On 01.02.02, I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Too late for surgery, I had chemotherapy, which failed. In May the chemotherapy was changed and I was soon in remission which was celebrated and welcome and lasted nine years - until October 2011. There was progression in 2011 so more treatment was indicated and I am now back in partial remission. But I'm not only a cancer patient - I also enjoy my family, walk my dogs and am learning to draw and paint. Life is good!

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

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!

4 comments:

  1. 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

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  2. Your 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 !

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  3. What 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!

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  4. You 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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