Ta DA!! Made it!!

Wheeeeeeeeeeeo. I made it. Drove myself into town, had six half-an-hour segments with my kiddos and still had the presence of mind to "pose" a picture at the conclusion of my first big day back-in-the-saddle. Thanks to all who helped carry my gear into and out of the building, rearranged Library Square, concocted a whole new schedule and in a gazillion other ways supported my return to the 'work' that fills my heart with joy and allows me to contribute. It does indeed take a whole village. Yeah team!!!

How Much Fun?? Lots!!

Just exactly how much fun do we have when we're together?? A seriously whole big, bunch of fun!! It was great to combine the classes. We had plenty of adults to support the groupings -- between the teachers, therapists and volunteers, there was more than sufficient encouragement for our larger group size experiment. Shake those shakers!!

RETURN TO CHILDREN

How appropriate. To begin at the beginning. My first 'music lady' visit post-surgery was to Library Square at the Childhood League Center. This site was my first full-time position after my graduation from college. I was hired here in 1979, in the old building around the corner. They've given me three different 'going-away' parties over the years, but I keep coming back for "more." More fun, more singing, more dancing, more signing, more books, more joy, more enthusiasm, more hugs, more laughter, more learning.

It took some creative thinking to help ease me back into the center's routine. In the past it has been our tradition for me to go into each of the six classrooms in the morning and then make a swoop thru the six classrooms a second time in the afternoon...... moving my gear and guitar 12 times thru the course of the day, so as not to disrupt the children's routine. After some discussion with Vicki the program director, we decided to take a step further outside of the box and position me in one central location, combine classes into sets of two and let them come to me. In essence they were taking a 'field trip' within the building. The flexibility of the teachers and staff went a long way in allowing me to focus my minimized energy on the children by reducing energy spent on the schlepping-process. A fun time was had by all. What an encouraging return to my 'life already in progress.' Whoop. Whoop!!!

Fanclub Autographs

This supportive crew of teachers stayed till the very last note was sung,
the very last dance was danced,
the very last hug was hugged.
These four wanted to certain to get autographed copies.
The posed pictures are to put in the front cover to share with their children.
Look here. Right here!!
That's the real author of the book, standing right beside me!!

Afternoon Fun: #3!!

Let the fun continue!! The third and final workshop for the day was entitled, "Music, Movement & Motivation" -- what a title to conclude my first day back in the saddle. Thank goodness the participants were engaged and willing to go the extra mile to support me with their energy, their smiles and their enthusiasm. They can be seen in the first picture in this set, adding ribbons to my ever-growing scarf-of-blessings. So I now have me some Virginia love to read and reread as the need presents itself. By the end of this segment, it was my voice that had given way. I haven't been using it nearly enough, over the recovery period, but cough drops, a glass of water and their prayers got me all the way to the concluding song. WHOOOHOOOOO!!!

Verse Two

Second verse, same as the first. Now ya know what you're doing. Giggle till ya burst!!

Opposites Attract

Jumpin' Jiminy Jamboree. It's the allure of the opposites. Jump for a full 30 seconds within the artful land of alliteration. Then consider the opposite of all the pogo-stick jumping, by freezing frozen on the spot. Balance completes the exercise.