A salute to the Greeks!

Lately it seems that I've been consumed by free things, like book sales gone give-aways and festivals in the park. There is a strange freedom associated with costless amusements, especially as it often causes people to be less critical of the outcome. I have personally discovered that I am more open to whatever may come in situations where I have not had to fork over a lot of dough to be in a certain place. Whatever I see and do is basically a bonus to me. That said, in an effort to amuse myself and satisfy my need to be culturally exposed, I ventured to Oak Park for another Santa Barbara festival today. This time, it was a celebration of all things Greek. The more I go to festivals around here, the more I realize that they are ALL very similar. For instance, each one has a fun area for kids, unique culinary delights, music and dancing, and random craft booths. That pretty much sums it up. Oh yeah, and of course the $1.00 raffle tickets for a chance to win round-trip airfare to the country being featured at the event. In a large part, however, the predictability of the festivities is what makes them so cute. It is inspiring to be surrounded by happy people who are embracing a new culture or celebrating their heritage in a vibrant way. One of the most delightful things I witnessed yesterday, apart from the delicious Greek coffee and the stunning Oud performance, was a young Greek family teaching their children how to dance and yell OPA. At one point the father, with one arm out connecting him to the dancing group and the other holding up his child, proceeded to step and twirl with the best of them. The joy on the little boys face was breathtaking. What a beautiful thing to witness, the passing on of ones heritage and traditions to the next generation. It was very touching. Sadly, I was unable to capture it with my camera, though the image has been etched into the sweet moments part of my memory. OPA!!!

And another one bites the dust...

Our most recent whirl-wind weekend has come to a close, bringing official finality to the singleness of both Kevin and Katie. As they said "I Do", I sensed an urge in the crowd of witnesses to shout exuberantly: Hip Hip Hurray! Hip Hip Hurray! Hip Hip Hurray! The audience, however, just clapped and whistled, though I am positive that what they really wanted to do was cheer Hurray! Secretly I was thinking, "and another one bites the dust", though only in the most compassionate way of course. As someone who has already personally "bitten the dust", I feel genuinely excited for the newlyweds as they begin this new adventure together. Marriage seems to be what you make of it, kind of like life. It will be wonderful to watch those two beautiful yahoos create their reality, with lots of laughter and love. Selfishly, it will also be delightful to have another sister in my life. Welcome to the family Katie and congratulations to you both!

French Fest Relived...

I ventured to the French Festival today with my friend Darlene. We had a lovely time listening to music, browsing around the booths, and sampling a little of the cuisine. The crepe makers captivated us the most, with their huge variety of fillers. My triple berry crepe was fantastic. As we sat down to enjoy our treats I asked a young girl to take a photo of us. In the process, she quickly pointed, clicked, and gave me the thumbs up sign. It wasn't until a bit later that I realized that she had cut our heads off. The photo makes me laugh, however, so I've decided to post it anyway.




On our way out of the festival we passed by an adorable woman in a red beret. I had noticed her and the artwork she was selling earlier, though I hadn't yet stopped to check it out. She seemed so lonely, off in a hidden corner. I wondered how well the business was doing? The last time I had seen her, the table had been deserted as well. I'm a bit of a sucker for the underdog, so suddenly I decided that I needed to visit with her. She delighted in the acknowledgement and informed me that she loved to paint. The images she created came from her imagination now, though it sounded as if her life had once been full of nature wanderings. Eventually I purchased an original acrylic painting, affixed with a magnet and homemade stir-stick wooden frame. It is a piece of art that I will treasure for years to come. The experience once again affirmed in me how valuable interactions like that are. As I went over to brighten her day, I found myself also being encouraged by her story. It was a win-win situation. Cheers to you Connie!

Shopping in a library...

My most recent noteworthy moment in life occurred yesterday and the day before. The librarian at summer school informed me of a once in a lifetime opportunity. A full library of books was for sale at the local county education office. Never in my life have I experienced such book shopping pleasure. At $1.00 a piece for incredible nonfiction and fiction hardbacks, I found myself going a little bit crazy. As a relatively new teacher, I have a classroom library in need of more selection. My purchases have now greatly enhanced the book offerings I have for my students. Interestingly, the experience has really inspired me to focus more intently on connecting children and adults to books. There were many times during my "shopping spree" that I was emotionally surged by the reconnection to some of the stories that I loved as a child. What a delight to spend hours sifting through the nostalgia of the yesteryears. I wonder if we could start a revolution in our country, wherein people of various ages challenged themselves to either reread stories from their youth or discover what the new children's fiction has to offer. The result could be very powerful. Maybe we would all find ourselves relating to each other more? Could that also be a pathway to peace amongst the generations? Hmmm...

Traditions...

When I think of summer, a variety of images flood my mind: fresh berries, sunshine, leisure time, and nature excursions. As I get older, I find reassurance in the reality that many of the treasured traditions that I have participated in over the years, are continuing on with younger generations. I'm thankful for each and every opportunity I have had to experience these joyful moments. May life continue to bring us all a sense of amazement and happiness. Cheers to summertime!

Hanging out with cousins!

Swimming in creeks!

Reconnecting with friends!

Baking rolls!

Family gatherings!

Prishum Break!

Hiking with my dad!

Birthday celebrations!

Strawberry picking and jam making!

Gardening with Grams!

Indians Fire Shots....

Kyle just returned from a two week stint at the Indians Fire Camp. While there he trekked around assessing the damages, making plans, and putting out some little flames of his own (see b-day shot). Apparently, he enjoyed himself, in spite of the long work days and unusually warm conditions. As is often the case, Kyle made some new friends and captured some fantastic images. Enjoy!