where I work, and last night our Exec Director asked if I need for her to help as a classroom assistant some this summer. What a nice opportunity! LO is excited about this chance and looks forward to doing this.
Well, now she is talking about going to a wilderness camp so I am off to cruise the internet in search of. ....
Thursday, March 22
The Ambivalent Bird
Our home was built 70+ years ago, so it has loads of trees and bushes to harbor birds, bugs and other creatures. This is a good thing. If you are considering buying a house on a lot where they have torn down all the oxygen-producing, bird-holding trees that lived there first, you might want to reconsider. This is a quality of life you never hear about it.
Because I wake up at 5:45 in the morning, and because DST has us waking up in the dark so we can have more sunlight at the end of the day, I get to hear the birds wake up one by one. They seem to wake up by breed. First we have the ambivalent bird. He sings like this: "Chirp. Chirp? Chirp!...chirp. chirp? chirp!...Chirp. Chirp? Chirp!..." and on and on. One triple-chirp as described takes about 3 seconds. It is not a rush job.
The second wave to awaken are the tweeters. Because it's dark, I can't see them but I believe them to be the tiny birds. Then by the time we are ready to leave at 7am, the most of them are up and about. When I get out of the car at work at 7:30, even the mockingbirds are up and singing away.
Because I wake up at 5:45 in the morning, and because DST has us waking up in the dark so we can have more sunlight at the end of the day, I get to hear the birds wake up one by one. They seem to wake up by breed. First we have the ambivalent bird. He sings like this: "Chirp. Chirp? Chirp!...chirp. chirp? chirp!...Chirp. Chirp? Chirp!..." and on and on. One triple-chirp as described takes about 3 seconds. It is not a rush job.
The second wave to awaken are the tweeters. Because it's dark, I can't see them but I believe them to be the tiny birds. Then by the time we are ready to leave at 7am, the most of them are up and about. When I get out of the car at work at 7:30, even the mockingbirds are up and singing away.
Sunday, March 18
Tough Subject
If you are looking for a fun posting, please just keep cruising today, as my friend's husband committed suicide Friday night and this post will not be happy.
I found out about it yesterday after spending the day with LO in Charlotte for the audition and then shopping. Fortunately her BF invited her over on the cell phone as we were driving in, so I dropped her off and come home. The six messages on our machine were the first indicator that something was up. I went over last night and stayed probably 45 minutes.
There have been issues for a very, very long time, and without going into the whole story, I will say that he is in a much, much better place now. She and her children are in shock. I know she will have to go into the workplace after about 20 years out of it, which will be another. She will have to stop homeschooling her 11-year-old, which will be a shock to them both.
DH and I have been trying to process this situation ever since learning about it. It is the second suicide within our church family in 13 months. DH had reached out to the husband on a number of occasions, but his illness prevented him from being able to respond.
My friend's parents moved to town a few years ago to be near the family and they are on the older side. It hurt so badly last night to see the pain in their faces.
So there are so many people in pain right now, and we just can't make sense of any of it. At the risk of sounding cruel, I will say that suicide seems to me to be the supremely selfish act. I know he had lost hope and all that but he has left so many people who loved him in terrible pain now.
If you the reader are a praying person, please pray for this friend and those in her life. Thanks.
I found out about it yesterday after spending the day with LO in Charlotte for the audition and then shopping. Fortunately her BF invited her over on the cell phone as we were driving in, so I dropped her off and come home. The six messages on our machine were the first indicator that something was up. I went over last night and stayed probably 45 minutes.
There have been issues for a very, very long time, and without going into the whole story, I will say that he is in a much, much better place now. She and her children are in shock. I know she will have to go into the workplace after about 20 years out of it, which will be another. She will have to stop homeschooling her 11-year-old, which will be a shock to them both.
DH and I have been trying to process this situation ever since learning about it. It is the second suicide within our church family in 13 months. DH had reached out to the husband on a number of occasions, but his illness prevented him from being able to respond.
My friend's parents moved to town a few years ago to be near the family and they are on the older side. It hurt so badly last night to see the pain in their faces.
So there are so many people in pain right now, and we just can't make sense of any of it. At the risk of sounding cruel, I will say that suicide seems to me to be the supremely selfish act. I know he had lost hope and all that but he has left so many people who loved him in terrible pain now.
If you the reader are a praying person, please pray for this friend and those in her life. Thanks.
Fun Day Auditioning for Hollywood Producer
So, we went. Ta-da. We were asked to be there by 9:30 to 9:45 for our 10am appointment. Turns out, everyone was told the same thing -- all 200 people. Fortunately for us, we were concerned about traffic going in to the City, so we left at 8:10 for what should typically be a 45 minute drive to downtown City. We did have a little delay on the interstate -- one lane of two was blocked for inmates picking up litter, and traffic was backed up about 1 mile, but we got through that and arrived at the location at 9am. We were the 5th family there. The poor folks who did arrive and the recommended time had to stand in the back of the room -- we were seated by arrival time, so LO and I were on the 2nd row.
She wore her fave outfit and I straightened her hair from 7:30 to 8:00. She looked great and definitely had the enthusiasm thing going on.
The facility was a lovely restored old building, with the inside being all brick, wood floors, wood rafters, large windows. Very high ceilings. Extremely thin models in extremely high heels seated us and made sure we knew where the restrooms were.
We were given an application and a booklet. LO had to complete the application, including a 100-word essay on why she thinks she would succeed in Hollywood. I had to read the booklet, including the price list for Development classes, averaging about $100 a week for 20 to 150-week commitments. (Fortunately on the drive down, LO and I had had a chat. I had explained to her that this might be the case, that they would tell her how great she is, she is almost ready for Hollywood, that she just needs a little schooling for so many thousand dollars. We had a good discussion about and she understood that if that were the case, we would laugh and say no thanks, but we had a great time.)
Finally, at 10, The Show began. Extremely attractive people spoke in extremely loud voices (there was quite a crowd, about 200 families) to talk about how much determination and commitment it takes to work in Hollywood. They only accept students with a 3.0 gpa or above, as your grades are a good indicator of how hard you work. They asked questions and had the crowd yell answers, mob-mentality-style. (I do not respond to this tactic. I sit quietly.) Finally, we lined up, in the order in which we arrived (thank goodness) and waited to go into the office of producer #1 for a brief, make that, extremely brief, interview. Mr. Extremely Friendly asked her some questions and made glowing remarks about her self-confidence and maturity. He asked me why they should accept her and I made appropriately glowing remarks about her.
Next we lined up for an on-camera audition where she had to slate (state her name and age) and read a 10-second commercial. The four little girls before her were quite young and barely whispered their lines. Then LO strode to her mark on the stage, gave her lines with expression, a radiant smile, tossed her hair over her shoulder, and strode off. The crowd smiled and laughed. The producer was chuckling as he made his remarks on her paper.
We were to call back at 9am today to see if she had "made" callbacks. I called at 8 and asked if we could find out early so as to not have to step out of church to call at 9. We were put on hold for a few minutes and then connected directly to Mr. Extremely Friendly. "She made the cut! Congratulations!" I asked what the next step might be. "You just need to stop in today and sign up for the 20-week class." "Well, thanks, but our family is not prepared to make such an investment at this time. We had..." I was trying to say, "We had a great time," but Mr. E.F. had already said, "All right, Goodbye," and hung up the phone.
We really did have fun.
She wore her fave outfit and I straightened her hair from 7:30 to 8:00. She looked great and definitely had the enthusiasm thing going on.
The facility was a lovely restored old building, with the inside being all brick, wood floors, wood rafters, large windows. Very high ceilings. Extremely thin models in extremely high heels seated us and made sure we knew where the restrooms were.
We were given an application and a booklet. LO had to complete the application, including a 100-word essay on why she thinks she would succeed in Hollywood. I had to read the booklet, including the price list for Development classes, averaging about $100 a week for 20 to 150-week commitments. (Fortunately on the drive down, LO and I had had a chat. I had explained to her that this might be the case, that they would tell her how great she is, she is almost ready for Hollywood, that she just needs a little schooling for so many thousand dollars. We had a good discussion about and she understood that if that were the case, we would laugh and say no thanks, but we had a great time.)
Finally, at 10, The Show began. Extremely attractive people spoke in extremely loud voices (there was quite a crowd, about 200 families) to talk about how much determination and commitment it takes to work in Hollywood. They only accept students with a 3.0 gpa or above, as your grades are a good indicator of how hard you work. They asked questions and had the crowd yell answers, mob-mentality-style. (I do not respond to this tactic. I sit quietly.) Finally, we lined up, in the order in which we arrived (thank goodness) and waited to go into the office of producer #1 for a brief, make that, extremely brief, interview. Mr. Extremely Friendly asked her some questions and made glowing remarks about her self-confidence and maturity. He asked me why they should accept her and I made appropriately glowing remarks about her.
Next we lined up for an on-camera audition where she had to slate (state her name and age) and read a 10-second commercial. The four little girls before her were quite young and barely whispered their lines. Then LO strode to her mark on the stage, gave her lines with expression, a radiant smile, tossed her hair over her shoulder, and strode off. The crowd smiled and laughed. The producer was chuckling as he made his remarks on her paper.
We were to call back at 9am today to see if she had "made" callbacks. I called at 8 and asked if we could find out early so as to not have to step out of church to call at 9. We were put on hold for a few minutes and then connected directly to Mr. Extremely Friendly. "She made the cut! Congratulations!" I asked what the next step might be. "You just need to stop in today and sign up for the 20-week class." "Well, thanks, but our family is not prepared to make such an investment at this time. We had..." I was trying to say, "We had a great time," but Mr. E.F. had already said, "All right, Goodbye," and hung up the phone.
We really did have fun.
Wednesday, March 14
The Audition
The dichotomy of being a Nana and raising your grandchild is that you spoil the child with one hand, and discipline with the other.
LO was upstairs watching Hannah Montana when I got home from work. I called her downstairs to talk about her day and ask about homework. Yes, she had some, yes, she had hoodwinked DH so that she was watching TV instead of doing said homework. Might be a good idea to do it now, I said. OK, she said.
So she is in her room doing her homework with stereo on and headphones on. (We can't quite handle the rap music.)
"NANA! NANA! Quick! They are having auditions for Hannah Montana!! Can we call, puh-leeze?"
"No, Sweetie, I can't take off work for an audition."
"May I puh-leeze call and just find out? It's our area code so I know it won't be too far to drive..."
Sigh. OK.
So, she finds the phone (running joke) and calls. The first thing, the very first thing they say is, "Do you have a parent nearby?" "Sure," she says, and hands me the phone.
I am talking with a very nice young woman, not too long out of college. She gives us an appointment for 9:30 Saturday morning in Nearby Larger City. Gives me explicit directions to get to the building. Tells me names of the directors who will interview Little One. Tells us what to wear.
"She has only been in local theater. Does she need a resume?" I ask.
"No, we are looking for undiscovered talent."
"Is there any cost involved whatsoever?"
"No, ma'am, there is not. Just bring your child, dressed appropriately, and two photographs we can keep."
It could be a total scam. The commercial was on a radio station from the same Nearby Larger City. I will not let LO out of my sight. I will check id's. It might be a fun day to remember.
More fun than cleaning up the local nature preserve, which was actually what I had planned, originally.
LO ran to call her VBF's. Squealing. Shrieking. OMG'ing.
Sigh.
LO was upstairs watching Hannah Montana when I got home from work. I called her downstairs to talk about her day and ask about homework. Yes, she had some, yes, she had hoodwinked DH so that she was watching TV instead of doing said homework. Might be a good idea to do it now, I said. OK, she said.
So she is in her room doing her homework with stereo on and headphones on. (We can't quite handle the rap music.)
"NANA! NANA! Quick! They are having auditions for Hannah Montana!! Can we call, puh-leeze?"
"No, Sweetie, I can't take off work for an audition."
"May I puh-leeze call and just find out? It's our area code so I know it won't be too far to drive..."
Sigh. OK.
So, she finds the phone (running joke) and calls. The first thing, the very first thing they say is, "Do you have a parent nearby?" "Sure," she says, and hands me the phone.
I am talking with a very nice young woman, not too long out of college. She gives us an appointment for 9:30 Saturday morning in Nearby Larger City. Gives me explicit directions to get to the building. Tells me names of the directors who will interview Little One. Tells us what to wear.
"She has only been in local theater. Does she need a resume?" I ask.
"No, we are looking for undiscovered talent."
"Is there any cost involved whatsoever?"
"No, ma'am, there is not. Just bring your child, dressed appropriately, and two photographs we can keep."
It could be a total scam. The commercial was on a radio station from the same Nearby Larger City. I will not let LO out of my sight. I will check id's. It might be a fun day to remember.
More fun than cleaning up the local nature preserve, which was actually what I had planned, originally.
LO ran to call her VBF's. Squealing. Shrieking. OMG'ing.
Sigh.
Sunday, March 11
12 Seconds of Darkness
My life right now pretty much consists of racing around, whether on foot, or in the car, from place to place and from commitment to commitment.
A typical day has me taking LO to school at 7:15, running by my favorite coffeehouse for a mug refill and a HH muffin, then sliding in to work at 7:30. Many days I have to leave work to check her out of school and hie to an orthodontist's/doctor's/dentists/other/ appointment, then back to school to check her back in, then back to work.
On some days, DH picks her up from school and drops her at the museum to study in my office until we can go home. On other days, I cut the workday short to pick her up and go home, or bring her back with me so I can finish items there.
In addition, my work necessitates that I make daily trips to the printer or office supply place or some vendor to get printed material/event planning items/door prizes. This is all in addition to the appointments with local businesses/banks/individuals to talk about their potentially sponsoring an upcoming exhibition.
Last Thursday, I had LO in tow as I left work to race to a meeting a PCJ, and left that meeting early to make it to another meeting here in the neighborhood. Every week I have at least one night or two with meetings, many with more than one meeting, just as on Thursday.
Last week during the day I was on a trip to pick up printed items and deliver them to a local volunteer who is soliciting support for the museum from her peers in her industry. While in the car, I heard the coolest interview with a guy from Spain (originally from Uruguay,) named Jorge Drexler, who writes music. His latest CD is called, '12 Segundos de Oscuridad' or, 12 Seconds of Darkness. As the interviewer asked why it has that title, he explained that what distinguishes one lighthouse from another is the interval of darkness between revolutions of the light. The sailors can identify their location by the period of darkness between blasts of light.
The compelling thought I got from all this was not the music, nor even the understanding of the lighthouses, but the metaphor of the lighthouses to our own lives. It's not the sunny days, the days of relative calm, the friends or good meals or contented cats in our lives that set us apart from all the other zillions of people we know, it's our 12 seconds of darkness. It's my having lost my father, my friend whose husband committed suicide, my husband's loss, that make us stronger and more resilient than we were before, that sets us apart from each other.
I am struggling to adjust to returning to the workplace. It seems so much more complicated and difficult than it ever did before, and I live in a perpetual state of semi-panic, trying to get it all done. Somehow the 12 Segundos comforted me.
A typical day has me taking LO to school at 7:15, running by my favorite coffeehouse for a mug refill and a HH muffin, then sliding in to work at 7:30. Many days I have to leave work to check her out of school and hie to an orthodontist's/doctor's/dentists/other/ appointment, then back to school to check her back in, then back to work.
On some days, DH picks her up from school and drops her at the museum to study in my office until we can go home. On other days, I cut the workday short to pick her up and go home, or bring her back with me so I can finish items there.
In addition, my work necessitates that I make daily trips to the printer or office supply place or some vendor to get printed material/event planning items/door prizes. This is all in addition to the appointments with local businesses/banks/individuals to talk about their potentially sponsoring an upcoming exhibition.
Last Thursday, I had LO in tow as I left work to race to a meeting a PCJ, and left that meeting early to make it to another meeting here in the neighborhood. Every week I have at least one night or two with meetings, many with more than one meeting, just as on Thursday.
Last week during the day I was on a trip to pick up printed items and deliver them to a local volunteer who is soliciting support for the museum from her peers in her industry. While in the car, I heard the coolest interview with a guy from Spain (originally from Uruguay,) named Jorge Drexler, who writes music. His latest CD is called, '12 Segundos de Oscuridad' or, 12 Seconds of Darkness. As the interviewer asked why it has that title, he explained that what distinguishes one lighthouse from another is the interval of darkness between revolutions of the light. The sailors can identify their location by the period of darkness between blasts of light.
The compelling thought I got from all this was not the music, nor even the understanding of the lighthouses, but the metaphor of the lighthouses to our own lives. It's not the sunny days, the days of relative calm, the friends or good meals or contented cats in our lives that set us apart from all the other zillions of people we know, it's our 12 seconds of darkness. It's my having lost my father, my friend whose husband committed suicide, my husband's loss, that make us stronger and more resilient than we were before, that sets us apart from each other.
I am struggling to adjust to returning to the workplace. It seems so much more complicated and difficult than it ever did before, and I live in a perpetual state of semi-panic, trying to get it all done. Somehow the 12 Segundos comforted me.
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