Monthly Archives: February 2010

news received differently

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I often think children are  wiser and more in tune than we are. Sometimes though they are just children.

When my dear friend Sam and her husband split up I was devastated.  It was about a year after my own split and although I felt alone I did not want her to join me. The death of her marriage was a secondary blow to me- so much carnage and waste- it made me realize how my closest people must have felt for me. And for themselves. When a marriage dies part of our belief in love does too.

When I told my daughters their story, I saw something different from what I had seen in myself. I saw sadness and confusion; that we shared. But I also saw relief and I don’t blame them for this. They needed to not be the only ones they identify with on this. They needed some community.

We all need that. That is behind this blog.

love is grate

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This is one of my favourite weeks all year with my day job as an art teacher www.artstudioforchildren.com .  It is Valentine’s week which means the rest of the world  goes for the hot colours –pink, red,orange and I get to speak to over 100 children under the age of 10 about what love is to them.  Some Hallmark parents  who pick up the masterpieces   are put off  if the S’s and J’s are backwards and the spelling is off. I remind them in a few years their children will do everything better than any of us big people do. These confident  ‘imperfections’ are treasures.

in their earnest  words- Love  is fun. Love is playing. Love is silli. Love is joyful. Love is awesome. Love is you. Love is fritening. Love is Hatee (at first I said”no” but then they pronounced it Haiti) Love is care. Love is hope. Love is  me. Love is family. Love is funny. Love is curious. Love is mom. Love is dad. Love is spooky. Love is Nancy (a personal favourite). Love is ridiculously happy. Love is crazy. Love is now. Love is not ever brocoli. Love is hockey. Love is sweet.  Love is charming. Love is different. Love is complikated. Love is Pis (Peace). Love is life. Love is art.

It should be noted that  Love is my X box was gently discouraged. So much for full creative freedom.

happy V day-love -nancy

humdinger

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She sat in the big window with two friends at their favourite local restaurant, sipping coffee  and laughing. A man walked by once looking in. Two minutes later again and then again and then a fourth time. He did not look all around but directly at these three friends who kept looking at each other saying “do you know him? ” “he thinks he knows you”. He waved and smiled each time and then finally pointed to his ring finger and made an inquisitive face to her . She got nervous as this was such extreme and bold behavior for a North American man that she quickly, under the table, switched the ring she was wearing and waved her marriedness (not true) at him.  He  must be homeless or crazy or both. This isn’t Spain where men fall all over you un self consciously  in the most fantastic way. He made an “ahhh shucks” face  and ran across the street and jumped into his Hummer.

Can’t judge a book by it’s cover. Can’t judge excitement as insanity. Can’t regret the switch forever.