Visions: Little dude

First off, yes. Yes, I do call my four-year old nephew little dude. He grins, does a little "how absurd!" laugh that he got from his daddio (my brother), then runs off to tackle his Uncle Great (Greg).

Now, to my pictures. When I go to bed at night, there's a wall that I wind up staring at until my eyes obey my command to stay closed. On this wall, I've hung things that make me smile: my certificates to prove I've passed certain levels in piano (first class honours with distinction, baby), art from when I was younger, heartfelt things people have bought me, and best of all -- art my nephew has made me.

Last Easter, he painted everyone watercolour pictures and gave them as gifts. He's so precious... my best friend (my brothers call her "pseudo-sis") was sitting next to me, over for Easter. My nephew hadn't anticipated this, so when he had given everyone their art and he didn't have one for her, he thought for a minute and told me that the painting he gave me could be for both of us (his words, I believe, were "umm... aunty, that's for you and her, K?")
I asked him what the painting was of, and he told me that it was "Princess turning into the Easter bunny" (Princess is my cat, remember).
So precious.

This was the top half of the birthday card he gave me this year. I love his drawings of people!! They have hair, arms, legs, and eyes with pupils! So awesome...
This is two people jumping rope. I asked him what it was about and who the people were, and he thought about it then said he couldn't remember. Heh.

These are some tulips that he made my mom and I. I can't remember how long ago they're from, I just know that I keep them in that porcelain watering can I won at a bridal shower. It seemed useless at the time, but now it has a purpose. And yes, it is posing on top of my laptop.

Art given from a 4-year old feels so special, doesn't it? There's just something particularly gratifying about knowing that a child loves you. It's like it gives you a place in the world. And this little child is full of lots and lots of love... he's a blessing in a little, rambunctious package.

~Godspede

Tidbit: Joy

It's amazing how ordinary things can be so inspirational and so uplifting.

This blog is aware that my French teacher died last year (see here). On the day that we found out, I happened to have choir practise that afternoon. I went with my best friend even though we were both pretty emotionally stripped. When we showed up, I told the choir leader what had happened---my friend burst into tears after hearing me just start the sentence.
That practise was very sombre. Whereas they are usually filled with laughing and teasing and the general weirdness that befits us, at this one we barely even smiled. We were distinctly just going through the emotions without feeling or meaning a single word that we sang.
The last song we did was called "Days of Elijah". I'm sure you can youtube it and find the melody, but our particular arrangement of it is very upbeat, with an infectious rhythm and a bouncy piano part. We debated whether or not we should actually sing it.
Eventually I sat at the keys and stared at the page for a few seconds then started to hit the notes, feeling mostly unemotional. But as I began to play through it and the singers joined in, my voice mingling with their's, I felt my fingers begin to become more lively.
About halfway through the song I looked up at my friend, who was looking back at me. I had a small smile from the pure enjoyment I was getting from playing that piano part, and she saw my smile and got a small one of her own. Her small smile made mine grow, which made hers grow, and so on until I chuckled and she got lost and we both started laughing as we entered into the chorus of the song. After the practise we still had those smiles on our faces and our spirits were considerably lifted. That one song, with its fun beats and inspiring lyrics, managed to make our whole day better.
I thought of this at my choir practise yesterday, a different one without that friend. We sang Days of Elijah, and as I sat down at the keys I got a small, sad smile thinking of that French teacher, then a warmer smile as I remembered what a wonderful effect that song has.
I just thought I should share.

~Godspede