Writing is like being able to put life into a snow globe. It takes the things that are too big and scary and reduces them into a form that I can put away when I want and look at from a distance. It also takes all that’s good in life and captures it into something I can take out when I want and look at close up and keep forever. It makes the bad things into something I can hold…and the good things into something I can hold onto. Both help so much that I need that little souvenir of life.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Stuff from Around My House: More Art

I teach grades 6-12, so students don’t draw pictures for me very often. Every now and then, one does. And who do you think gives me a picture? Wouldn’t you think it would be a 6th grade girl? That would be my guess. But no. Strangely enough, the person who occasionally gives me a picture is a high school aged boy—usually a junior. Really.

This has happened several times. In every case so far, he’s the sweet, gregarious type who is talking to his friends. When I tell him to get to work, he grins up at me from his seat and tells me he is done with his work. Would I like him to draw me a picture? After I make sure he’s done whatever he’s supposed to do, I tell him sure. Anything to keep him quiet enough to allow others to get their work done.

This last one asked me for my favorite vacation spot and animal. He started to ask my favorite sport, but someone asked me a question and I got distracted. So here is the picture he gave me. I thanked him for giving me a nice LARGE bottle of rum and a volley ball net, though I later realized it was a hammock. My guess is I would need that rum in order to put up with the rabid-looking wolf-dog that is about to plunge itself into the ocean in pursuit of an apparent hallucination.
 Usually I make them put their name and age on it, but sad to say, the bell rang before I got a chance with this one. It is hanging on my refrigerator, though. Of course.

Overheard from high school boy: “In school, gum is gold. Like, if you’re in the outside world, and somebody is like, ‘Do you want a piece of gum?’ you’re like, ‘no, man.’ But if you’re in school, you’re like, ‘I want that piece of gum!’”

4 comments:

  1. Tammy, I love this post. Just found your blog today and hope to visit often and read more posts. I can relate to this one, since I taught for several years and kept a file of drawings like this, too. One of my favorites was drawn by a little girl after I showed a Muppet special with John Denver) as a treat during the holidays). She drew me a picture of a blonde muppet/man in a plaid shirt and captioned it "Join Dever." It was precious.

    Thanks for the post.

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  2. When you need, "Serenity NOW!" all you have to do is drink in that picture, and a calm feeling will wash over you.

    I agree...Anything to keep them quiet---at certain times--is okay. Unfortunately, third graders' drawing skills are not quite as well developed as your students'. Usually they draw a picture of me (only God knows why) and I either ending up looking like a Bratz doll or I end up having fluorescent orange hair.

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  3. Thanks, Mr. Lonely! I'll stop by!

    "Join Dever." Love it! The younger ones are much cuter, but the older ones still make me laugh. I'm so glad you stopped by, Dianna, thanks!

    Sioux, that is so funny about the Bratz doll!

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  4. Sioux: a Bratz doll? And that's funny...how?? I'm just cracking myself up tonight!! Guess it's because I'm finally "writing" again!! :D

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