“Hope was a tchotchke sitting on a high shelf along with other fragile things. Every time a train went by, the house shook and things fell off the shelf. Each time this happened they were replaced by cheaper and cheaper things until nothing was left but a collection of cheap unbreakable plastic junk.” – Laurie Anderson
Tagged: art, Hirshhorn Museum, museum, photography, Washington D.C.
In recent years we’ve experienced a new “museum” from the Color Factory, to Sloomoo, to Happy Go Lucky and now the Museum of Ice Cream, these museums and exhibits offer an experience for the new generation. While each has their own distinct concept and execution each foster “IRL interaction and URL connections.” Hands-on, multi-sensorial, picture-worthy and with minimal reading these have become the new favorite, and norm, for museum experiences for my kids.
Tagged: childhood, MOIC, New York City, photography, travel
I believe the magic and wonder of Christmas is fully realized through the belief and expression of children. So what happens when they stop believing? First it starts with more questions than usual, skepticism in their eyes as they take my answers. We both know it’s over but neither of us say. And the next year they go through the motions, they write the letters and speak of Santa, partly for their younger siblings and partly because who really wants the magic to end?
Tagged: Christmas, family, holiday, photography, tradition, Washington DC
Tagged: Happy Go Lucky, Manhattan, NYC, photography, travel
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Happiness is in the heart of the feeler.
Memories are written and recalled as uniquely as we each are.
I take them to the city to see the sights, to hear and smell and feel the difference in the air.
A city full of passion and confusion, chaos and magic, overstimulation and isolation, fears and dreams.
My love affair cannot be passed down, only shared.
I see them recall their last time, they note the difference, they wonder at the newness.
Memories are being written; some with magic in the moment and some will await the magic in a future recollection.
Tagged: childhood, family, New York City, NYC, photography, travel
Tagged: birthday, family, Oliver, photography
Creative Dance Center’s Nutcracker in a Shell is an abbreviated, updated take on the classic and a festive community event. The performances raise funds for CDC’s non-profit IPAYouth, an organization dedicated to supporting dance education. With only ten rehearsals, over sixty dancers and one dress rehearsal the dancers have to be ready to perform. It is a lot of work, a lot of waiting, a lot of coordination and a lot of details. And it is a lot more than just a performance.
The Dress Rehearsal
Tagged: CDC, Creative Dance Center, dance, Lucas, Nutcracker, Penny, performance, photography
My Oliver. My last born. My easiest and most challenging, my most confident and most doubtful. You haven’t needed me as much, parting easily, not lingering or hanging on my words. Yet sometimes you need me so much, too much, more than I can give in a minute or a day. Let me spread it out over your day, your year, your lifetime. But to you a lifetime is inconsequential, it is urgent today. It demands all of you and therefore it should, and needs, to demand all of me. So much swirling and twisting and tumbling and twirling. Your thoughts dance and leap and make big and overwhelming movements, never settling. You wish for puberty so your body can grow but your mind is already racing ahead.
You are the class clown. You are a natural leader. In some moments you are entirely free and wild and others you are trapped.
I don’t know what comes next and I don’t know that I will be the answer but keep telling me all the things that fill you, good and bad, and I will be my best as often as I can.
I’ve asked you to stay small so I can carry and cradle you, my baby. Your answer is always “Yes, mommy”, with a giggle. But for your 11th birthday I hope your wish for growth comes true. Take up your space, keep demanding my attention, grow in all directions. I will simply have to grow stronger so I can keep carrying you, my baby.
Wild like the sea
Bright like the sun
Flying free
Until the day is done
Night into day
Day into dreams
Love what you say
Be what you seem
Tagged: girls trip, Mexico, photography, Tulum
Our Everyday 