Dear Creator,
I miss my family and pray that you will see my way clear to them within the next 48 hours. I am very anxious about flying into and out of Japan. Please guide me and keep me safe so I can be with them soon.
My baby's face and the loving eyes of my husband are in my heart.
Here we go...

Mamacita is the spokeswoman for the C/T household and she is quite a charmer.



And you may not like slugs, but I do, especially Banana slugs. Here is a baby one I spotted on our walk through what we could refer to as "Preservation Park", a beautiful forest and ocean front conservation area, which Preserve Our Islands recently rescued in a decade long fight and victory over a Gravel mining corporation.




Skyping has been a very painful activity for me and Booty. It is very hard to hang up when you can see the people you miss so much right in front of you. Lots of tears.

It is hard to talk about what is happening in Japan because I could never express the realities that have and continue to unfold for people there. It is a "worst case" scenario for an earthquake/tsunami event except for the fact that the architecture was built with earthquakes in mind and this means less damage less lives lost.

I wonder if everyone brought rice with them on the flight into Japan, if there could be a way to get it to the people that can't get food.

I have had a very exciting week.
I arrived in Washington state on Saturday morning without too much difficulty, and even slept a few winks. My friend, A met me at the airport and rode with me back to her home on Vashon island. There, her 6 dogs and 2 cats greeted us enthusiastically and I was able to fill up on plenty of high quality dog love.

Communication issues abounded during my week and to keep these issues private lets just say I have learned when moving country to be aware of the different ways people are comfortable communicating. Contacting people by email AND phone is advisable. And give extra options for contacts if possible.

I loved staying on Whidbey Island. The setting is absolutely gorgeous. No traffic. No commuting faculty. No chain stores. Great food and coffee. Just brilliant. Mostly very low key people and everything moves slowly. The children there are lovely and welcomed me into their classrooms graciously. The walks I took with the Kinder children deep into the woods filled me with awe and joy. The weather was misty and I venture, not cold.

Bellevue, Washington is largely suburban with long not so appealing strips of congested areas like most wealthy towns in the US. The school is lovely, with a hidden, wooded area in the back perfect for young children. The school also abuts a botanic garden and large park. The people are gregarious and mostly fit my age group so seem to be more "like me". The children here surprised me with their lack of "rich kid" mentality. The older children and the younger were respectful and interested. The weather was crazy- raining hard, misting, sunny with a wave of warmth, a fat rainbow all in one day.

I have no sense of how things will unfold because there are situations at both schools which require patience on my part. Another lesson.

Last night there was a wind storm that knocked out the electricity on Vashon. The ferry ride over was very dramatic with sea spray covering my windshield in agressive bursts.
And I am now watching the news and trying to keep updated on the events in Japan,namely a tsunami, which may effect my travel plans returning home because my stop-over is Narita airport outside of Tokyo.



I plan to visit with my old school-mate this afternoon in Seattle and have lunch with my aunt tomorrow back here on Vashon.

"Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you're talking about... they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath? Anyway, my father didn't think so. People were human beings to him. But to you, a warped, frustrated old man, they're cattle. Well in my book, my father died a much richer man than you'll ever be!"

My response to the Governor of Wisconsin.

I would love to teach this song to an 8th grade class!

So far a list of topics I will be sharing:

Maybe platonic solids?
Geometric Drawing (Circle bisection)
Perspective drawing of stairs
Round singing
Fractions (Game)
Movement and drawing with young children
Letter drawing and writing
The Curious Lobster (telling just a small excerpt of a story my grandpa wrote in the 1930's)

Don't count on anything of use from me in the near future.
I will be busy preparing lessons, and trying to make sense of why I have decided to launch myself into the universe in hopes of finding a job and a home for our family in the States.

If the gate is unlocked I will open it.

On days like these, I really miss dogs!
Dear Bob-the-black-lab at the farm in Australia,

You were a good friend to us during our short visit. You did not pester us but always showed up at the perfect time to be pet, and to hang out on the porch. Occasionally, you entertained us by running after the tractor or by catching bubbles in your mouth. Essentially, you are the kind of dog I like; gentle, faithful and joyful.

We miss you Bob!

I AM TRULY SORRY
***

I henna-ed my hair today, inspired by another friend who also recently henna-ed. It came out exactly the color it was supposed to- mahogany. And so my hair has a shiny reddish brown tint to it.

It turns out it is sort of like my scarlet letter.

A very dear and kind friend of mine told me today how I have been harsh with her in the past and that it hurt her deeply. And if this is not bad enough, there are a few others I have hurt because of my harshness.

And I am going public with this very private information because I don't want to do this anymore. And I am glad that my red hair warns everyone who sees me- "Here comes that hothead. Look out!" And reminds myself when I look in the mirror- "Don't let your righteousness wrong others."

I don't want to be a hot head anymore. I want to be a warm person and to be truthful, yet kind and simple in my words.

Car Stories

Yesterday I got into a friend's car. This is unusual for me because we mostly take the train or a cab. So, we were driving in her Lexus hybrid and it started me reminiscing about my cars.

When we were both quite a bit younger, like most kids, we tended to be overly optimistic about how much gas we had in the tank. She ran out of gas only 6 blocks from her house which was a piece of luck. I ran out of gas on a 4 lane highway in my Cadillac Sedan de Ville. Try to turn THAT steering wheel when you have just lost your power steering! A bit of a miracle really but those driving along side of me did not even hesitate when getting out of my way.

One of the most incredible of car story tellers is Tom Waits, and for more about his cars try this link.

Before I got a license I used to drive another friend's VW rabbit. I drove very carefully so as not to upset the police. One time however, I was pulled over and the officer asked for my license. I lied and said, "I am sorry officer, I forgot my license at home and I am late for work!" He asked where I worked (which is what I was hoping) and when I responded "Leona's" he just walked away from the car without a word. You see, in those days and maybe even today, Chicago cops ate half price at Leona's and rarely busted an employee.

My first car (with M.C.) was a tan 1973 Mercedez. That car could take a turn on a dime and saved my reckless life several times. The floor in front of the back seat rusted out. I sold it to a Jesus-looking junkyard man with turquoise blue eyes for $50 and wept as he towed it away.

Getting ready for:

My visit to Seattle and two Waldorf Schools for interviews.
Handing over my administrator position at the Waldorf school here,
Our friends Michael and Lakshmi to arrive next week,
Our school's Open house (hence the crazy crafting I am doing above),
Booty's school vacation next week,
and forgot about

cooking for the school today-
woops.

"Dirty Colored Skin"
I am
too sensitive.
I know.
But when someone says that brown skin is "dirty", even if it is in reference to their own "high yellow" tone, it makes me burn.
OK. I will put out the fire.
But I would like to say something.
Or shouldn't I?

My students S and O will be finishing their first "Main Lesson" book in a few days. It is filled with the work we have done together; drawings, writings, diagrams, maps, geometric forms etc. It is always nice to have one's work documented beautifully. Don't you think it would be wonderful if we all did it?



A little more about Matheran...
When we arrived there were elderly ladies begging us to let them carry our baggage to the hotel. The same at the transfer station. It is hard to hand over your heavy bags to someone who appears to be the age of your mother. We took most of the bags in the cart that carried mom (Hemanshu's) but one woman persisted and we gave her a bag.

In this picture we are trying to catch the second train and ahead is a man carrying 4 of our bags. I feel very "soft" at these times.

My flights to Seattle are booked. I will be seeing some of my dearest friends very soon.

Ah. I will take a horse anytime over a monkey.
These monkeys especially will adjust your idea of "cute animals". Even Booty has decided that she doesn't much like them anymore. H is not easily corrupted by experience- he still thinks they are dear little creatures. Even after one tried to attack me.

We were sitting by the pool having an afternoon pot of chai. All of a sudden a monkey saunters toward us very deliberately. I knew right away he was after the sugar so I put a heavy saucer on the lid. This did not seem to deter him at all and he continued to aggressively approach our table. I threw a spoon in front of him to try and scare him away. But that did nothing. He grabbed the sugar bowl and faced me, hissing and ready for a showdown. I knew better and broke eye contact immediately and turned around. He then sat down 2 feet away and contentedly ate the entire contents of the sugar bowl. After this he came for our chai pot and I even hoped he would find a way to the scalding chai. He did not but we lost interest in the pot after he had handled it.

Throughout the trip we learned that the monkeys will not back down unless you have a weapon (a broom or even better a sling shot). We purchased two of the latter and survived the rest of our holiday without having to get a tetanus shot. This was not the fate of a friend of mine who attempted to grab back a stolen item from a monkey and was left with deep scratches on her arms.

Sometimes when the habitat of man and animal collide, it is not a pretty picture.

I love my India!

Getting used to the quiet and the order of Singapore can take time. Especially after a trip to Mumbai with lots of riksha rides.

We were so lucky to go to Matheran again, and Booty rode a pony (Mr. Mintu) for 2 days straight! I think we have a horsey girl here! And we finally got to experience the trains in India! We took the train from Mumbai to the bottom of the hill station and rode the toy train up to the top. The refreshment seller (above) was jumping on and off the train without hesitation. The food on Indian trains is cooked fresh to order, (unlike the packaged garbage served in the US) and is hot and delicious (albeit spicy). And it prompts me to beg the question,

"What is the meaning of the word civilized?"

One for the Funny papers:

I offered to go and buy some flowers for the Kinder's Chinese New Year celebration. I took the bike and burley so as to fit the flowers in the wagon. I had to ride up on the sidewalk a little of the way because the shop is located on a busy two lane through-way. (*Bicyclists are ignored on the road and when they are noticed the drivers usually honk.) There were lots and lots of plants displayed on the sidewalk as I approached the garden nursery and an elderly, Singaporean man was also trying to walk on the sidewalk so I stopped to pull over but he stepped aside and waved me on. As I passed my wagon accidentally knocked a plant over. I stopped to right it but as I was doing so I heard the old man yell at me,

"So uncivilized!!!"
"No manners!"


I righted the plant but he continued to yell at me. So, against my better judgment I said,

"Uncivilized is when its dangerous for bicyclists to ride on the street."

He didn't stop.
"Don' know how to act!"
I think he was enjoying himself. So I laughed and yelled back at him as I rode away,

"Keep talking!!"

But he was right in a way. When confronted by "people who are like this", I don't know how to conduct myself. I should have thanked him for the practice. Heaven knows I need it!

After all this time I have discovered The Market for Artists and Designers at the Red Dot Traffic building in Singapore.

There is a monthly open market for local artists and I am planning on going to the next one February 12-13.

We have been spending some time with The Ramayana. The shadow puppet above was lent to me by my students O and S who found them in Bali, land of Rama and Sita. This one is Rama. Telling the story again reminds me that this is one tale I will NEVER stop telling/reading/living.

Perhaps we will check out the Ramayana exhibit at the Peranakan Museum before it is over next month.

I continue to work for the Waldorf Association here in Singapore, conduct workshops and help homeschool the lovely G girls. Soon however, I will be handing over things to allow for a smooth transition, at least for our long summer holiday in New England, which includes the much anticipated graduation of our nephew in Ohio and holiday in Maine.

We have rented a large cottage on the water in midcoast Maine in June and look forward to Booty's Ethiopian reunion as well as family and friends dropping by or staying for a few days.

It is wonderful to have something like this in our future!

An update for those who subscribe to the saying, "The Cure for Homesickness is the idea of home":

I had my third "preliminary" job interview early this morning and it put me in a fine mood. Because even if I don't get the job, the idea was discussed at length and put me in a homeward bound mood. That is, content that the "possibility" of going home is still very much a reality.

The next step is actually traveling home to interview in front of the teachers and students. A performance of sorts. Hence my backstage insecurities.

Why do we do it?
Why do we go through the fire and the floods when we could just as easily teach in a much less exposed way?

I think that we are not unlike actors/musicians in that it is the vulnerability that is part of the teaching. It is our very self that is left open to receive what may come. And the willingness to do this for a chance at serving is a kind of gift. Sometimes we fall on our faces and look a fool (that would be me most of the time) but then we get up and try again.

Here I go. Trying again.

Which end is up?
One of the most amazing things about animals and farm life is the opportunity to see farm animals as they really are.

Cows may seem kinda dopey but when you watch them you realize that they are working really hard to digest grass into milk. They chew and chew and chew and digest in their stomachs and you look at them and their bodies are one big giant rectangle of digestion! If only I could chew and chew on things like a cow. I think I might be a little more relaxed and balanced.

And how about chickens? The first time I fell in love with a chicken was at Hawthorn Valley Farm (a place at which I may be interviewing next month). The chicken was running and her little bottom was swaying from one side to another and it filled me with great joy. Sometimes, like in this picture, their bottoms look like their tops. I think because the egg laying (imagine what that feels like day in and out) is a big production and that area of the their body needs the space for the work. Hence the large egg boat on their underside. And was it the week of eating fresh eggs that made this month's cycle for me almost pain free for the first time in years?

It may seem silly to contemplate this is the kind of thing but why must the simple things in life be simplistic? I don't think they are.