A friend of mine works for PRSA and called me one day and asked if my school could use 1,000 binders that they were going to throw out. Given the pathetic funding of public schools I told her yes and we delightedly absorbed and distributed them. That went so well that about a week before Christmas she told me that they got a box of about 40 Mickey Mouse dolls and asked if I wanted them. Again, I said yes. My students don’t have much and receive a lot of what they have for free, free housing, free transportation, free meals, free healthcare etc. I wanted them to realize the joy of giving and given that it is Christmas I decided that instead of just giving these dolls to my students (and they wanted them badly) I would have my students take them and give them to the kids at the elementary school down the street. So I went to Barnes and Noble and found a book that incorporated Christmas and a mouse called “Santa Mouse.” I gave each student a part to memorize, we figured out costumes and staging and worked on their pronunciation for a few days during lunch. The day before Christmas break we went to the elementary school and my students performed their play for two different classrooms.
They were very nervous but did a good job and I was so proud of them.
Then they gave the dolls to the little kids.
When we were leaving a little boy went up and hugged one of the students that has a VERY tough exterior, it was so fun to watch his reaction to this outpouring of affection.I went home to California for Christmas to watch the family circus that is Christmas. The nativitiy scene that we do every year became so much more entertaining as a Sheep (Ava) stripped the tree of the low hanging ornaments, Mary/ the star/ Angel #2 (Brielle) wandered in and out of the scene as she pleased assuming whatever roll tickled her regardless of whether it was already filled, a wise man (Blake) went from wiseman, to angel, to sheep thrower,
the angel (Kea) stood with her arms up the whole time in my Mom’s wedding dress and Joseph (Davin) showed his true appreciation for music as he beaned blake in the head with stuffed animals throughout the singing of “O Holy Night.”
And all I kept thinking is, the kids causing all the chaos are not my responsibility for once, thank goodness.We had a great Christmas morning and by great I mean we had LOTS of fantastic food that seemed to flow freely from the bottomless source of goodness that is Mom’s kitchen.
This was Blake's attempt at a smile.The day before I flew out we went to Santa Monica and enjoyed the beautiful weather at the beach.
Above: Davin, Brielle and Alicia watching for sea lions. Below: Kea watching the sunset.I got on the plane the next morning and after sitting on the runway waiting for the fog to clear up we went to New York where we circled above JFK for an hour so that they could clear the ice and snow off the runway. It was COLD in NYC!!
That night my roommate Cristi and I put on like six layers and our running shoes, went to a friend’s party for an hour and then went to Central Park for the annual midnight run.
Cristi and I waiting for the subway to take us to Central Park.It was 17 degrees but with wind chill and humidity it was below zero. At midnight the fireworks started and the 5,000 runners in a variety of costumes and at different levels of drunkenness began the 4 mile run. It was really cold but a lot of fun.
When they handed us the water cups the water was frozen solid, ( a funny joke) but the cups filled with Martinellis were kind of like an apple slushy, YUM!I hadn’t been downtown this whole Christmas season so New Years Day Cristi and I went down to see our lovely city in her Christmas dress. Here are some of her trees.
Rockefeller Center
The Met Opera and Lincoln Center (smaller than years past because of the construction)
Washington Square ParkThe next day I hopped on a bus down to DC for my good friend Nikki’s wedding. It was great to see her and her family again. They are just awesome people and the sealing was beautiful. The DC temple is so huge!
Nikki and Zach Milne and I in front of the DC temple.I came back home from DC today and start my crazy daily life again tomorrow bright and early. Thank goodness for vacations!
