Clever in the Cafeteria

We're having autograph sessions in the cafeteria.
Up close & personal.
Time for hugs.
CHEESE!!

Suess-a-ble Sweeties!

So right now, I'm in our car, as a passenger, being driven to Titusville in FL..... with my laptop connected thru Allen's Droid/router phone connected to the cyber fairies. I'm catching up on blogging about my trip across the mid-west, concluding outside Pittsburgh. In the real world I have already returned to Ohio to play with the wonder-peeps grandchildren and then flown back to FL, driven down to Ft. Pierce (hours further south), gone back to Ocala, given a night-with the author, danced a tad in aerobics line dancing, played some trivia games, then flown again -- on my own this time to Springfield IL & back. Time warps.

All the while I am reliving my time at this elementary, I am simultaneously sending emails to Germany, Italy, Louisville, Indianapolis and Columbus. Getting handouts where they need to be. Confirming travel details. Confirming conference presentations. I woke up knowing that I never got a couple of Louisiana pictures up on here -- from ages ago -- way back in Janurary! What's up with that? Time warps. Oh, and this morning I sent specifics to Tennessee where I've just been selected to give the bookend keynotes at a 'back-to-school' event in August. Time warps.

The great delight about being a consultant is that you are always looking at the rear view mirror & the long range mirror at about the same time. The trick is to remember which is which! All the while appreciating the current moment and it's delight.

That last picture is just a slice of the nearly 400 K thru 2nd ++ look like in a gym. They had a magnificent sound system AND a terrific set up for power point. Ya just gotta love ya a gooey time warp.

Dr. Suess' Birthday in PA

So way-back-when, we left Lorain County in Ohio (up near Cleveland) after a whole lot of hugging which concluded our evening of fun, family concert. Then dear sweet hubby Allen packed it all into the pick-em-up-truck and off we went heading east, toward the greater Pittsburgh area. How brilliant of Southwest Airlines, to allow you to swap out your tickets and rearrange travel plans, should you need to extend your tour across the midwest. I felt just like one of their commercials. Their mentality of flexibility allowed for this 'extra' day of fun to unfold. [YEAH, SouthWest Airlines!!]

We arrived in Ford City in time for a few wink'ems, blink'ems and click your heels..... I'm walking into the local elementary for an authors visit......... drumroll: ON DR. SUESS' BIRTHDAY -- as part of 'Read Across America Week.' These first pictures are of the morning kindergartners, the vast majority wearing traditional red and their custom made Cat-in-the-Hats.

Let the fun continue!!

Fond Farewell

Do people realize that when they invite me to "come & play" that they are literally changing my life? Over the years I have indeed had participants of one event or another come up and tell me that something I have said, or done, or shared -- has changed their life. I always well up inside when that happens..... but do instigators of fun realize that it changes me to come to their site?

The first picture above is the hard working committee who made all of this happpppppiness unfold. The grant writing. The securing of places. The gathering of volunteers. The involving of other agencies. The buying of cookies & punch and NAPKINS. These brilliant folks are responsible for bringing fun into the lives of all our participants: parents, college students, high school students, children -- the whole entire gamut of the community joined together for fun & education.

For all the pictures that were taken, that first one is the only one that has Lisa Robson with me. Those of you who don't know her, she's the one peeking out from behind me, with one eye showing. That's so typical of Lisa, being behind me 100% of the way, doing all the work and receiving none of the spotlight. I can't believe that I didn't think to pose the two of us together. I guess that means I need to be invited back again! I'm willing!!

Jump, Freeze, Jump, Freeze

Pick me! Pick me! Pick me! Don't ya just love when everyone wants to come up on the stage, get involved and lead the show? I love to get my volunteers involved. It's such a wonderful treat to give children "permission" to act like children. "Come on, let's jump!" Who's attempting to reach the sky? "Now, let's freeze frozen fantastically -- make a funny face."

Fantastic Faces of Fun

Look at these expressions. Look at these emotions. Look at this enthusiasm. Look at these responses. Look at unbridled enthusiasm. Look at the excitement. Look at the energy.

This is what I adore about working with children. They don't hold back. They don't edit their response. It's all right there. Immediately obvious. Completely present. It's a thrill to watch. It's a delight to elicit. It's a tonic to participate & lead all of that energy. I store it up when ever possible. These pictures are great prompts and reminders.

Family Fun #2

Leap back in time.
Lorain County.
Family Fun evening #2.
JVS.
What a great evening.
What delight.
Participants wrapped in enthusiasm.
Leaders of tomorrow.
Happy.
Happy.
Joy.
Joy.
Joy.