Two Good Things

Today was the last art class in what Teresa promised us will be a series. As long as she gets enough people showing enough interest to pay for the collage-techniques classes, they will continue in the fall. Two things associated with the art classes occurred today that made me feel good.

First, as I have mentioned before, I always leave the house early to be sure I can find a parking place within reasonable walking distance–preferably right in front of the studio building. This means I always have some time before the class begins and I have been going to a coffee place just around the corner. So, this morning, when I walked in, the college-age barista asked did I want hot chocolate. And then she said, "Made with skim milk, right?" I said, "You have an excellent memory since I am only here once a week!" "Oh," she said, "we all remember you because you are cute." Ummm, cute? I am 77 and have streaks of white in my hair. She saw the look on my face and said, "We all love the way you talk {I have an English accent} and that you came up here to tell us the word for the device was "frother!" *

The second thing that made me feel good was when Teresa was helping me get my pictures out to the car. We were standing there putting them in the back of my car and she said, "I want to tell you how much I am learning from you as you construct your paintings." I was gobsmacked because I was there learning from her! But one thing I have noticed is that she encourages us by her example to walk around and look at what others in the class are doing and to say what we like and ask how interesting effects are done.

* I can’t remember if I have told this story before but once when I was in the cafe drinking my chocolate, the baristas were trying to think of the name of the device they used to beat up the froth at the top of the coffee. One of them said, "It is a–" and gave its brand name. The other one said, "Yes, but it is also called a –oh, I can’t remember the name!" So, I sat and thought about the device and when I was leaving, I went up to the counter and said to the uncertain barista, "Was the word you were looking for a frother?" Apparently it was!

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.

— Confucius (Chinese Philosopher) 551-479 B.C.

"I yam what I yam."

Popeye