Otter

Something made me stop on the dike and look out at the flowing river, moving quicker now with a little snow melt, and notice the shiny small head gliding through the water. Against the current, so I knew it wasn't a floating log. Suddenly an otter behind and powerful webbed feet flipped up and the graceful animal dived for fish, reappearing and continuing his swim. He made circles in the river, diving and reemerging, his feet smacking the water. I was close enough to hear the impact.

It was amazing.

It made me feel lucky to witness such beauty, while also feel such sadness for all of the animals and species suffering down south in the Gulf. Man's greed once again causing harm to other living things. It kills me, just like it did when I saw the images on TV of the Valdez spill in Alaska as a younger person, that such events happen and cause so much pain, harm, and death.

Such an event makes me feel sheltered and also helpless. My hope goes out to that area....

Sharing Place

An aspect of having dance companies in town that I love is how most of them have never experienced an environment like Jackson, from Dancers' Workshop's personal hospitality to the friendly smiles of people on the street to the towering snow-capped mountains that backdrop this town. The sharing of your place to new eyes is always a delight, and although I still constantly notice the beauty, there is a freshness in sharing it with newcomers.

Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet had a short visit. But some of them will be back. And we made fast friends with the tech people, who we will surely see when we escape the country for some city time. The weekend was magical, in large part due to the electric audience at Saturday evening's performance, who filled the sold-out show with enthusiasm and a developed love of dance in Jackson. 

The work of Cedar Lake is quite contemporary and it was apparent to all witnessing, whether in the first row or the last, the strength and amazing technique of all of the dancers. 

Having companies visit is one of the true perks of working at DW. Not only because we get to meet the dancers, take them out dancing and to restaurants and on scenic tours, but because it reminds me of the intensity, beauty, diversity, and similarities of art.

What a weekend....

Beautiful Aspects of an Otherwise Tiring Day

1. How the birds didn't seem to mind that snow was falling. They chirped as loud as could be this morning on our walk, flying in flocks in front of the car, creating a pattern of bird in air in movement.
2. The smell of homemade toasted granola in the kitchen (and in my hair until I took a shower).
3. Laughing. Remembering to laugh. Liking that laughter is so much a part of who I am.
4. Robin. Not a bird, but a good person and friend.
5. Seeing this town that I live in through the eyes of visitors, and how proud I am of where I live. For its beauty, its culture, its awareness, and its cleanliness.
6. My dogs white, fluffy tummy and the fact that she showed it to me obligingly and eagerly.
7. My glass of wine. The one thing I seem to have gone back to without fail after my cleanse. Coffee, no. Dairy, no except 1/2 and 1/2. Wine, yes and gladly....
8. Missing my boy; feeling glad that I miss him.
9. Community radio and how its diversity, humanness, and thoughtfulness constantly amazes me.
10. And although I am not loving the recent weather, there is something beautiful about sunshine seen through a cloud of falling snow.

Whodunit 2010

As promised to my mom, I took photos of my Whodunit piece. 

Whodunit is a show that the Art Association hosts every two years. They send out 6x6 canvas to artists, allowing them to work within that dimension however is desired. Sign the back, turn the finished art in, and all the work gets hung, nameless, on a wall. It is a visually pleasing show; a ribbon of colorful and diverse canvas snaking around the gallery space. All the work is $99 and show attendees put their name on a list next to their favorite pieces. At the end of the night, a name gets drawn from the list, and that person is the recipient of a Whodunit piece. And they get to see who the artist is--someone famous, someone almost famous, an emerging artist!

I easily forget how peaceful and meditative it is to sit and shape pods. They really are so soothing to make and each one, although fashioned in the same way, comes out so differently, which I love. I need to make more. 

Friendships

I am thinking about friendships tonight. About how there can be so many different kinds in ones life. How some flow in and out like the tide, how some are based on laughter and jokes, others on dreams and deep secrets, and how some just come to a gentle end. Interactions with others are so important, give us strength and assuredness, love and guidance.

There are some friends that are forever. The ones who you might not be near to for days, months, years, yet your conversations are as fresh and comfortable as well loved stretchy pants. Those are the soulmate friends, the people who will always know you, who will always be the ones you turn to in times of struggle or joy. The sisters or brothers.

I am realizing that some friends come into your life when you need them, but maybe recede some as one of you take a new path, explore a new road. And that that isn't a bad friendship, but just one that was invaluable for a certain period, who made your life full and rich within an exact time frame. Like anything, it is best to not hold on with too much preciousness.

Friendships that involve going out, involve walking your dog, climbing a rock wall or any other form of exercise, friendships that are played out as a series of jokes, and friendships that involve finding designer bargains at thrift stores. Friendships that are based on a love for all things artistic or for the noticing of the natural world during a sunset or a snow storm. Our friends and acquaintances form such a unique quilt for our lives, all sections that come together to make a whole, a whole that keeps growing as life moves forward.

I am feeling so full of friends tonight, so blessed and fortunate, while also paying homage to those friendships whose flames have dimmed somewhat.

Three Months to go...

It is hard to believe that almost a year ago Jamie purposed to me on a California beach. This past year has got to be one of the quickest of my life. It is almost like a sick joke that time has played on me, mocking me for being a lackadaisical planner, for not being a bride that has known from birth what colors her wedding would be.

And suddenly the day is three months away. This weekend I went from being sad and nervous to excited and confident. The roller coaster that keeps this engagement period interesting, as if playing up my already slightly sensitive personality, where emotional ups and downs are a regular occurrence. I avoid The Knot emails that tell me the countdown to July 24 and show me the list of to-do's that are not checked off.

It was my parents and my best friend who made my sadness and nervousness turn to excitement and confidence. This day is just a day. What is really important is that I am taking this step with a man that I adore, with whom I will keep experiencing joys as well as sorrows. Marriage isn't about the wedding day, and I will have family and friends there who will serve as witnesses to this fact that our union is a voyage into the crazy, exciting unknown future.

Onwards....

My Champion

My dog is a champion. In my eyes anyway.
We have started going back to agility class. And Olive remembers everything. She knows to take the teeter-totter slowly, remembers how her body glides side to side amongst the weave poles, and focuses on me 110%.
Like many things, it is the human who needs to catch up.
I have forgotten how much fun working with your dog is. We have a different relationship when we are at the Fair Grounds, both more in tune with each other perhaps.
Tonight was the highlight of my night. Amazing how often the highlights of my day involve my dog...