I can not possibly say enough about Miss Carol and her Suzuki program. Yep, that's right, one person, all of these students (and I didn't even get pictures of the cellists, intermediate, and advanced students). She is amazing. She also started strings programs in the schools down in Mexico and goes there once a year to check on things and give teacher training. I could go on, but the biggest thing I have been wanting to shout from the roof tops follows.
A couple of months back, it became clear to Sam and I that in order to get out from under the debt we incurred from the house and all the other circumstances in LA, we were going to need to make some changes. We thought renting and the reduction in monthly housing costs would be enough to get our heads above water, but then the truck broke down, and then we got our first utility bill on this lovely, but old and drafty, farmhouse. When you figure in a car payment and a $300 utility bill (and that's not even in the winter folks!) you gulp down the fact that all that extra money to pay off debt just went poof :)
So anyway, driving to violin one morning a while back, it became peacefully clear to me that when we arrived for lessons I was to quit. I called Sam and he confirmed that he felt the same way. As difficult as it was, I knew what needed to be done. I sent the children to play and closed the door to the music room to have a conversation with Carol. She listened, offered me kleenex, and gave me the greatest hug ever. Then she said, "Oh no. You are not quitting. You are in the program. Consider yourself on scholarship. You pay when you can." What? Does this kind of stuff really happen? I asked her if she understood I would not be able to pay for quite some time and that I had no idea if I would ever be able to. She replied that she understood perfectly and that she knew I would do the same if the situation were reversed. Well that is true, but how does she know? She also talked of the movie Pay It Forward and mentioned that if people wouldn't have done the same thing for her she wouldn't be doing what she is doing.
It was amazing for many reasons, but mostly because I realized once again that miracles are alive and well. I am certainly grateful for those steps into the unknown. I am even more grateful for people like Carol, people who live their lives with soul. Our minds can trick us and cause us to act in ways that drown our spirit. Carol is one of those examples of connectivity betwixt mind and spirit, with spirit as leader. We are the recipients of her soulful living and words don't seem to be enough to express the joy.
Grand finale, singing Happy new year (Jake, George, Jane, Ellie, Zack, Addie)
Cool reindeer Jake and George.
Notice the child between them that looks as though he might be giving a dirty look or something. It's not a dirty look, he and his sister have a genetic disorder that makes it so their eyes will not focus or stay still. They are always moving. These two are quite an inspiration and each time I hear them play I can't keep the tears from welling up. Despite having their entire world swirling around like a roller coaster, all the time, they play beautiful music and are such happy children.
Jakey playing Dreydl. Our little violinist, what a cutie pie! He learned this song to perform in just one week. George shoulder bowing and singing (rather, shoulder bowing while turning to look at mom. Felice plays the cello.)
Shoulder bowing and singing to Dreydl. Yes, you are seeing correctly, that is Zackary. He has been asking to play and I haven't known what to do about it because how can you ask the teacher you are not paying to add another student for free. Well he told her he wanted to play and it's not hard to guess what she did about it. Cool thing is Jake's teacher in LA gave us a new violin just before we left. Jake doesn't fit it yet but it's perfect for Zackary. Coincidence? Now you know I don't believe in that word ;) We are blessed, tremendously blessed, with exactly what we need, and it's perfect.
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