On my way up I-55 to St. Louis on Sunday, I've been getting photo treats from friends and family to get me in the spirit. Michel sent the 411 winter wonderland and Kat sent their first ornament on the tree of this season; "Noel".
These trips are bittersweet these days. I look at 411 in the snow, and know it will be waiting there for me. But, Mom and Dad are elsewhere...tears of a Christmas with everyone elsewhere for the first time in more than 40 years. Sam (who will be locked in the bathroom until departure time) and I will be there to share Christmas and New Years and do whatever else might be needed to help out along the way.
I leave you with a little of our own inside winter wonderland on Columbus Street. Happy Holidays to All!
Interesting, that the Tulane School of Social Work Class of 2013 graduated this past Friday, December 13, 2013. Even though many things can be coincidence and timing, there was a driving force that brought me back to the Tulane School of Social Work: Carol Miles.
I'd done a pretty good job of maintaining my friendships and professional relationships from France, but Carol was the one who said: "Call Julianna. They are looking for someone to teach Social Change." Soon it grew from teaching Theories of Social Change to teaching Methods Two as well, when the lead professor took sabbatical. My teaching duties continue to grow.
Teaching is one thing, but being able to spend time with people you care about is another. It began with International Overalls Day and just kept on going into the holidays with art shows, dinners, parties, and graduation. Thanks Carol-sharing these moments and this time with you has been the best!
When Niels and Bodil were here, hearing some jazz was at the top of their to do list in New Orleans. My friends and I had suggestions for them, but they did fine on their own and had fun in the discovery.
We had many discussions about New Orleans and music. We are music. The more we spoke the more I realized that we are a city of music 24/7. You can hear just about any kind of music all over the city all of the time. Of course, it's easy in the Quarter...on the river, on the corner of Royal and St. Peter, just about any sidewalk...and on and on. We move, we go, we sing, we dance, we throb, we ooze music and creativity. We are blessed with music...and so much more.
Yesterday morning, I finished the last three potholders. I started to write "of the season", but I'm enjoying them so much that I might just carry on throughout the year. Time for a new batch, and hopefully I'll have a more conventional selection of colors. I did get to be creative. It was fun. As Eric says: "You can never have enough potholders!"
This past Thursday, the students in the Global Certificate Program at the Tulane School of Social Work participated in an awards ceremony where they presented the work they'd done in their International Field Placements this semester. With students placed in Jordan, Haiti, India, South Africa, Rwanda, Ecuador and Houston; the depth and breadth of their projects and contributions were stunning. Many of the students had been in other classes I'd taught since my return, I served as FPA on professional projects for two teams of two, and had everyone during this semester's on-line Captone Seminar while they were working abroad. As you can imagine, it was quite a rewarding experience.
Not only did the students receive a rose, but those of us affiliated with the program did too. I was thrilled, but then it hit me...I'm going to Walmart to grocery shop after I leave here. How was the rose going to work in Walmart? I just stuck it my back pack and kept moving. Our street car ride was uneventful. On the transfer to the Jackson-Esplanade, we met an English man from Liverpool named Tony. While in Walmart, another "Tony" commented on how beautiful the rose was, how beautiful I was, and was I married? Such a conversation starter, that rose. I thanked him and just kept moving. We made the bus home without a problem and we even stopped at the corner store for milk and a Dr. Pepper before snuggling in for the evening and finding the rose a more permanent home. Happy Sunday!
The whirlwinding of these times keeps moving. In the twirling, swirling, flowing and going there are these lovely moments. I know them. I feel them. But, it isn't until later on, in the still and quiet I've come to cherish so much; these ahas hit.
Sometimes, it's just in the being with people I love who love me back. My friends (and students) who know me well often begin the sentence with: "I know you'd rather be in France, but..." And, I'm happy I'm here and I love being with them too. It makes no difference if I'm walking arm in arm with Carol to the graduation party, hanging out with Stew and Eric at a benefit drag show, sitting at Keith's LaFishart booth with Carol and Tom in Palmer Park, celebrating overalls with old and new friends, riding home after class with Ron, walking in City Park with Barbara, or falling in love with New Orleans all over again; I am happy I'm here.
Throughout this year, I've heard from my colleagues and students: It doesn't have to be either/or, but it can be both/and. And so, life goes on in New Orleans for me with France in my future. At the moment, it's summer for sure with hopes of into December, if possible. I'd say 5 months in New Orleans and 7 months in France wouldn't be too shabby, huh?
I'm taking it a step at a time, loving these lives and trying to be patient enough to let it all unfold and take me along. It can all come rather nicely that way! Afterall, that's how I ended up in France to begin with. Happy Friday! Happy Graduation! And special thanks to my friends for these many lovely, loving moments.
A runaway week ended in front of a runway that benefited Buzzy's Boys and Girls, an organization that raises money to assist people living with HIV and AIDS. Most of my previously overalls-clad friends were in the audience with me (or performing), along with many of my professional friends and colleagues I've worked with over the many years of working and volunteering in HIV and AIDS.
As you can tell from the photos, the show was incredible. I sat in the audience overcome with feelings...feelings of a seething, crisis pandemic that pushed us to work hard together and solidified friendships that I wouldn't trade for a million...feelings of gratefulness in the knowing that a short 15 years ago I'd expected to lose many of the people in that room.
Buzzy's raised $5,200 for the coffers. It was fun and easy for those of us in the audience. Just look at those one dollar bill (and sometimes larger) stuffed hands!
Relating my hunt for the graduation party dress to the fundraiser organizer, Michael "Fish" Hickerson; I told him via FB that Eric and I were afraid I had too much "B&B" (boobs and butt) for the dress I ended up wearing. Michael's priceless response:
Yes, it is the end of the semester and I should have expected all of this, but last week was endless...last classes, final grades, final projects, coordination hell, poster presentations, and squeezing in meetings to begin planning for next semester. Nothing like grading papers and getting final grades in between finding a dress for the Class Graduation Party and deciding what shoes to wear when you haven't been in heels since you left France! Mon Dieu! The best solution, just keep moving because if you stop you may never get up again!
Final grades for my graduating students got in while I was making decisions about what to do with my hair. THE DRESS from Eric was spectacular, and for friends and students who are used to seeing me dressed down a bit or even in overalls, there was just a little culture shock. Yes, Ms. Laury does do girlie from time to time. Never forget, I am a girl of pearls and overalls.
Dinner at the Kingfish Grill with Carol, Keith and Stephen was fun and special, since Carol and Keith's daughter Emma tends bar there. Of course, hugs and kisses all around and wonderful food was a great start to an evening of libations and dancing at the Blue Room of the Roosevelt Hotel for the class Graduation Party.
And, I did not turn into a pumpkin at midnight,leaving a trail of sequins, bugle beads and ribbons behind me. I did consider not even going to bed and just sliding into a morning of making deviled eggs and attending the celebration of Nadine's life. From there, it was a gallery opening at the LeMieux for Leslie Elliot-Smith, and on to a very special event to rev us up while also putting the brakes on a run away week. More on that special ending tomorrow, I leave you with a hint of what's to come.