In a recent post StephLove mentioned how when she visited her kid at Oberlin, she was "charmed by paper snowflakes in the windows surrounding a “Free Palestine” sign" because it made her "think about what it’s like to be in college, close enough to your childhood to make paper snowflakes, but old enough to be politically engaged."
I've thought about that image often since reading it, and it always makes me smile. It is particularly endearing. And it describes young people and their hopefulness and creativity perfectly...
And in some way it also describes everyone I know.
All of us making time outside of mandated work to create something or reach out to someone or share thoughts or start a conversation or make a difference are pushing back against a system that's built to keep people in narrowly-defined and isolated channels.
I love the unruly nature of this. The system cannot rule us.
Yesterday, I looked up from typing just in time to see Nu (probably taking a break from homework) pick up an old party-favor-bubble-bottle that has been sitting on the table forever and blow out a stream of bubbles. I'm glad I caught that. That bubbling moment of playfulness in my child and the unexpected bubbles in my day.
Pic: Outside the window, are the icicles I think of as "the fangs of winter." Inside, my jasmine is budding profusely. Last May, a single bloom was so fragrant I nearly went mad with happiness. Fingers crossed for these buds.
17 comments:
Thanks for the shout out.
The picture looks so cozy, with greenery within and icicles without.
Nice.
That picture is beautiful - I love the juxtaposition of green plants and winter's fangs!!
I have been especially grateful for my kids lately because they bring such a levity to life with their jokes (often about farts...) and are quick to laugh.
Unexpected bubbles. I can't think of anything more delightful. I do think we must all have some sort of outlet to get us through life. I was thinking about that yesterday as I hear things that I know are turning the medical community upside down. How can you be a doctor and not have information passed on by the CDC because there IS no CDC as we knew it or NIH? And how do you live with that stress. All that plus dealing with patients who die or cannot yet be cured. I was reminded of the Medicine and the Arts program at Ohio State where med students are encouraged to have a creative outlet and each year have a show with their student orchestra, choir, skits, poetry, paintings. We all need that, no matter what our profession and more now today than ever.
Beautiful post Maya- and thanks for reminding us to stay unruly!
The "fangs of winter", I love that. And I LOVE the smell of jasmine, so I'm also crossing my fingers for your jasmine buds.
Jasmine buds and bubbles--there is Hope in your home for sustenance in these times.
This was a very comforting post today for me, Maya. Thank you.
Im being particularly unruly these days! :-)
*I am
This is Steph of the sandwich variety <3
Thanks for the inspiration, Steph!
Thanks!
I remember the days when all the punchlines were about farts :). A lot of life revolves around them in this season; it's a good thing they're so darn cute!
Jeanie, I was blown away when I heard about those medical humanities programs--you're absolutely right; everyone needs creative outlets, and medical students who can think imaginatively and empathetically must make better doctors, too.
Thanks, Jenny--I always envy the effortless way bougainvillea and jasmine run amok by you.
Extra hugs and hearts to you, Nance!
Ungovernable, even :)! Go, You!
I love this idea of unruliness, and making it a purposeful part of life.
Solidarity!!
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