Monday 20 May 2013

Being Like Little Children




It was a  hot, sweltering Texas afternoon when our school held its carnival last week.  My booth was the Lollipop Tree. For two tickets, a child could choose a lolly and if the end of the stick had been colored red, he won a prize.   But if the chosen lollipop was not a winner, he got a small candy as a consolation prize and would get to keep the lollypop regardless.  The best kind of carnival game for a child!

Three adorable young siblings came to my booth early on.  Once they understood the game,  the six-year-old  sister would carefully give me  enough tickets so she and her little brothers could each have another chance to win.  I was friendly and encouraging as they would chose their lollipops.  I smiled and suggested they pick a flavor they liked; when they didn't "win" a prize, I reminded them to choose a candy from the bag.  Did I mention that the sun was relentless and there was absolutely no breeze or shade?  I could feel beads of sweat on my forehead and upper lip.  My cheeks were flushed and the wisps of hair that couldn't be snared into a pony tail were either sticking up crazily or plastered to my skull.  Any makeup that I had applied  twelve hours earlier was loooong gone.  I  turned to refill the lollipop tree, and the oldest of the trio lovingly said, "You're beautiful."  I was  ANYthing but beautiful at that moment, but her sincerity made me FEEL beautiful inside.

I want to be like that little one and share with others  the strength, or wit or wonder that I see in them, just as that little one showed me my inner beauty.


Friday 17 May 2013

Clarification

Mostly, Hannah and I listen to Country music, Dan listens to talk radio, but Logan has chosen Rock n Roll as his music of choice.  Specifically, any rendition of "We Will Rock You".

Dan played the trombone in high school, I played the flute in middle school, Michelle tried the flute for awhile, Kim was interested in piano, Hannah chose the cello but when I asked Logan what instrument he would be interested in taking, he decidedly and immediately proclaimed the drums.  Inner cringing aside at the thought of the racket an 11-year-old could produce  "practicing" the drum, I outwardly supported his choice with a strained smile.

Last night at Hannah's final orchestra performance, there were certain pieces where percussionists and some woodwinds accompanied the Intermediate orchestra.  Seriously good music.  As Logan endured through the two hour production, I asked if he thought he would like to play the drums like we were hearing in the middle school rendition of a more than decent "Les Miserable" mash-up.

"No, I want to play like a rock star."

Well, as long as he doesn't party like one, I'll be okay...it could happen.