Sweetheart Weekend

Finally we catch a break: the moon moves into chatty Gemini and the afternoons warm up. Yay. Finally.

My days have been so full! Wednesday I didn’t get to teach, on account of school being closed due to icy roads; likewise the weekly meeting of library volunteers was called off because it was just too darn cold in the library basement!

On Thursday, in spite of the early morning frost, nine of my ten adult students showed up. The tenth was called in to substitute teach. The assignment had been “Smells”. Descriptions of Indian spiced stew, Parmesan crusted grilled cheese,  fresh garden vegetables and Grandfather’s golden apples had our mouths watering; plus we were treated to memories of the woods at dawn and all the fragrances experienced by a young girl in a gymnastics studio.

Friday I interviewed an architect for the Kerrville Business News. Building our house eleven years ago gave me better understanding of the process an architect goes through to conceive, draw up and execute a project.

That night I was happy to get national coverage of Lakers at Knicks, and they won! (Unlike today’s loss at Orlando).

I got up extra early Saturday, so I could walk Walter before my appointment at ATEK plastics.  It was fun to be out before sun-up in spite of the frost.   At ATEK I felt like Willie Wonka. I was completely enamored of the magical machines that turn little plastic beads into medical devices for stem cell research and other life-saving advancements.  Plus, it was heartwarming to meet a man who really loves what he does, treats his employees like family and has a 100% on-time delivery rate, with zero defects, four years in a row.  To be in such an immaculate, thriving environment was energizing.

Across the street from ATEK is the new Kroc Community Center. Impulsively I decided to go in and ask if I could propose a class for kids. (The library will be undergoing renovations this year, so there’s no space for me there.)  I left my purse in the car, taking only a business card.

Inside, the building is new, fresh, bright. To the left a big gym with treadmills, bikes, weights, etc. Straight, through a big window is an outdoor pool!  I gathered information on membership rates and class schedules. The two people behind the counter were checking in people for the gym so I went wandering.

I found a fellow in a red polo shirt with a name tag and asked if he worked there. He did but he was in a hurry, an emergency and would be right back, “but here, you can talk to her. . .”  - a lovely woman with an angelic face in a gray sweater poncho: Major Mary something-or-other.

Oh! right, the Kroc Center was opened in conjunction with the Salvation Army. (John and I missed the grand opening in December.) I said I’m a creative writing teacher and would love to work with kids at the Center. Just then another woman appeared:  medium height, short blond hair, polo shirt, khaki pants.  I continued talking and the three of us, plus another, small Latina woman in a gray sweat shirt with a whistle around her neck all headed down a hallway.  The Latina woman took my hands and asked, “Where in California did you live?”

Several times, since I’ve been in Texas women have taken me by the hand, when talking. I felt an immediate connection to all three of these women. The blond and I ended up in a small office.  I told her what I’ve done in the past and she gave me a brochure of existing classes. I was thrilled to see a poetry class for 13-16 year olds.  “You must meet Marcus!” she said. We chatted about poetry, river tubing and what brought both of us to Kerrville. (She came from New England about 25 years ago, ran a successful advertising agency and is excited about her new job as Volunteer and Adult Services coordinator).

Tomorrow I’ll take a yoga class and bring in my proposals for two kids classes (2/3 grade, 4/5 grade). If I like the yoga class, I won’t sign up for the one at the Yoga Studio.

I came home briefly, then went out to lunch with the Wonderful Women of Unity at the new Bonsai restaurant near my house. Delicious scallops teppan style. It was fun and I got to talk to two women I see at church but have never spent time with.

In the afternoon I wrote the first draft of the article on ATEK. Had a nice long chat with my mom. John and I went to dinner at Acapulco, a decent Mexican restaurant and then watched the end of the Wizard of Oz together.

It was such a wholesome day!  Today I went to church, did a second draft of the ATEK article; emailed it off for corrections. Tomorrow I’ll work on the architect piece and Tuesday I have an 8:30 appointment with a businessman.  I don’t usually have to write 3-articles at once, but it just happened to work this way, this month.

John’s right: he knew I’d like it here. One of the women at lunch told me to contact summer camps, too. “You’ll have plenty of opportunities around here!”  she assured me.  Hallelujah!