michelle ward

one hand tied.....

I'm lucky it's my left hand that is out-of-commission.  I would be so bummed and restless if it was my right.  And thankfully I can still type....although it's slow-going fixing typos.  Oh, what happened exactly?  Not sure.  Self-diagnosis is a re-injury of the wrist, x-rays Tuesday.

 
My week has been spent preparing for an altered book class. I've been invited to teach a special full day workshop at the high school.  Loved revisiting this art form.  Fun to think about introducing it to students who have never heard of it.  They have no clue what coolness they are about to step into ;) I made a handout covering nearly twenty techiques so if we don't get to them all they can continue the work on their own.  Class is Monday.  I'll let you know how we do.

Have a great weekend.

thorns and roses

Did you see the American Idol finale?  Even if you aren't a fan of the show it is always a terrific evening of surprise guests and great performances.  The highlight for me was the Bret Michael's duet with Casey James.  The song has stuck in my head...and the lyrics too.  You know I'm a fan of roses.  And I get it that they come with thorns, just like life.  I'll take both.  I wouldn't give up roses because I don't like getting stuck by the thorns, just like I don't give up on life because sad things happen. 

This reminds me of a favorite quote - here is a graphic I made for it some time ago.  Complain or rejoice.  I choose rejoice.

 

I am behind on my RT journal, but will use this photo in it soon, along with the lyrics.  Some photoshop trickery:

Thank you for your kinds words of sympathy on the last post.  I am truly touched.  Wishing you a glorious holiday tomorrow - enjoy the day off with your family as we honor Memorial Day. 

ruby tuesday: fortysix

 

I feel lucky to be 46.    I feel lucky to be surrounded by love.  I feel lucky to be healthy.  I feel lucky that yesterday I could make the beds, shop for roses, read a book, communicate with friends via phone, email, and texts, have a lovely dinner out, sleep soundly.  In another part of the country, a beloved cousin is under hospice care, facing an uncertain future with grace, with faith.... I wish I was there, helping where possible, offering support.  But I'm here.  So I pray, I listen, I squeeze my eyes tight and visualize less pain, more peace.....PEACE.....it's a beautiful thing. 

step into my garden....

As many of you know, today is not only my birthday, it is Shannon's too.  Two summers ago she left us, after gracing us with her presence for forty years.  We planted a small rose garden, in remembrance of her....and it has not only grown, it has multiplied.  Today I am allowing myself to be a little sad, missing her.  So many calls and messages have come in, wishing me well....thank you.....but I can't hold back the tears, some happy, some sorrowful.  So before I head out to the nursery to indulge in one more rose bush, I will take you on a tour.

The above grouping is just outside my studio door.  Below are the newest, planted in April.  We have learned our lesson about spacing...and have given these beauties much more room to grow.

 

Below are the gifts from Mother's Day 2009....one didn't make it through the winter....so that is the mission for today.  The new one will make twenty in total.  I'm getting pretty good at this....and decided I will start a new journal project, keeping notes on my experience as a Rosarian.  xo

Our annual Sam party was postponed this year as we were holding out for better weather than we usually get in April.  Thanks to all our friends, classmates, and teachers who came to celebrate on the glorious Saturday we were blessed to have.

 

recovering and recap

Oh right....back to real life.  I'm late with posting...but at least I did it!  These pages chronicle the wrap-up of the HIM tour.  I documented the set lists from the four concerts we saw, and journaled about the experiences.  Still in recovery after a three-night-stand staying in the city.  Whew!  It was a gas.

I found these terrific new tools at AC Moore.  They are perfect for making toner transfers with Goof-Off.  Also good for blending with watercolor pencils, brushing on glue, painting and smoodging.

 

The rose count is insane!  With the recent rain the bushes are heavy and leaning.  Need to find a way to support them.  *adds on the to-do list*  Here is one until I can take more photos.

Fallon was able to finally get photos with three of the guys Friday night.  Perfect little addition to a fantastic tour.  We were definitely spoiled.  They are all back in Finland now.  When-oh-when will they be back? 

This week Seth @ The AlteredPage is revisiting True Colors with commentary each day from the participants.  I thought all the artists would be included in a one-day-post so I kept my remarks brief.  I could talk endlessly about the fabulous experience of making pages, then seeing it go to print.   Fun to be reading his blog as we reminisce out loud.  Check it out HERE. 

running....

running errands, running carpool, running to the post office, running late (with my rubytuesday pages, my crusade, and my taxes)....*checks forehead*, practically running a fever in this heat....but i'm not running out of luck!  first four leaf clovers of the year!

 
 

E is for enthusiasm, evidence

I had limited time today to make my rubytuesday pages since I'm heading out to pick up Mom from the airport.  It was easy to do these - simply documented recent events by tucking away some *evidence*, and scribbling down some thoughts. 

 
I was so touched and tickled by the responses you left on my last post.  I printed out the comments for my journal page.  I get it that not all of you are HIM fans.  And you may even roll your eyes when you arrive to see another post about them.  But what is really cool is that you were still able to share the enthusiasm with me.  And you get it that these projects and experiences are important to me.   Thank you.

Oh!  You want to know where that cool *evidence* tape came from? When I was looking for pre-printed toe tags I came across  crimescene.com   I ended up making my own toe tags, but found lots of great stuff at that place.  I have been keeping a journal....yes another....that is all about barrier tape.  I collect different specimens of tape while out and about, and friends even send me some.  I have tape confiscated from the local premises of Greece, Italy, and France! 

 

And courtesy of ATPhotography, a few shots from the show Friday night.  It was spectacular!  Next up:  three more dates in May!

the report

It was a glorious day!  We arrived in Deptford and took our place in line.  Hundreds of fans were there and we met up with our friends, and many new ones.  I have been to signings and meet & greets before, but this one was run tight and strict, and very fast.  Fallon was a wreck as we inched closer.  They had several check points where they held you back so you couldn't really even see the band until you were standing right in front of them.  We had prepared gifts but they were swiftly wisked away by some record exec. but we got to tell them about it.  I practically shreiked "but I made them Toe Tags".  We thanked them for this opportunity and had our items signed (had to sweet talk the exec. to let us go with unconventional surfaces, a tshirt and a journal).  I explained what my journal was and they took a look and thought it was really clever.  *grin*

 

So there is a song on the new album called Acoustic Funeral.  (It was actually playing in the store during the signing!!)  You can hear Ville explain the song HERE.   You can hear the song HERE.   (Very pretty, take a listen).  The chorus is this....

 
Epiphany!  Toe Tags!  We also brought a book, a Black Sabbath dvd, and some cool socks.  (they say they always lose socks on tour)  I mentioned we had given him the collections of grave dirt and he said the bottles are all lined up on his mantel at home!  And they thought my HIMnal was cool.   Can't wait for them to get a good look at the Toe Tags.  *faints*

They didn't allow photographs....but I got this one of Fallon with their manager, Seppo.  And the others are courtesy of Hot Topic.

 

 

What a blast we had!  So fun to see our favorite band again.  They were all so charming and nice, and really tuned into you when you spoke with them.  Great to hang with Bill, Laure, Mark, Suzanne, Cindi, and Cherie.  Had to go out for a fun meal to decompress together....

 

Next up:  concert tonight!  *blows kisses*

xx

(click through for rubytuesday journal page) 

whatta week!

Before I talk about the week ahead I will say something about the last weekend.  I was super lucky to have an opportunity to teach at the Career Capades day at our kid's high school.  It was an action packed day with many presentations in all kinds of departments.  I was asked to set up for a workshop and chose to go with monoprinting as it is fast, easy, and quick-drying.  With the assistance of some art students we kept the tables turning over so we could let everyone who was interested come have a try at a painting technique.  Some 'customers' whizzed in and out but there were some who stayed and kept at it, making lots of cool painted prints.  LOVE that I got to witness young kids taking an interest in making art.

There is still time to "Grab a Tissue", then next month we will try monoprinting for the crusades.

And now this week.  OMG.  Love my him, Him, and HIM. him:  it is our 20th anniversary tomorrow!  I am such a lucky girl to have this man in my life.  What a blessing to exchange vows with him and launch a family together.  Life is good.  Him:  this weekend is Palm Sunday.  The beginning of Holy Week.  I remember learning as a kid that the ashes we get crossed on our forehead at the beginning of Lent is from the burned palms of the year before.  I don't know if that's true but I like the connection.  Mom and Dad will be arriving next week to celebrate Easter with us.  And HIM:  the new video was just released...my favorite track on the album too!  Thursday, Fallon and I go to the signing.  (I am frantically preparing gifts right now!)   Friday, Graham and I go to the opening night of the tour.  We are out of our minds with excitement!  Gah!

 

 

sah-weet, sweeeeet, and sweet

Check out this new score (from Heart of the Home in New Hope, PA).  It's not just sweet, it's sah-weet....said with two syllables.  I was introduced to Tammy Smith in the current Somerset Studio.  Such clever work.  Great imagination and skill with wire.  She has a blog too...go SEE.

Also in this issue is my friend Linda Warlyn.  She is the sweeeeeetest, and so talented.  The Artist Portfolio article is written by another sweet friend, Lynne.  Here is the journal page Linda made for me in the Love Book I received last year from a host of sweet friends.  All those teeny delicate details.  It is so her and I treasure it like everything she has given me.

 
 
 

Check out this sweet treat that was delivered, YES DELIVERED, to our home recently.  From Linda!  She is an amazing giver, and she really *gets me*.  We gobbled this right up...and if she wasn't so far away we would've gobbled her up too.  Time to start nagging Linda to blog ;)

another lucky day

You can see I'm still enjoying the felting thing.  I didn't get organized enough to send any out so I hung these up at home.  Heard some really good news this week.  It's a case of being lucky again, and living in the right state.  *faints*

Off to spend the day with my dear friend Judi.  Hope you have a grand day too!

catching up

Thank you so much for the loving and caring comments and emails.  You have made me feel connected even though I've been unplugged for a while.  It's been a blurry few weeks and I am feeling so much better.  Thank you, truly.

 
My pages from yesterday fall into the *evidence* category.  Lots of messages that came in cards, with gifts, a fruit basket, fresh flower bouquets, and LOTS of ROSES!   How about this message from Lisa...made me grin, and it's so true ;)

I put in some time on my other blog today too.  Crusade No. 38 is posted.  A super easy and fun way to layer on a page is to use tissue paper....even cooler if it's painted.  Go see, then play along with us. 

Journaling reads:  I think being and feeling lucky is entirely on your attitude and perspective.  I am a lucky girl.  

the view from here

I've been laying low.  Had an encounter with an unwelcome kidney stone.  Hope to be back to full speed soon.   I'm surrounded by love.  I'm a lucky girl.

hearts and hatters

Lots of hearts.  Love the love around here.

Last year I was late in finding Stephanie Lee's cool hearts.  This year I scored two!  Aren't they divine?  Had to have the "x", You Are Here, and she made a custom one for me, You Matter.

I ordered this gem from etsy.  Seller:  MudStuff. 

 
  
This was a gift from Laurie Mika.  Love everthing she does!

 
 
Because it's heartagram day - for my HIM fan friends....have you seen this?  Ville on the cover of the recent Metal Hammer magazine (from UK).

The making of video is HERE.  Super cool!  Off to celebrate!

learning new tricks

I'm teaching myself some new tricks.  I love exploring a new craft.  I really believe that trying new things gives you ideas that you can bring to your old things.  The latest:  needle felting.  I can't knit....but in 3 seconds I taught myself how to felt.  You can't stop me now.

It's interesting that you can be surrounded by treasured items that have beauty and sentiment but later take on another role as inspiration just because of a shift in perspective, or an awareness.  Once I started thinking about wool I ordered these handsome acorns from Fairyfolk.  And I opened the Love Book to Kristen's lovely page, and I pulled out my felted bag from Marie.  Then I tooled around on youtube and found THIS.  Who wouldn't want to try something like this?  Sure, it took some supplies....I found those online HERE.

More from youtube:  a video from Rice where she shows you additional things to do with needle felting.  HERE.  It's endless.  I great craft to practice during football games....you can produce many items in one sitting.  When it's too cold to be in my studio I can sit at the table and felt.

Do you felt?  Tell us about it!! 

PSA: TOUR NEWS

I told you I would tell you as soon as I knew something......this was announced earlier today!

*faints*

the learning curve.....

Whew boy!  I have been a lucky girl!  I am writing this post from my new laptop....and added details to this photo using a new version of photoshop!  I am trying not to let the learning curve of these devices make me crabby because it's all good. 

Yesterday Fallon and I finally made it into the city to see the Bergdorf Goodman windows.  We shared the experience with two treasured friends, Bonnie and Anne.   What fun it was to be there with artists....we were supposed to go earlier in the month with Lisa but I got sick :(   I have alot of editing to do before the photos are ready to present.  This year Fallon was the photographer.  If you get a chance to see the windows in the next week or so (before they change them out) do it!  If you can't make it then check back here in the following days for Fallon's perspective.  You may remember my posts from last year HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.  A sneak peek of 2009.......*swooooooon*.

Hope Santa was good to you.  No coal here, that's for sure.

and the winner is.....

Manja Uhlig from Germany!  Congratulations Manja.  I have your address and will send tomorrow.  I thank all the participants - it was super cool to read your kind words and I appreciate the interest and enthusiasm you have for the new images.  More will be unveiled soon, and this half sheet will be for sale on GPP in January.

spreading the luck

I told you I was a lucky girl....now is your chance to be one too.  I have a new half sheet of unmounted rubber I will give away this week.  It's going to be part of the new collection - I had them made early for the Stairway to Heaven class.  If you leave a comment below I will enter your name for a drawing on Sunday.  The sheets will be available to order in January.

The graphic above shows the images spaced out - it is actually a 5 x 8 half sheet. 

 
Try your luck....enter a comment below.  Drawing on Sunday night.

ruby tuesday number seven

 
Took a break from writing out cards....did some quick painting in my Ruby Tuesday journal.

Had two unexpected surprises arrive in the mail, I'm a Lucky Girl!  Catherine gifted me with these PMC charms that she makes.  She is a master at silversmithing and if I lived near her I would sign up for her classes in a heartbeat.  Thank you Catherine, these are precious.

And from Cindi - this girl Gets Me too.  I had to wear this today, even though it was 50 degrees.  I wish you could see how soft it is, and the deep rich color of red and black.  Perfect perfect perfect.  Thanks Cindi.  Heartagram hugs to you.

 

pink christmases

In the beginning....Mom had a lovely tree in the living room, filled with glass balls of soft pink and green.  The last time I held one it was speckled with stains from sprayed *snow*, from the days when that was cool.  I'm not sure if any of them survived past my childhood - they may have been tucked away, leaving room on the branches for livelier colors and handmade ornaments.  Recently I scooped up some of these pink *Shiny Brites*, (remember them?) from ebay, to add to our collection in remembrance of our family tree.

 
Last year we reclaimed pink for Christmas, as another remembrance.  Judi sent this deer, a special sign, that draws attention in our stable.....and we just *wink*.

Last week I found this sweet little angel practically hiding on a store shelf.  She's only about two inches high....but she caught my eye with her pink heart, and special message.

 

I will ask Mom if she has any pink glass balls left from her first tree in the 60s.  If not, I will send her some replacements.....and she'll know their double meaning. 

Here's to keeping things meaningful.
 

got spirit?

I didn't manage to get out the Halloween decorations before I went to Valley Ridge so I got a late start this year.  Check out the coolness that came in the Gift-from-Linda bag....got me in the spirit!  Fallon and I finally hauled out the black-and-orange bins and put out our favorite things for the holiday....11 days away!  Winston is an October baby.  We aren't sure of his actual birthday so we claimed 10/31.  Perfect don't you think?

Linda not only makes lovely packages, the stuff inside them rocks too.  I would love to follow her around to see where she scores all the loot.  Thanks Linda.  You get me.

I do know that Sandy scored this while on a mission in Cuba.  I admit not knowing anything about the culture there and had no idea they had this community of artists making books.  Her eyes glimmered as she spoke of discovering these.  I did a little research and found this link, click if you want to learn more HERE.  The book she gifted me with is very cool book, almost zine-like, with xeroxed pages and individual embellishments and cut-outs.  I managed to find the translation for this one - it's a poem.  Lovely, thanks Sandy.

And another special thanks.  (I keep saying I'm a lucky girl!)  This one is a double gift.  You can see the necklace....this girls gets me too.  She knows it's a favorite shape.   She knew it would make me swoon.  The first part of the gift is a letter.  A lovely letter.  A long letter.  Handwritten with thoughtfulness and honesty.  The kind that makes you laugh and makes you cry.  The kind you read and re-read.  Then tuck away somewhere special.....and read again the next day.  The kind of letter that validates, encourages, inspires.  Aren't words powerful?  Especially when they are used for goodness?  Aren't connections amazing?  Doesn't it blow you away that we can feel like a kindred spirit to someone we have never met just because of the words we exchange?  To you, you know who you are.....there is so much more to say, but for now - thank you.  xoxo

commitment

Just reflecting on the past weekend....and I am feeling so fulfilled.  It's an amazing thing to have an idea, to visualize it, to nurture it, to explore it, and then finally, to share it.  Stairway to Heaven is a workshop concept I have lived with for over a year.  It's been like holding a secret.  I got to reveal it not once but twice to an awesome group of women.  Some were new-to-me friends, some were veteran favorites.  They ALL ROCKED.  It was thrilling to see them take on this project, each with their own flair.  As an instructor you commit yourself to presenting something new and fresh, and hope it takes hold and provides a platform for growth.  You endeavor to teach *process*, disguised as a *project*.  You put yourself out there, hoping that their greatest take-away is enthusiasm for creativity. 

I don't take it lightly that artists choose to spend their time and money on a workshop with me.  I consider it an honor that the time they set aside to commit to art is with me.  While I hope to fuel, or re-fuel them, they most definitely re-fuel me.  Their presence, their eagerness to work, and the results that follow offer me validation on many levels.  I am so grateful.

Unplanned, there was a word I latched onto and repeated during class:  commit.  It was the perfect prompt at the time, as I tried to encourage students to commit to a color palette, commit to a page shape and arrangement, to commit to adding content.  It was appropriate then, and when you think about it, it is the best way to continue moving forward as you build a book, or work on a painting or collage or whatever it is you do.  Small steps, small commitments, inform and direct the following steps, the following choices.  You make a decision and it opens up the possibilities to what happens next.  Mistakes may occur but that is where the real learning often takes place.  It is in making commitments that you evolve.

There were a few jokes about *fear of commitment* but it was all in fun.  I'm sure there were moments we could have asked to be *committed*.  They did commit big time by creating really wonderful, special, unique books.  They committed by making time for art and friendship, and by sharing in the creative process as we all learned things from one another.  That's what happens in workshops.  ESPECIALLY at Valley Ridge.  We all extend our thanks to Kathy and Bill for their commitment to providing this spectacular venue where magic takes place.  I'm certain there is fairy dust in the air.

How cool is that?  You see my cute little Mom?  She committed a weekend to join us in the fun! 

Right now I am committing time to wrap up my proposals for 2010 at VRAS.  I am psyched for the ideas that are channeling in.  I am giddy about going back next September.  The workshop schedule will be posted soon, I'll let you know when to hop over for a look.

Thank you ladies, for your commitment.  You have gifted me with energy and validation and satisfaction and fulfillment.  I am a lucky girl to have climbed the Stairway to Heaven with you.

  

*waves goodbye*

See you next week.
 

oh, come on!

Yesterday I posted a new challenge on the Street Team blog.  Didn't have time to cross post over here last night since we were off to see Toy Story 1&2 in 3-D.  So this morning I open up typepad and see they have officially switched the New Platform to be the Permanent Platform.  Rrrrgghhhh.  I don't mind learning new stuff....in fact I enjoy it.  But come on, I liked the old format.   Anyone else frustrated by the change?  And this:  I'm wondering if it's only a glitch, but the comments aren't being emailed to me anymore.  AND leaving comments using a typepad ID never works.  And responding to comments has gotten complicated.  Ok, thanks for letting me vent...onward....it's Rockober!  LOVE this time of year.

This marks the third anniversary of Crusading for Creativity!  This month I invite you to Come Over to the Dark Side ;)  It's not all that sinister...it's about using black paper or black backgrounds in your work because sometimes starting on a non-white surface can lead to new discoveries.

Earlier I showed you this cool punch from Lisa.  Then this cool stamp arrived from Judi.  Love these new little toys...but I wanted to work bigger on my black pages so I took inspiration from these shapes and made a new stencil/mask set.  It was a beautiful day to spray paint and I must have made at least a dozen backgrounds.  And how about those cool crows from Martha?  They can be used as masks too!  And the placemat?  Perfect plastic tool for any kind of paint.  Don't you see stencil opportunities everywhere?

Isn't that silver totally swoonworthy on black?  Gah!
 
  
 

  
 

still growing

It may officially be fall....and the nights are cooler, but my roses haven't gotten the memo.  Once the first frost arrives I'm sure they will refrain from showing off....but right now they are glorious.  The first one I'm showing you was one of my Mother's Day gifts - called Hot Cocoa.  It is such an unusual color - very rusty red with brownish edges.  I couldn't quite capture it, but aren't they pretty?

 

And this one....I should name her.  She was from the first plantings last July.  Look how much she's grown!  I can't even count the number of bouquets she's gifted me with.  It's interesting how some of the roses have grown at a faster pace.  There is one from last year that is serious lagging behind even the ones from this year.  This one....she is the star. 

see this and see ya

 

XO bowl:  reader Leau gave me the heads up and soon I was the owner of this lovely ceramic piece from Annie at Blissful Arts on Etsy.  Type-adorned bangles:  another reader Joan sent these!!  I love that you know what I love!  The hat:  I'm off to somewhere warm and sunny.  It's just me and he-who-doesn't-like-to-be-blogged-about at an undisclosed location :)  I'm a lucky girl ~ See you next week.

 

P.S.  It's been a busy summer for everyone so I've extended the current crusade to September 1st.  Come on over and Knock Yourself Off.

blog rewind: it's a wonderful life

As I mentioned, this post is brought you thanks to Seth who is hosting a collaborative event of revisiting old entries.  I chose this post because it stands out as the first time I shared something personal about my family life, and it was most likely the first time I hit double digits in comments.  I really felt a sense of connection and the response I got validated it was ok to share all aspects of life as a wife, parent, daughter, sister, friend, and artist....and that exposing ourselves as real people on our blogs is just as important as expressing ourselves as artists. 

Here it is - probably my wordiest post but this time with bigger photos, and I'm including some related content below the original text (which can be seen with the comments from September 2006 HERE). 

 

Originally posted September 3, 2006

Living with AUTISM is a challenge, but it’s wonderful and rewarding.  Many children with Autism thrive on routine.  They depend on it.  Our son Sam is one of those kids.  He sets his mind on how and when things should happen.  Here’s a story where foiled plans became a dream of a lifetime.

Last year we went to Niagara Falls.  We found out that Marineland, an amusement park with exhibits of many mammals, had Orcas.  Our son Sam has loved Killer Whales since he was about a year old.  I mean, HE LOVES THEM.  The walls in his room are covered in posters, and picture calendars, and we have dozens of Orca toys – plastic, plush, large, small, plus magnets, stickers, pillow cases.  AND did I mention books?  Countless books on whales and dolphins, but mostly Orcas.  Free Willy?  He’s a friend we watch nearly every day.  So off we went to Marineland on Thursday, August 16, 2005.

 

 

 

Once in the park we headed straight for Friendship Cove, home of 4 Orcas.  I can’t tell you how excited we all were to watch Sam’s face as he saw, for the first time in his life, a real Killer Whale.  It was a moment to remember, followed by many more that weekend.  LAST year you could purchase tickets to stand with the trainer to feed and pet an Orca.  Yeah, we all did it – more than once.  After a full day of fun with the family at the park Sam and I returned for a second day – 9 hours just standing at the tanks, watching the whales.  Sam was in heaven.  “Goodbye whales, see you next year”.  From the day we departed Canada Sam started talking about returning on Thursday, August 17, 2006.  If you know a child with Autism, you know that you had to talk about the upcoming trip daily, like 20 times a day.

 

 

 

Fast forward to this past August.  Sam was ready, wearing the same shirt as last year so the whales would recognize him.  His routine was working up until we got to Friendship Cove – no more ticket sales for feeding the whales.  Foiled!  The activity was replaced with a new Splash Show.  Sure, the Splash Show was fantastic, fascinating, but I could see the despair and confusion on my sweet boy’s face.   We stayed for two shows, took lots of photos and video, saw the rest of the park, went on rides, and returned to say good bye to the whales.  Sam and I returned again for a second day.  Didn’t take the video camera as I had enough footage, right?  Bad idea.  So we are there, planted into position as we were last year, to spend the day watching the whales swim around their wide open tanks.  You are literally two feet away from these beautiful mammals.  The Splash Show is every hour and half – so people start filling into the area ten minutes before show time, then disperse twenty minutes later, soaking wet, after the show.  The trainers notice we are there, and still there, and again, still there.  We talk with one of the attendants – he asks Sam about the pile of books he’s carrying.  This young man, Nicholas, bless his heart, cued in that Sam is no ordinary child, and tried to keep him engaged in conversation.  One thing was obvious to Nicholas – Sam ADORES the whales.  THEN, just prior to the next Splash Show, the “host” of the event, Sean, came over to talk with Sam.  I could feel myself leaving my body  - you know that kind of moment you have when something REALLY GOOD is happening and time stands still and you can barely speak and the tears flood down your face.  Sean tells Sam – I could really use a helper for the show.  Do you think you could help me?  WHAT DID HE JUST SAY?  Dear God, THANK YOU.  If I could have felt my legs at that moment I would have dropped to my knees.

 

 

 

The show begins.  Mike and Kendra, the whale trainers, introduce themselves to this hysterical mom, with winks and smiles, KNOWING, knowing.  Sean is at the microphone, introduces Sam Ward from NJ…..and Sam, who has memorized this show, mimics the trainers.  He knew what to do.  He knew the act.  They got such a kick out of it.  Sam was not afraid in the least to be in front of a HUGE crowd.  He directed the whales to do their tricks.  NEVER in my wildest dreams did I ever expect that Sam would have the chance of a lifetime.  All credit goes to Nicholas, who had the insight, and Sean, Mike, and Kendra, who had the hearts, to give this special boy a very special day.  Warm hearted thanks to our Marineland friends.  I know they feel rewarded, because you just get that from our Sam. 

 

 

 

 

Sam stayed behind the barricade with the trainers after the show.  The two whales, mother and daughter, were still floating near the trainer area,  - waiting, watching.  Sam opened his books to show them the Orca pictures.  Page after page.  The whales didn’t swim away.  Sam read to them.  Sam had observed everything they did in their “free time”, and he especially loved when they stuck their tongues out.  So Sam sticks his tongue out at the whales and they mimicked him!  The hour and half between shows flew by and Sam was honorary trainer for one more show. 

 

 

 

Imagine my husband’s reaction when he came to pick us up outside the park at the end of the day!  Thank goodness I had my digital camera and could show him and the kids all the proof that we were the luckiest souls on earth that day.  Of course I wish they had been with us, but if they were, would it have all happened like it did?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  And Thursday, August 16, 2007?  You know where I’ll be!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I uploaded a very short video clip of the event HERE.  In addition to all the heartfelt responses from readers there was a really cool comment that came from Nicholas, who was the catalyst for the dream day.  I also heard from a reader who suggested I send the story to Chicken Soup for the Soul as they had an open call for Special Needs themed tales.  We made it in!!  (with a photo too!)

 

 

 

We went back again to see our friends, the trainers and the whales, at Marineland in 2007 but we haven't been back since.  If I had been on the ball with getting passports we would be going this summer.  They'll be seeing us again, you can be sure of that.  And the memories of our visits will forever reside in our hearts.

 

 

 

Thanks for indulging me in a repost of this story.  To see more revisits by other bloggers check in with Seth.

treasures

First treasure:  getting to spend time with my Grandmother while in MN.  I finally got a photo of her with this triptych, a favorite of mine.  She's had it on her grand table as long as I can remember.  A short time ago I was prowling around ebay trying to find one similar to hers.  Not having a photo of it I went by memory, and I think I did pretty well with my score.  It's much smaller in scale, but it sits on my table now and reminds me of her. 

 

I won't give away her age, but you can gather what it might be since my Dad (her son) turns 71 TODAY.  Happy Birthday Dad.

Another treasure:  Seth, my friend at The Altered Page, launched a viral plan last week - to revisit an old blog post in his adventure called Buried Treasure.  He is inviting participants for round 2 tomorrow.  Isn't that a cool idea?  Visit Seth to see his long list of players from last week and to see who joins in for another go at it.  If you are a blogger why not do it too?  Check back to see my submission in the morning.

 

This got me thinking:  What do you consider a great blog post?  Is it the content?  The attitude?  Some bloggers are wordy, some are visual.  Some are both.  Do you prefer one over the other?  I bet there is a difference in what we consider good depending on whether we are the reader or the writer.  As a blog writer I tend to judge good posts by the number of comments it gets.  You tend to think readers leave feedback when your thoughts or images jive with their own interests.  And while we don't assess our success by comments it does give us a sense of what hits the mark with our audience. 

I have selected a favorite archived post to share with you tomorrow because I know it was one that was a turning point for me personally, giving me confidence in how I blogged, and what was ok to share.  I'm curious....what was the post that made you bookmark me and want to come back? 

See you tomorrow.