Soar-Dream-France

Colors of Overall Change

 

 

I know my class had intended the balloons to be for my bike, and a rather "conspicuous" ride home. Instead, I tied them to the strap on top of my purple back pack, put the posters in the back pouch almost zipped up, and headed with Ron over to his car on foot. We had to cover them up with my "Crackerbarrel Cape" in the back seat so they didn't tease the driver. When I got home, I tied them to a chair in my office. We looked very festive and fun...all that color in one place. I, of course, had to take some photos...but yesterday's setting sun did the trick!

 

 

The sun may have set on an overall action, but as with any well-planned and executed social change event...the results live on in the change that occurs and the power that is shared by those who participate!

 

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Overall Change

While watching the students of my section of Theories of Social Change class, at the Tulane School of Social Work, advocate for a take home exam earlier in February, a light bulb went off. They teased about "sitting-in" at my office (even though I don't have one) and invoked the name of Sol Alinsky!

 

I handed out their take-home exams, but a surprise assignment came with it:

"Today you are going to plan an ACTION. It will be a school of social work Theories of Social Change Class-related action. It will culminate in what I am, calling a "role-out"...an action that the class will take to the source and to the street. I am  your target or your enemy."

 

They had the class session to plan according to specific text book guidelines and activities. I observed up to the point where they were planning their action. To make it more meaningful they asked a couple of questions about me-there's my bike, my dog, that I play piano and love "Moon River", but then of course-my overalls. I left. They planned, knowing that whatever they did, had to happen before the end of February.

All through February I've been prepared with my camera. The weather has been horrible so I've been on the streetcar, bus, riding in and home with friends, so my bike hasn't been in it's usual place. Yesterday was another bikeless day for me...what a shame. The students had ridden their bikes and had planned to circle me with their bikes, holding their signs and chanting their chant. As with all good organizers, they had a back-up plan...a gauntlet of change in the third floor lounge.

Walking down the gauntlet, hearing the chant, reading their signs, sitting at the table to read the demand document that everyone signed; I was overcome with gratefulness and pleasure. What a group of students! Everyone participated! We took the action back to the classroom so we could "negotiate" the details and I could sign my intent. There was a lot to cover, tests to return, assignments to discuss and then of course the content for the day. The surprise for me was that the "Role-Out" Action gave them experiences that I could use as examples and refer to during the rest of the class.

We are excited and energized about change...Overall Change, as you can see!

 

Looking Into Another World

 

From way over here, the magic of home astounds me even more. It's in the patience, the paying attention, and the power we cannot see that the surprises appear!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Better Days

This photo grabbed me this morning. Sure, it's home. Sure, it's the wagon. But, it was my Dal of better days that caught my eye and grabbed my heart.

February has been full of some very tough nights, multiple trips to the vet, tests, medication, and just loving on her every day the best that I can till I can't love on her anymore. I was right. We needed to be together and so here we are. She is always by my side. If I move, she moves. She still greets me at the door with a sparkle in her eyes. And so we go...a day at a time into old age together.

 

Barn of Our Heart

For those of you who read the blog regularly and may know me well, this shot of the barn taken 12 years ago is my favorite. It was always so close, but yet so far. The barn became part of our "WE" back in 2010...an example of love, positive energy, patience, a divining spirit, and the universe making its magic for us. WE are still evolving and divining. I believe that the best is yet to come. But in the meantime: I've been digging, I've been cleaning, I've been varnishing, I've been flowering us up, and I took a special interest in her treasures inside.

As much as I love the Chatette, our power lies in the barn. I leave you with a few shots of the barn through the years! Happy Sunday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monsieur Winkelmann Came Down From Paris...

...and brought his music magic into our lives! He's my special guy. I miss him. I wouldn't be one bit surprised if you were to be passing the Chatette on foot and heard him taking up "Moon River" all by his lonesome. Our "WE" knows how to keep the magic alive!

Here are a few shots from Philippe's atelier in Paris, a rather interesting delivery, and ah-La Vie en Rose-a la Christiane, with Jean and Greg looking on and Evelyn behind the lense.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joyeux Anniversaire Mon Chez Moi

Eleven years ago today, Stu and I went to see Maitre André Roux to sign the final papers on the Chatette. Stu turned over the big keys, and we became a "we". Who could have known eleven years ago, all that would have happened between then and now to make the Chatette an even bigger player in the tapestry our lives. Today I say a huge merci to this place of my heart and leave you with a few favorite photos from over the years. It's funny, if I were sending a card I'd write the same thing I write to my family...Happy Birthday, I wish I could be there to celebrate with you!-Happy Happy Birthday-I'll be back just as soon as I can!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pining Away...

 

...for summer days at the lavoir in my overalls, when I can dangle my feet in the cold, nurturing water after cutting the grass.

TODAY...I'm really missing HOME

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Makes No Difference...

...where we are in the world.

Sam finds the sunshine!

The Impromptuer the Better

There are lots of good things about being back in New Orleans. Early Mardi Gras morning I'd been with Barbara and Frank to get shots of the Clydesdales and then we headed over to Morning Call for coffee and beignets. They had a closet they were attacking, and me-I didn't have any special plans other than a short trip to the Quarter to take some photos. Somewhere between Morning Call and home it hit me...why not get the hard cores together on Columbus Street later in the day for Ham sandwiches and potato salad? I always used to celebrate holidays like New Years and Mardi Gras this way, it's easy, you know people are off, and being of that age...it's a fun, low stress way to celebrate together. Once I figured out Canseco's was open and I could get what I needed-I was on the phone et voila...a spur of the moment evening with friends that left me feeling home once more.

The photos are Gaynell and Ellen in my kitchen above, and Barbara and Frank at Morning Call below!