The Imitator

I saw a most endearing picture the other day--one that will probably stick with me the rest of my life. One of childlikeness and innocence. It was so refreshing. As I was driving across town, I came upon an elderly man and a little boy, walking along the sidewalk at the end of their day. He was aged, slow, and a bit stiff. The child was bouncy, inquisitive, and ever alert. As I watched, the old man reached his rough hand back to caress an ache in his hip that most likely had formed while they treaded along. Funny enough, as his hand slowly crossed behind him and laid against his hip, the little boy innocently imitated the old man that he obviously loved and admired. He wanted to be like grandpa! Whatever grandpa did, he would do it too. He was not ashamed of this person at his side. So his hand moved slowly across his back area, trying to catch the same location of pain that his elderly relative was recognizing. As both of their hands fell to their sides, the little boy reached up and took the old man's hand. And together they proceeded along the sidewalk, enjoying their evening stroll.

Such a Difference

I have quite learned that the Chicagoland has just about as many extremes as South Carolina---at least so far as weather is concerned.

Living in SC, one gets used to the huge change from a breezy, cool fall and spring to the blistering humidity of summer (aand always beginning on the last day of graduation).

Here too in Chicago. The winters are worse here and longer, but the changes can be just as extreme.

Yesterday was uniquely beatiful! As I walked across the parking lot from lunch, the sky appeared so menacing! Not the normal grey, rainy weather. A real storm was trying to work its way in. And yet there also appeared a small, but steady ray of sunlight that streamed down between the dark clouds. Kinda reflected my mood and thoughts: A little grey and on edge, with that ray of hope always glimmering through!

Today is bright and beautiful. Such a difference from the day before. The sun is out, the sky is blue, the wind blowing blissfully along its natural course. I haven't decided yet if it characterizes my mood. I am rather tired today. Tis been a long week with much on my mind. Yet, I will admit that the sun does give me a smile! How long the winter was. I distinctly remember it! It was beautiful at times, but I was defitniely ready for the summer and its brilliance. Even the occasional days of rain aren't as bad as those last few long weeks of winter. They remind one that even the down days of life are necessary for life. Just as the grass needs the rain for renewal, so we need the difficulties of life for growth!

Struggling With Pork Chops!

There is a first time for everything! And I do love experimenting with new things......well! Some new things! Depends on what it is. Since living here in the Chicagoland I have had many firsts----changing my own license plate, putting in my own anti-freeze, rear-ending a car. All kinds of things have been new to me!

Cooking is not new to me. I actually love doing when I get the chance. And I mean real cooking---not lean cuisine style! I love making up my own recipes too! I have had many occasions this past week to cook for myself! I LOVED it! So I decided to go all out and do some pork chops for Sunday lunch! You know, make myself something real special. So on Saturday afternoon, I pulled the old pork chops out of the freezer---a pack of 7. I proceeded to open the package only to find that all seven were stuck together.

No worries, I can handle this, I thought. Just pull a couple apart and thaw them over night.

Oh no! It couldn't be that simple. You see, since they were frozen, they kinda didn't want to come apart. So here I was. I didn't want to thaw all 7. Just 2. Just enough for a couple of meals. I pried, I pulled. I slammed, I pounded. And they wouldn't come apart. Stupid meat, I thought! So I grabbed a knife. This will do it, I said to myself. Oh no. Couldn't be that simple. Oh they broke apart. 2 and a half of them.

But I didn't want the half. I just wanted 2! I was persistent. I struggled to get that half off of the two and back with its half. I marched into the kitchen and ran water over my two and a half frozen pork chops. This will do it, I thought! Oh no! I struggled some more. Finally, after about ten minutes of this, they came apart. I proceeded to put the two in the frig, and the half back with its half back in the freezer.

Stupid Meat! I thought.

(Stupid Girl! Thought the meat!)

Nothing Big

As I sit here looking back over the week there doesn't seem to be much to tell----and yet there does! It's been a full one. Each day different. But fine. It was nice to just plug along---enjoy the moments, fight the battles, do the routines, break routines, do what needed to be done, and incorporate some fun things in as well! My students had good lessons. Each is a treasure and so different. Each is working on a different area, but each progressing in their own way. My singing was enjoyable and my practice profitable. My lesson went very well this week. I continue to move through a lot of literature as I prepare for the future, and am constantly trying to improve in my interpretation of each piece---still a hard area for me. I've even gotten in some listening time this week of some music I had been wanting to listen to for a long time.

What fun did I have this week? Well, I made cards this week with a friend. And we didn't even finish the kit. So we will do it again. What fun and creativity! I felt like a child! :) Oh the joy!

The weekend has both busyness and relaxation in it! Grocery shopping and such along with some potential downtime in the evening. Maybe I'll get to a movie. I always say that and never seem to take myself up on it! I have been doing a lot of reading though. I am really enjoying that as my down time!

Strange Sights!

This has definitely been a day of strange sights. Oh the joys of life! As I was on my way to work this morning, I heard this noise. As I looked over to my right, I saw a group of ducks running towards the fence. The bad thing was, I noticed that one seemed a little more stressed than the others. It was at the head of the group. I became keenly and quickly aware that this poor fellow wasn't leading the group...He was running from the group. The guy right before him, literally on his back feather, was quacking away incessantly. The "leader" of the pack leapt off his webbed feet and onto the fence. The others just kept quacking at him. I don't know what the squabble was about, but I couldn't help but think, "I wonder what ruffled their feathers!" (no pun intended). As the group continued to squawk and scream at the sitting duck on the fence, he just gathered his head into his body and relaxed! Nothing could bother him now! He was safe on top of his fence. I almost felt sorry for the others on the ground, just screaming away at him. He was ignoring them---and the better off for it---and they were needlessly misusing their time and energy!

Then, as I headed home for lunch, I again saw something that you just don't see every day! As I walked out the back door of the building, I saw a white truck. Not unusual. But then I saw that it had writing on it! Not unusual. But then, I noticed the words! UNUSUAL! GOOSE PROTECTION AND TRACKING. Now that you don't see everyday! I mean, how many times a year do you see or even hear of a Goose Squad! But good old Schaumburg has them all---skunks, coyotes, and goose tracking teams. Hey! To each his own. What would we do without them---the trackers that is!

I Took A Walk Last Night

I took a walk last night. I know that isn't the most imaginative title in the world. But I guess I very much wanted this entry to be a bit simplistic--because my walk felt so simplistic and childlike. After a good but long day, I started home. It was beautiful out. Humid, but the wind kept it cool. A hint of cloud in the sky saying it wanted to rain, but sunny and gorgeous. All I could think of was that I wanted to be out in it. I needed its refreshing breeze and atmosphere.

So, after dinner and cleanup, without even changing from my work clothes, I stepped out the door into a beautiful world of fresh air, sunlight, and warmth. My thoughts were my own and began to run immediately.

I prayed and meditated as I very slowly walked along the path through Friendship Village. Not a soul stirred. I mentally focused on walking slowly and taking time to relax. As I came back toward home I decided to sit down on the park bench for a few minutes. As my body and mind slowed down and relaxed, I closed my eyes and just contemplated life. How interesting it is to look back, but also to look forward. What a journey, but what potential.

As dark clouds began to roll in, I started contemplating a walk home. An hour later I found myself back in my apartment having been refeshed and rejuvenated by the sun's rays and the wind's cool breeze. What gifts of God to bring joy to our lives. Is it not the small blessings of life that come to mean so much to us.

Making Progress

What a wonderful thing it is for me as a voice teacher to see the shine and delight in a students face upon making improvement and progress. Each student in my studio is uniquely different. And each struggles with different issues. Working through those issues can be tedious! But when you come out on the other side, what reward and what feeling!

Such was the case with my student yesterday. When she first came to me, she could not roll her "r"s at all. So we began from scratch to create a way for her to learn and train the muscles to do this. Rolling your "r"s is of utmost importance in singing. We have plugged away every week with these exercises for the last three months. I know she got frustrated at times. I saw it in her eyes. All I could do was gently encourage her that it would get easier and that she was doing a fantastic job.

Well, yesterday her hard work paid off! She did it! She rolled her "r"s. And the look in her eyes brought tears to mine. What an accomplishment for her! What progress.

I felt renewed energy and help well up within myself! It even improved my own practice later on! What joy to see the light in her eyes at having achieved her goal!