Instead of trying to gush on and on about why I love these folks, let me allow what I often hear through just one very special lady speak for itself.

“…Think about the tropical rainforest. Once upon a time, scientists and farmers thought it grew where it did because the soil HAD to be the richest on the planet. WRONG! They cut the forest down… only to discover that the soils are amongst the most nutrient depleted in the world. All of the nutrients are bound up in the biomass. What makes the rainforest so rich and amazing is the speed at which nutrients and energy are transferred and cycled through an astonishing variety of plants and animals that are all incredibly different and each fills a unique niche.

Life is like that. Every one of us fills different niches in making the world a richer place. But, when we put up barriers and refuse to fill any niche in helping that life/love/energy/God flow through the whole system, we not only stunt our own growth, but impoverish the world as a whole.” – Terri Willard, March 13, 2011

       This has probably been one of the worst and most taxing years I have ever lived through. So many changes in my life that I can’t keep up. I just pull a Dory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adqLaecr9WY

and muddle forward one step at a time. I am able to “just keep swimming” even when it feels like just treading water in part because of the voices of  friends like “T.”. It’s not hero worship (although she knows I think she’s a hero!). Terri is beautifully human. Terri is my friend. I am very lucky to know her. I am totally honored to know her family. They are really beautiful. I am blessed to learn along side them.

These ladies work so hard. I was sweaty. I was TIRED. I smelled like bleach and grease. My hair-do was more of a hair don’t! They were friendly. They were so organized. It was amazing to be involved. It really was.

     I know that there’s been some new related articles about school cafteria’s being the next the next to get a make over about nutrition and portion control. I know that celebs such as Jamie Oliver (http://www.jamieoliver.com/campaigns/jamies-food-revolution) and others are becoming activists on behalf of the children. I would like to say that what I saw was pretty healthy. I think there may be ways we could “trim the fat” so to speak, but for some kids in the US this is the only hot meal they may have all day with two parents working and healthy eating is costly. It costs in time. It costs in dollars. If you don’t believe it you haven’t really cooked lately. There are economic choices but in a home where time is as valuable as the dollar, those cafeteria ladies make a big dietary difference in children’s lives. I’m not saying that Mr. Oliver and others shouldn’t push for healthy choices. I am saying that active involvement and education of parents as well would help. And honestly, it will have to be made to be worth a working team of parent’s/ grandparents/ guardians’ time.

    My main reason to post however is to thank the ladies who do this faithfully for a group of less than enthusiastic at times children. It is hard work. It requires math skills, higher level thinking, coping skills, patience, observation, science, reading, and memory. Don’t brush over it as being anything less than a serious career!

These ladies have my well….

     Today my princess, dressed in her finest, went to her school’s “Fairy Tale Ball”. She danced with Pinochio. She had cupcakes, cookies, and punch. She rubbed elbows with other royalty, magical people, and even a few villians. There were a number of Peter Pans, Pirates, Princes, Princesses, Dorthys, various Disney Princesses, the Red Queen and Mad Hatter, Johnny Apple Seeds, Paul Bunyans, Pecos Bills, the Tin Man, Captain Hook, and more.

     Abbey’s first choice was “Elphaba”. And really who could blame her! Elphie is different. Elphie was misunderstood. Elphie had a passion for justice and saving the oppressed. Elphie was the underdog. Elphie was brilliant. And she could sing! Abbey related to the emotions Elphaba experienced and her need to be accepted and wanted. I loved the idea. However, in a small town Abbey and I were afraid that all that anyone would see would be Margaret Hamilton’s version not Idina Menzel’s.

So finally for many of the same reasons, Abbey chose to be Disney’s Beauty and the Beast’s “Belle”. After all “Belle” saved her Prince instead of waiting around to be saved! I was thrilled with her logic. (Belle is my favorite Disney Princess too unless you count Gisell.)

    My girl is quiet by nature. She isn’t flamboyant or flashy. She is lovely and very tender hearted. She was a bit nervous and a little self concious about it all. But I applied make-up, shined up her tiara, and she shone. She is a royalty to me. I am very proud of her. She isn’t the ham her big brother is. She is more meditative and thoughtful. She doesn’t need or want a crowd like Mat and I, but her soothing spirit often heals people one on one. You feel at peace around Abbey. Everyone is welcome in her circle. She is a realist. She is honest. She is growing.

     She had fun I think. She danced her final dance with me. And I all I could think was:

     I will never forget watching my Afro-American friends style their hair in the dorms in the mornings. It was new to me and they were lovely. I listened to people of various faiths discuss truths that I was lead to believe only were true for those “like me”.  Through Ms. Boone, I was introduced to St. Exupery’s The Little Prince there. The fox’s part of the story has become my definition for building and maintaining relationships. It is a very deep part of me. From Ms. Rochelle I learned to grieve and love well. A life skill I needed with my dad. I have never forgotten her drawing a butterfly on a flip chart and writing, “”Death belongs to life as birth does” beneath it. It was years later that I could find the entire quote and author:

 ”Death belongs to life as birth does
The walk is in the raising of the
foot as in the laying of it down”
— Rabindranath Tagore (Stray Birds)

I’ve come to love that also. From Ms. Smith, I learned to play. “Gorilla, Man, Gun” ( http://www.angelfire.com/ca4/SnugglyBug/games/gorrillamangun.html ) or the infamous “Chubby Bunny.” An example (can be gross so not for the weak of stomach):

     I was talking with some friends of mine today… And remembering a very “happy me”. These ladies invested in me. I wish I could say the return on their investment is huge. They believed in me. I wish I could say it was warrented. But I will say, I am grateful. I will say my story isn’t finished yet. They showed me a bigger world than I could have ever imagined. They began opening the door and windows in the house of my heart to allow fresh air to stream through. My beliefs and heart are larger thanks to them. There are friends I have now that I would never have been open to have without their touch on my life.

     One of the songs I remember hearing that year at camp has stayed with me:

I am richer for these ladies and the other students who gave of their time, attention, and love in my life. Thank you for your part in showing me the way.

       It is dark. It is provocative. Under the gothic vision laid out by Burton…I found it to be hopeful. I went to see Disney’s Alice in Wonderland as directed by Tim Burton . ( http://adisney.go.com/disneypictures/aliceinwonderland/ )

Disney’s Alice In Wonderland (2010) Cool Trailer! – The best video clips are right here

I have come to expect the macabre and somber in Burton’s art. More than expect it, I have to respect it. I couldn’t dream up the fantasy scape Burton creates!

       My son fell in love with The Nightmare Before Christmas.

(http://images.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/The-Nightmare-Before-Christmas-nightmare-before-christmas-68261_1024_768.jpg)

I found The Corpse Bride fascinating.

(http://www.freemoviestheatre.com/media/images/CorpseBride(2005).jpg)

But here married to Linda Woolverton’s screen play I really fell in love again with Alice.

(http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/books/blog/alice%20in%20wonderland%20via%20disney.jpg)

Woolverton’s Alice is directing her own dream. This Alice stands “alone when facing the beast”. She is a champion of her own choosing. That message is imperative today. (Yes, I’ll say it, for women today!) Not since Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer have I felt such a respect for the men behind the champion. The Hatter, the caterpillar, and the would be father-in-law turned business partner all respect Alice and do not appear in the least jealous of her success or driven to rescue her as a damsel in distress. She is a respected hero. She is expected to be the hero. The choice is hers.

Description: Illustration to the poem Jabberwocky. A work by English illustrator Sir John Tenniel (1820-1914). First published in Carroll, Lewis. 1871. Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There.

The movie is dark and therefore some smaller children might struggle with it. But I believe the message is important and the work is stunning. It left me thinking and longing for more for Alice.

What is that? (Τι είναι αυτό;) 2007 from MovieTeller on Vimeo.

     When Guiding Light was canceled, I was in awe. For those who know me well, that I fell for a soap opera probably is flabbergasting. But I did. From March 11, 2009 to Sept. 18, 2009, I watched regularly. I even pulled up many episodes of certain storylines that captured my imagination as well. So I put a four year investment into that time span!

      Not just the show spurred me to watch. The online fan community literally captivated me as well. Men (yes, some incredible brave men) and women gathered to do play by plays of the episodes, talked through storyline knots, give history, review how it paralleled or diverged from modern pop culture, media and technology, jokes and fun, or just discuss acting and theater every weekday. What amazed me the most, they also discussed their lives. And I was blessed and touched beyond words. I grew.

    People were open and honest. You were able to hear about family, pets, travel, college, politics, current news, lifestyles, religion, history, art, literature, and more. People encouraged each other, pushed each other to be stronger or better, share wounds, share healing, pray with each other, think out loud, know what you believe… and more. There were births, marriages, dating, and losses just like any other community I have ever known. And I stood awestruck and inspired.

     I haven’t been as ‘invested’ as long as others have. I don’t speak of me much; I encourage, listen, and learn. What I’ve learned looks a lot like love to me.

     This week there was a deep loss of a beautiful lady, Cathie. She has been connected to some who gather on the board for almost fourteen years (that I’m aware of at the moment). That is a long time to walk along side people loving them and sharing. The community is grieving. Her family is grieving. We pray for their healing now.

     I’ve watched this community “light candles” virtually in her honor, send words of encouragement, prayers, online ((hugs)), and support in any way possible. She made an impact in the lives of many people literally around the globe by sharing her heart, life, talents, and passions. Cathie, I’ve heard, over and over again was a generous gentle gorgeous soul. The community will miss her very deeply. We are so grateful that her family would share her with us. Being a mother and having lost a father, I grieve along side her children.

     When I woke this morning and learned of her loss, I was reminded of a poem by Madeleine L’Engle that comforted me when I lost my father.

                        The earth will never be the same again.

                        Rock, water, tree, iron share this grief

                        As distant stars participate in pain.

                        A candle snuffed, a falling star or leaf,

                        A dolphin death, O this particular loss

                        Is Heaven- mourned; for if no angel cried,

                        If this small one was tossed away as dross,

                        The very galaxies then would have lied.

                        How shall we enter out love’s song now

                        In this strange land where all are born to die?

                        Each tree and leaf and star show how

                        The universe is part of this one cry,

                        That every life is noted and  is cherished

                        And nothing loved is ever lost or perished.

(Madeleine L’Engle, A Ring of Endless Light, Laurel-Leaf Books, 1980)

I don’t often repost someone else’s articles, but this article intrigued me. So I’m sharing it for all moms who surf, blog, tweet, Facebook it, myspace it, or in general use the web to stay connected or get connected. The web community is amazing because of it’s access to so many globally. If you’ve wondered why you connect with joansmith@somewhereincyberspace.org better than just about anyone in your real life that you know… well…. you might not be so alone.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Increasingly-Isolated-Moms-bw-510302110.html?x=0&.v=1

I found this link and loved the article on Anne Rice. I must admit I haven’t read many of her vampire novels. I’m just not a horror buff, but I know many who have. And I do respect her work as an author. I think the article speaks for itself. I applaud Speakeasy Magazine of the Wall Street Journal for publishing it and Anne taking a stand for what she believes in.

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2009/10/24/anne-rice-on-twilight-true-blood-and-her-new-book-angel-time/

     Lauren Myracle wrote a book about 5th graders. She included some characters that some would consider to be controversal.  Scholastics publishers (whom I have greatly respected in the past) intially planned to pull the book because of these characters and some slang.

       Here are the links with details:

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/10/28/scholastic-book-lgbt/

http://onourmindsatscholastic.blogspot.com/2009/10/news-regarding-lauren-myracles-luv-ya.html

http://gayrights.change.org/blog/view/scholastic_reverses_decision_to_exclude_gay_friendly_book_from_fairs

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/index.asp?layout=talkbackCommentsFull&talk_back_header_id=6630620&articleid=CA6703349

http://www.abramsbooks.com/luvyabunches/code/index1.html

http://laurenmyracle.com/blog.html

The author is a NYTimes best seller. I know a great deal of the heat about this book lies in the lesbian parents of Camilla. However, I find it interesting in our day and time that there is little ado made about the book also including a Muslim child wearing a hija. Or how rare it is to have seen a healthy balanced child is being raised by a single father. The websites I listed include articles from the author and notes about the book.

       What I don’t know about writing, editing, and publishing could fill a library. I’m just starting out pursuing this career. I think what we don’t hear about what makes it into the public’s hands matters. Behind the scenes sometimes should be brought out into the light and we should be accountable for our beliefs and how we treat each other. Diversity and the issues surrounding it aren’t going away. If you read, view, or listen to the news at all, you are aware that the LGBT community is rising up on a regular basis and their voices are strong. How we show each other that we care matters.

       All I’m asking is that we be educated and open minded people who pay attention to others around us. That there be an air of compassion and love with each other. You cannot grow or learn if you’re afraid to listen well. Think a bit. If one person’s lifestyle can be censured in a book, anyone’s lifestyle can be censured as soon as it doesn’t fit the moral majority of the time. So we want so badly for our voices to be heard above others that we close our hearts and minds so we can shout above the din? Am I so insecure in what I believe that I can’t be open to even hear what someone else thinks or believes? I’m not saying that we should be so open minded that our brains fall out and we believe anything fed to us, on the contrary I’m saying know what you believe and what others believe so you can respectfully and compassionately dialogue if the chance arises in such a manner that all in the relationship are blessed. Listen well. Be educated. Be open. Love well.

       Dig to find out what you don’t hear about what you read.