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| Dec. 8 Lake slowly creeping up. |
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| Dec 14 Just the edge of the bath is still visible. |
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| Dec. 22 The Soda Bath is gone. |
Today it was gray and dark, but I could see the soda bath across the way is now submerged under the lake. On the surface, I can see the roiling boiling water coming up from the spring.
The next moment, the morning's view changed. It all started with this picture:
So I kept taking pictures to see where the rainbow would lead.
A rainbow frame for my lake view!
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| The rainbow light went all the way to the water, in front of the island! |
And then a Heron flew in across the frame, landing on the left island.
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| Flying under the rainbow. |
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| Heron at island. |
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| Heron with end of rainbow. |
Now the lake looks like an ocean, covered with tiny waves. It's the color of wet jade. In a few moments, it will change again. The sun, clouds, rain, and lake make a panoramic kaleidoscope. Looks like today is going to be one of those days where nature fuels the soul. :)
It's a good morning to be right where I am. Winter break has arrived, so I have the gift of two weeks to recharge and recalibrate. I don't have to fix or change everything, I just need to shine my hope and optimism where I land. I can't wave a magic wand and make every child at my school have their basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter met. But I can do everything in my power to ensure that they feel safe at their school and that they feel the kindness and care of at least one person, every day.
When I was in 5th and 6th grade, our school obtained a grant to have an art classroom. During the two years we had that room, I spent every moment I could there. The art teacher encouraged my ideas,and he played Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel, like my mom. I felt safe and understood in that room; I felt like I could let my light shine and I didn't need to shrink from being me. I made a series of ceramic fruits that opened to make a "box" for trinkets inside. It started with seeing expensive fruit boxes at Hensel's Hardware in Arcata. Soon I had a series of pears (Mama, Papa, and Baby), an apple, orange, banana, a bunch of grapes, and a series of raisins with arms and legs (inspired by a S&G song about cornflakes, I recall). A couple times some students broke into the art room and busted up a bunch of things. Only three survived: two pears and the apple.
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| 1978, Emily and her Fruit Boxes, and a "mask" for a Greek Goddess. |
The care and kindness of other adults can make children feel especially valued and important. They carry that feeling with them for the rest of their lives, like a special lining of liquid silver reinforcing their hearts. I think that is why I connected so strongly with Bob's idea of a Culture of Hope. Hope is not a tangible item, you can't weigh it or count it or wrap it up in a pretty bow. Which means everyone can have it, and no one necessarily has more or less. A teacher doesn't need technology, books, abundant classroom resources, or even the best teaching strategies to provide hope to students. Attending with our focus, being present, truly hearing student ideas with enthusiasm and bright eyes... those actions are free and fleeting, yet powerful.
I may not be able to provide warm socks and shoes for every child who needs them. But I can provide warmth in their hearts and bring a smile to their faces every day when I see them. And in some respects, like my experience in that art room and the ceramic fruit I made, the feeling of belonging and being valued will probably last longer than the shoes and socks ever will.
Have a happy holiday season, and I hope you have many opportunities to spend time with people you love.
:) Emily
