From the Vault: At Least I'm Talking into the Microphone

Catching up with a cousin this past weekend and reminiscing about good times and laughing a lot inspired me to post this. It's the transcript of the speech I gave at my brother's wedding three years ago. I remember being nervous but excited to give this speech, and a beer or two definitely helped me take the edge off. I suppose I could have put the beer down before giving the speech, but at least I wasn't talking into it. Also, as a side note/update, I'm very close to becoming an aunt, as my sister in law is about to give birth any day now. Three years wasn't too long to wait to be an aunt. 

Good Evening Everyone. My name is Lynn and I have been Brian’s big sister for 32 years.  Let me tell you, it has been exhausting! Our parents always said that if Brian came first he would have been an only child and I gotta say, I really really believe them.  Speaking of my parents I’d like to just take a minute to thank them for this wonderful evening we’re all enjoying and also everything they’ve done for Brian and I throughout the years.  My parents are two of warmest, kindest, most generous people in the world and it is impossible to put into words the kind of support they’ve shown for Brian and I over the years.  The way I see it, there are two groups of people in this room right now; those whose lives have been permanently and positively impacted by mom and dad, and those who simply haven’t had the pleasure of knowing them long enough yet.

  

So as I said, I’m Brian’s older sister.  There are only 14 months between us and my parents planned it that way so we could “play together.”  How did that work out Bri? We had lots of good times, but man oh man did we fight too.  Brian would tease me and cut me down all the time and we got it to some good brawls. You see the difference between Brian and I is that I was capable of showing mercy.  I’d have him pinned on the ground, fist in the air ready to deck ‘em but I’d never be able to bring myself to do it. Where as he, on the other hand, could look me straight in the eye and punch me right in the nose.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I could throw a shoe from across a room like nobody’s business! Brian, as we stand here on your wedding day, I know I don’t have to tell you what a pain in the ass you were growing up because you already know it.  What I do want to tell you, though, is that over time I’ve come to realize that being a bastard to me was your own little messed up way of showing your affection. My biggest critic in a room full of people, but my biggest fan the moment I leave it. While mom and dad’s plan for perfect playmates didn’t work out exactly right, I can honestly say that the gift of you as sibling is the greatest gift I have ever received from them.  I admire your passion and determination and I’ve always envied your ability to dream big.  The happiness you feel today has been a long time coming and you deserve every minute of it.

For those of you who don’t know, Brian and Brittany met several years ago when Brian was 24 and Brittany was, well, jail bait. I always knew Brian would be popular in high school, I just didn’t expect him to be mid twenties when it would finally happen for him. Anyway, the circumstances surrounding the start of B & B’s relationship were kinda complicated and they spent their early days in an exciting and dramatic secret romance.  Now I know what you’re thinking: Brian and drama in the same sentence? That’s weird?!  Except, it’s not. Brian always says that he hates drama, but what he really means is he hates drama that isn’t his. In fact, he’s such a girl sometimes that I personally consider this union to be a big step forward for gay marriage.

 At any rate, after a roller coaster romance for a little while, Brian and Brittany ended up breaking up, and Brittany moved up to Utah.  A couple years after that, their paths crossed briefly again, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that they were able to finally reconnect in a deep and permanent way.  Their relationship is great reminder that so much in life is a matter of timing. For all of us, when the timing is right, good things will come.

Brittany – you look absolutely gorgeous. Let’s hear it for this beautiful bride….Seriously people, this beautiful young woman just married Waaaaz! Brittany, you are a sweat heart and we whole heartedly welcome you into this family.  Being with you has made Brian this happiest he has been is his entire life and I love you for that.  I look forward to watching you guys grow together and one day in the not too distant future becoming aunt. 

 

Brian and Brittany this is the first day of your new life together. The separate paths that lead you to this point are behind you now and the only way forward is through each other.  Your new life together will come with many ups and downs.  Enjoy the good times, but realize that the bad times are just as important, for within them is always an opportunity to grow.  Love each other with kindness, accept each other with honesty and forgive each other with grace.  May the happiness you feel today be just the tip of the iceberg.

Now if you’ll please raise your glass with me in a toast.  To Brian and Brittany, a life filled with love, and good timing.
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This is the New Year

I sit in front of an empty white screen glowing with possibility. Gentle rhythmic clicking of the keys and alternating long pauses of  thoughtful silence are both overshadowed by the unrelenting tapping of my pinky finger on the backspace. Thoughts of healing and closure, wishes of well being and peace, declarations of inspiration and ambition. All are presented and retracted with haste. And so, instead of attempting to directly move and motivate you with my words in this new year, I find it easier to share with you a New Year's Day tradition that revitalizes me.

My tradition is watching The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.  I never intended to make this a New Year's Day tradition, it actually happened by accident. The movie was originally released on Christmas Day 2008, and I saw it for the first time in the theater on New Year's Day of 2009. Needless to say, I really enjoyed it. The next year my cousin was in town on New Year's Day 2010 and we decided to rent a movie. She had not yet seen Benjamin Button, and I loved it, so we decided to rent it. Unfortunately in the short run, but fortunately in the long run, Blockbuster (remember that place) was out of rent-able copies, so I bought the movie. At the end of the movie I realized it was the second New Years Day in a row I was watching it, and so, a tradition was born.

The viewing this year was extra special because our daughters watched the movie with me. I've found that one of the greatest pleasures in life is sharing something you love with someone you love. But, when the someone you share it with is a person you are partially responsible for creating, well, then the feeling is near bliss.

Though there are many reasons I enjoy The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the main reason is that by the time the credits roll up at the end, I feel like I have a solid handle on the concept of life. The stories told throughout the film support four major points that unite us all and define the human condition.

1. We're all going the same way. Simply put; we are born, time passes, and we die. No matter who you are, no matter where you live, no matter what you choose, you will end up the same way as everyone else who has ever lived. The only differences lie in the questions of "when" and "how."

2. Nothing lasts. Life is a period of existence based on evolution. Our lives will certainly end. Change is inevitable. Our experiences will modify our thoughts and feelings. Our abilities will wax and wane like the moon. Being grateful for this moment now is the key to happiness.

3. You never know what's coming for you. This is the wild card. The mystery of life. The fate, the destiny. The triumph and tragedy. The energy of the universe. Despite any and every effort we make, unknown circumstances are waiting around the bend. We must surrender to that which we cannot control.

4. In the end you have to let go. To quote the movie, "You can be as mad as a mad dog at the way things went. You could swear, curse the fates, but when it comes to the end, you have to let go." So I ask: Since we have to let go of everything in the end anyway, why not make sure we're not holding on to too much while we're here?

These four points are easier said than remembered, and easier remembered than lived. But it is with these points fresh in my mind once more that I set out into 2015 with a renewed perspective and personal mission. This year I do not seek to be happier or healthier, to be smarter or stronger, to be braver or better. This year my goal is simply to be. Breathing my breath, embracing my activity, and appreciating my abundance as I approach

each day like an empty white screen, glowing with possibility.

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Connectedness and Cultural Curriculum

 

 “Let us give the child a vision of the whole universe. The universe is an imposing reality and an answer to all questions. We shall walk together on this path of life for all things are a part of the universe and we are all connected with each other to form one whole unity” (Maria Montessori, Her Life and Work). This quotation summarizes Montessori’s belief in the interconnectedness of all living things. In order to foster a child’s appreciation for the interconnectedness of all things and nurture his innate desire to discover the world around him, Montessori created the “cosmic plan.” The purpose of this paper is to outline the importance of cultural studies and describe how the “cosmic plan” impacts the study of cultural subjects.

The interconnected study of cultural topics is important because it aids in the accomplishment of four main goals. The first goal of cultural studies is to impress children with the grandeur and mystery of life. This is accomplished by starting with the big picture, then refining the scope of the studies to examine the smaller more intricate parts. The “Introduction Timeline” and the “Timeline of Life” are excellent examples of gradual topic refinement. The incredible length of the “Pre Human Era” ribbon when compared to the small piece at the end representing human history is amazing and it provides the student with a greater understanding of the amount of space and time that has been filled in the universe thus far.  After human existence as related to the history of time has been put into perspective, we then dive into the “Time Line of Life” to further study the different eras of how life might have developed on earth.

Another example of topic refinement occurs in Geography as we being with the world and then work down to the levels of continent, and country of origin. Through this global to local progression we begin to meet the second goal of cultural studies; helping children see themselves as citizens of the world. It is important to note that the texture of the Sandpaper Globe and the bright colors on the Colored Globe and Puzzle Maps attract the children to the materials and make them eager to learn about their place in the world. Aesthetics are important in not only the materials, but also the entire environment of a Montessori classroom.  Montessori says, “The whole environment is so prepared that it will attract him (the child), just as in nature colored blossoms attract insects to drink the nectar which they conceal” (Discovery of the Child, 102).

After children have an understanding of their place in the world, progress towards the third goal, developing respect, will continue. Respect in the context of Montessori cultural curriculum includes respect for the self, respect for others and respect for animals and the environment.  Through Botany and miscellaneous science experiments students begin to grasp the concept of cause and effect (i.e. plants will die without water; ice left out will melt, etc.). Through Zoology, children develop an appreciation for the value of life as they are introduced the concept of living animals and the basic needs of all living things.

Once the basic needs of living things have been introduced and identified as the unifying grounds for all life, transition into the fourth cultural studies goal, impression of responsibility, can further develop.  When children value unity in life, it becomes natural for them to embrace their duty to care for and nurture it in every form. This includes not only caring for their own life through personal responsibility, but also caring for the lives of others through interpersonal awareness, cooperation, and relationship building. One relevant tool for the development of responsibility to others is the child’s imagination. Montessori says, “Imagination is a force for the discovery of truth” (Absorbent Mind, 176). The imagination is a set of tools through which children come to understand that which is not present. A balanced combination of real experiences and imagination will help the child relate to people in distant places and times and furthermore realize his unique and important role in the universe.

Montessori’s cosmic plan in and of itself is brilliant; however, we can maximize the benefits of the “cosmic” concept by applying the philosophy directly to curriculum coordination.  By pulling ideas together through a central theme, we can foster a greater appreciation for the connectivity of all things while providing the child with a holistic, well rounded educational experience. For example, with a central theme of gardening, the cosmic curriculum might include activities such as measuring plants (math), seed sound matching (sensorial), classified cards of garden tools (language), crops by region (geography), helpful vs. harmful insects (zoology), putting on gardening gloves (practical life), painting terra cotta pots (art) and a field trip to the local nursery just to name a few.

In conclusion, everything is connected. The best way to convey universal interconnectedness to children and nurture their natural desire to discover the world around them is through a cosmic curriculum in line with Maria Montessori’s cosmic plan.  By providing the child with a solid basis of real experiences in all areas of cultural studies we will give him the tools required to develop a healthy use of imagination that will lead the way for creative thinking, peace, and harmony throughout his life.

Bibliography

Montessori, Maria – The Absorbent Mind – New York: Holt Paperbacks, 1995
Montessori, Maria – The Montessori Method – Mineola: Dover Publications, Inc., 2002
Montessori, Maria – The Secret of Childhood – New York: Random House, 1966
Montessori, Maria – The Discovery of the Child – New York: Random House, 1967
Garhart Moody, Carol – Theories of Childhood – St. Paul: Readleaf Press, 2000
Polk Lillard, Paula – Montessori a Modern Approach –New York: Schocken Books, 1972

Ten Songs from 2013

Last year at this time I was busy compiling my favorite pictures from 2012 to create my end of the year/beginning of the new year blog. The first line of that blog was, "I'd really like to get better at using my camera in 2013." Well, I can tell you now that it didn't happen. At all. Not even close. What did happen was the loss of my camera. The event is many months in my rear view now, but I still don't like to talk about it because it makes me feel worthless and small. In summary, I went out of my way to be responsible only to be bitten in the ass by my own absentmindedness and now some stranger somewhere has my camera, my memories, and a piece of my spirit. Dramatic, I know, but that is how I feel. Replacing the camera or using an inferior one weren't acceptable alternatives to me, so I began an affair with my iPhone camera and Instagram. They've both been a lot of fun and they're always ready to party, but they also lack a certain depth that my soul requires. Don't get me wrong, I always have a good time with them, but I feel myself inching closer to being ready for a more intimate relationship with my images again. Habits die hard though, so we'll see...

Anyway, the point of that elaborate intro paragraph was to set up the fact that this year I will not be sharing my year in pictures, but rather my year in music. To list every song I loved this year would take way too long, so I have limited myself to 10 songs that "stuck." Some of these songs were released in 2012, but they didn't find their way into my life until 2013. Here we go...

1. Quesadilla by Walk the Moon - I found out about these guys from a friend who has satellite radio. She knew I liked the band "A Silent Film" and suggested I check out the Walk the Moon song Ana Sun. I did, I loved it, and then one of my favorite things in life happened: I checked out the rest of the songs on the album and fell in love. Few things in life thrill me more than discovering a great album. On you can play all the way through without hitting the skip button once. I got the chance to see Walk the Moon play live in early 2013 and I'm so thankful for the experience, even though a portion of the evening was tainted by alcohol infused political banter.

2. Last Hope by Paramore - I'm not a huge Paramore fan, but a while back Hayley Williams' voice grabbed my attention (on B.o.B's "Airplanes") enough to give the band a second look. I checked out the self titled album they released in April of 2013 and Last Hope (and another track Grow Up) jumped out as purchase worthy. I love the sincerity of her voice and the honesty of the lyrics. The bridge offers,"It's not that I don't feel the pain, it's just I'm not afraid of hurting anymore." While the chorus reminds, "Gotta let it happen." Sometimes I get wrapped up in the idea of making things happen, but this song reminds me that sometimes you just need to let things happen. Letting go doesn't make you passive, it makes you peaceful, right?

3. I Don't Deserve You by Paul van Dyk (feat. Plumb) - Okay, so apparently this guys is a world famous DJ who's been around since I was in college. I had no idea he existed until I was invited by a friend to see him live somewhere in North Scottsdale. I don't often venture out that far, and I've never seen a famous DJ live, and my birthday was around then, so I decided why not have a new experience? I'm glad I went because I've come to love quite a few PVD songs. I find electronic dance music to be quite versatile. Great for the gym, great for house cleaning, great for pretty much any time you want to be picked UP! I Don't Deserve You is the song I chose for this list because I love love love the beat and the lyrics paint a beautiful picture for me about pure love.  I believe that in general we are all worthy of more love than we think we are, but at the same time I also think it is easy for us to overlook the love we are surrounded by. This song speaks to unconditional, under-appreciated love everywhere and it makes me want to be a better mom to my kids.

4. Closer by Tegan and Sara - Though I did hear about these 'Canadian lesbian sisters' a while ago, I never really liked any of the songs I checked out. I gave them another chance when I found out they were the opening act for 'fun.' last September. I instantly liked and downloaded this upbeat pop track. Though I have long since passed my burn out point on this song, the excitement I felt when I first heard it cannot be denied or undone.

5. Stop Pretending by Vicci Martinez - I'm not a huge fan of The Voice, but that's only because I don't make time to watch it. A friend suggested I check out the song "Come Along." I did, I liked it, and I downloaded the rest of the album. It's a solid album. Nothing that would ever land on my "Top Albums of All Time" list, but a nice easy listen from top to bottom. I chose Stop Pretending for this list because I'm partial to the chorus. Its familiar and sounds strangely like something once created by a couple of dorks in the upstairs loft of their parents house . Almost saw Miss Vicci in concert this year too, but that's another story...

6. Crystallize by Lindsey Stirling - Simply put: violin + dub step = awesome. This song was recommended to me by a friend and I love the beautiful complexity created by the fusion of two opposing genres.

7. Strange Attractor by Animal Kingdom - I absolutely love this song for its simple but accurate portrayal of the volatility of attraction. In my own life, I toggle between feeling incredibly connected and attracted to people and feeling like an over thinking, over feeling, overreaching weirdo. This song reminds me, "It must be chemical," and from there it becomes a tiny bit easier for me to sit back and enjoy the trip.

8. Fire Without a Flame by NoNoNo -  This song makes me feel like I can take over the world. Not in a 'domineering rape and pillage' sort of way, but more like a 'building basketball courts for poor kids in every country' kind of way. It also reminds me there is greatness within each of us, regardless of the ability of our surroundings to nurture said greatness.

9. Pompeii by Bastille - You've probably heard this song on the radio, but if you haven't, you will soon, and pretty regularly after that. My ego demands that I tell you I've known about this band for quite some time and I've been rocking the album since I downloaded it several months ago long before this track hit the radio. I love the production on this song and the flow the arrangement creates. If the word "epic" wasn't already played out, I would use it to describe this song. I have tickets to see this band in April and I am looking forward to the show very much!

10. I Just Want You by Sara Bareilles - This is the song that made me fall entirely in love with Sara Bareilles this year. I always liked her (probably because she swears as much as I do), but when I heard this song for the first time she captured a small piece of my soul.  I find the lyrics incredibly pure and honest and I relate to them effortlessly. To my knowledge, the only album this song appears on is the recently released "Live at the Variety Playhouse." If you get a chance, download it. I promise you it's worth $1.29.

Alrighty, so that's it...ten songs that stuck from 2013. In order to avoid repeating last year's jinx I will make no comments about my audiological goals for 2014.

Happy New Year everyone...Peace and Love to all!

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