update: This is a lovely video and remains meaningful to me that Lewis wanted to reassure his parents and his whole family after the election. But I realized later that his perspective–our perspective–comes from a place of white privilege. It’s true, our lives won’t change that much, we can go on an still be happy. That’s not true for many in this country right now. It’s a dark scary time, families fear separation and deportation and hate crimes on Muslims have dramatically increased of late. So anyway, there it is.
——————————
I’ve been sad and a little lost and the kids have noticed. This was Lewis’ unsolicited and wise advice that warmed my cold heart:
Art played so beautifully at a recital yesterday over the weekend. I was so proud of him. I wasn’t planning to take a video but but then it was do so pretty. He doesn’t play this well at home! What the hell! It was like he was floating over the keys. He was really nervous. Afterwards you can sorta hear him whisper when he comes to sit back down. “That was really good!” And it was. Congratulations, Art.
Actually, it was a recital for Jessica’s cello students, but Bailey and Netta performed, too. Cause why not? They did great and were brave to get up and play in front of everyone. I took a little video (below) and Lewis took all these photos with my big fancy camera. Nice job, Lewis!
Jessica with one of her students.
Bailey performed Hot Cross Buns and See the Pretty Flowers.
We signed Arthur up for a soccer team as part of Minneapolis Parks and Recreation. And informal group of kids led by coach Ray, a dad and a fellow who’s from England. He was a great coach and made it fun. Anyway, Arthur was nervous about joining, didn’t know any of the kids, was shy. And super kind. The other parents delighted in him. I remember once during a game Art and another kid collided, they both hit the ground. Arthur immediately turned over to ask the other kid “Are you OK??” Which is so nice! But the ball, Art, the ball!
Anyway, they were actually a pretty terrible team at first. Lost bad. But they improved lots and made it to the finals (which sounds a little more impressive than it is). The coach warned all the kids that if the game is tied when it ends during the finals, they would have sudden death overtime (4 on 4, no goalies). Arthur desperately didn’t want to play in overtime, way too much pressure. He asked coach Ray, more like begged, that if there was OT not to put him in. Coach emailed us after practice and asked if we could work on Art a little. Art! The team needs you, you’ve got a strong leg, don’t just focus on yourself! This particular photo is of the moment the game ended tied and Arthur realized he was likely gonna be asked to play in overtime:
So anyway, the real reason I’m writing this post is to share one of the most wonderful moments in Arthur’s short 10-year-old life. If you imagine a life as a line across page, drawn with peaks and valleys, good times and forgettable stuff. This is the high mark. A moment Art will never forget. The game ended tied. Coach Ray put Art, one of the team’s best strikers and a great ball handler, was put in. Oh no! What if I fail! I’m so scared!
It was just great. I was so happy for Art and his whole team. He did it! They won the and then lost their next one, where Arthur also bravely played in OT (that’s the game where these photos came from). I’m proud of our little boy, for being brave and trying his hardest.
Sunday we had simple, super-fun sing-a-long that I failed to take any photos or video from. here’s a nice little thing captured by our friend Pat Cook (thanks, Pat!).
This weekend Bailey played her first cello recital with Jess, such a wonderful little moment in both their lives. Bailey is often shy so it was extra fun to see her up there sawing away with such vigor and bravery. Jess is teaching Bailey with the help of the ‘cello fairy’ who sends lesson instructions via email. I’m so tickled by that, such a creative way to give Bailey and little independence and Jessica some teaching support.
Netta learned first about a month ago and a couple days ago, BAM. Bailey was a bike rider. In fact just yesterday we rode more than 3 miles to a park on other side of Lake Nokomis, no problem. So fun her and fun for us to be a fully mobile family on wheels.
During a two week break from piano lessons Art learned (with Jessica’s help) a really wonderful piece of music by Satie called “Gnossienne 1”. Moving and intense and dramatic, I love to hear him practice it. When Art went to his piano lesson to play it for his teacher Sharon she was so moved she wept. Not just at the music but at how much Arthur had learned and grown on his own. It was a wonderful moment in the little boy’s life that I think he’ll remember a long time. He still feels sorta bad about making his piano teacher cry but ah well. Make them cry!
Here he is performing the piece at a piano recital yesterday
parker-garvin family blog 