Encouragement from the past for the present
When I was a youngster, the oldest of three sisters and the daughter of an oil man, our family traveled and lived in a few different places. We ended up returning to Tuscarawas County in Ohio, where I landed in the middle of the school year of, I think it was, third grade.On that first, awkward, day of school, my skinny little bird legs were tucked under the cold metal desk and all I wanted to do was go back home. I wanted to go back to the familiar and comfortable place where everyone knew my name and liked me for me. I was once again in a place of starting over, being vulnerable, and desiring a friend
I remember that day, vividly, as Mrs. Long with her big smile and neatly coiffed red hairdo passed out blank sheets of paper and gave us an assignment, a drawing.
I tried to ignore the new kids to me, who were staring at the new kid to them, and immerse myself in the project. You see, this was a wonderful assignment for me because drawing and creating had always been my escape and a happy distraction.
To this day, I don't exactly remember what the drawing was or what the subject of it was, but I will never forget the lovely encourager, Mrs. Long, who held it up for the class to see and said. "Boys and girls, it seems we now have two artists in our class". Right then, I looked up, relaxed the tension in those boney knees and felt the warmth of a welcome and a sense of belonging come over me. I also noticed the boy who turned around and smiled as he had been the other artist she was referring to.
I've recalled that moment many times in the past few years as I'm now married to an oil man who has needed to travel for work. We moved from Ohio to the capitol city in West Virginia, and now, three years later, we have recently begun to, once again, set up home now in Western New York.
I'm again the new kid, but the kind words of a teacher from long ago still encourages this 44-year-old artist today. I also have learned, and it has served me well, that connecting with others is important and seeking out those artists and creative people like me makes me feel a bit more at home wherever I am.
In the age of Facebook, Twitter, and blogs, connecting with new artists and friends and staying in touch with past relationships make this a world much smaller today than it was for a little girl with an artful heart.
Today, I'm a grown woman. Married for nearly 27 years, mother to two great people, and "Gramma" to one little skinny legged five-year-old with an artful heart of her own, and I'm fitting in quite nicely.
Blessings,
Tina