You never know
Juvenile Hall was on lockdown status today after four fights broke out yesterday. That's unusual. I was allowed to see the girls for their regular group therapy and they were thrilled to be sprung from their rooms. But I couldn't meet the boys for the ART You Ready for Dinner? program even though "my" boys weren't involved in the fighting.
Here's a story I never got to tell you. At the ART/Dinner program I bring a boom-box and CDs. My tastes are mostly classical, something truly foreign to the ears of the kids I work with. I keep the sound turned down, but it does serve as a nice backdrop when the guys are into their drawing.
We work in a small room where space is tight. There's a ping-pong table shoved against the wall and we do our best to sit around it and have dinner together and fill pages in the art journals. There's another table that I use for launching the activity -- it's full of supplies, the boom-box, Demi's dog food and bowl and miscellaneous items.
One day the dessert staff walked in with containers of ice cream and a stack of bowls. I think she must have inadvertently bumped the boom-box plug out of the wall. I never noticed. The sound was low, there was a lot of activity and I was focused on Rocky Road anyway. But one kid did notice. "Say, uh," could you turn that Mozart back on?"
That wasn't typical either!
I found your blog via everyday matters and love your drawings and your words. My Dad was an artist and when I was younger he often played classical music. I didn't appreciate it then but i do now. I often listen to it by choice now and there is a familiar kind of peace that goes with it, my day always feels better with it in. My blog is less than a week old but i am enjoying it and hope it continues
ReplyDeleteYour Zantangle is beautiful to me--and the write up was fascinating as I could see what you were discribing very well---what an inspiration you are to others weather you realize it or not...it's all good !
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! I love your zentangle. But most of all I love how you are really making a difference in young peoples lives that obviously need it! It is people like you who can make such a mark in their lives! Good for you! Hugs and blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteYou are remarkable - your zentangle is really nice, and the things you do with those kids are just invaluable. I'm sure they treasure their time with you! nancy
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