A Moment for Poetry

I think it is nice to take a break now and then for a moment of poetry. This is my favourite poem I have ever read. Other excellent poems include The Lady of Shallot, The Raven, The Hollowmen, and anything written by Jack Prelutsky, Shel Silverstein, or Dr. Suess. My interests are nothing if not varied!

anyone lived in a pretty how town
by e.e. cummings

anyone lived in a pretty how town
(with up so floating many bells down)
spring summer autumn winter
he sang his didn't he danced his did
Women and men(both little and small)
cared for anyone not at all
they sowed their isn't they reaped their same
sun moon stars rain
children guessed(but only a few
and down they forgot as up they grew
autumn winter spring summer)
that noone loved him more by more
when by now and tree by leaf
she laughed his joy she cried his grief
bird by snow and stir by still
anyone's any was all to her
someones married their everyones
laughed their cryings and did their dance
(sleep wake hope and then)they
said their nevers they slept their dream
stars rain sun moon
(and only the snow can begin to explain
how children are apt to forget to remember
with up so floating many bells down)
one day anyone died i guess
(and noone stooped to kiss his face)
busy folk buried them side by side
little by little and was by was
all by all and deep by deep
and more by more they dream their sleep
noone and anyone earth by april
wish by spirit and if by yes.
Women and men(both dong and ding)
summer autumn winter spring
reaped their sowing and went their came
sun moon stars rain

Oh, just planning my life. Nothing big.

This time four years ago, when I was a junior in high school, I was beginning the college search. I was taking the SATs, calculating my GPA, travelling around the country to look at colleges. I was extremely fortunate to have parents who whole heartedly supported my process, but did not try to bend me to what they thought was best. We made decisions together, though at the end of the day it was my call. I ate in different dining halls, talked to different tour guides, and even spent that night at one or two schools. When, a year later, application time rolled around, I knew generally where I wanted to apply. (With one exception: I got halfway through the application for Tufts until I got to the part that asked, "Why do you want to go to Tufts?" I couldn't answer it, and threw away the application. But I digress.)

Now it is the spring of 2009, and a lot has changed. I live in a cozy dorm room instead of my bedroom in my parents' house. My days revolve around class, rehearsal, homework, projects, social activities, and-- recently-- figuring out how to approach the rest of my life.

On one hand, I realise that my direction may change sometime in the next, say, 40-50 years of my life. Perhaps I won't want to have the same job foreverandeveramen. Right now, though, I need to think seriously about what the next step will be. It's no longer the time to be wishy washy. I certainly will not be that 25-year-old asleep on her family's couch.

But that does mean that a lot of decision-making has got to happen in the next year. I need some specifics to be stressed out about this time next year.

And you know what?
I'm really, really excited.

Save YTN!

When I was 13 until I was 17 I lived in Taiwan. It was a wonderful experience, one that I would not trade for anything in the world. However, upon moving to the Seattle area, I found myself smack dab in the middle of high school, where everyone around me had grown up knowing each other since their sandbox days. People weren't cruel or unfriendly, but it is almost impossible to fit in with people who have known each other since preschool. There's no breaking into that group!

That was ok, though, because I had a different outlet: Youth Theatre Northwest. This theatre on Mercer Island (in Washington) is the most welcoming place I have ever had the pleasure to associate myself with. It is warm and friendly, and the staff are eager to get people involved. It was a home away from home for my last two years of high school-- I had rehearsal almost every weekday from 6:00-9:00, and some weekends as well. Shows ran for three weekends. Hence, NO free time. But that was ok, because it was not only my creative outlet, but a place to relax and enjoy.

We worked hard, of course. Theatre doesn't just happen! We were expected to behave in a professional manner, and the rules were the same for everyone, whether you were 8 or 18. Be on time. Be off book by the deadline. Take rehearsal seriously. Be respectful of your director, stage manager, fellow actors, and everyone else. Wear closed toe shoes. Show up every day ready to work. A lot was expected of everyone, and all involved gave a lot back.

Youth Theatre has classes available for the wee ones (3-5 year olds), all the way up to the nearly graduated (15 and up). I have not only been in many plays there, but also teched for a couple as well as assisting with a variety of classes before I went off to college. I think it could be argued that assisting with the summer classes was my first "real" job.

But it's not just about me, of course. Once you get to YTN it doesn't matter if you're the popular one at school, or if you spend every lunch by yourself. No one asks what your grades are, but everyone's willing to listen if you have a problem. This is no exaggeration. In a time when so many kids get home from school and play video games, isn't it important to support an institution that is not only a creative centre but also a community in its own right?

Where I am going with this?

With the recession our economy is in right now, YTN is really struggling to make ends meet. There is a possibility that it will actually have to close. This saddens me more than I can say. No one from YTN would be the same person today without all of the people there. They gave us confidence when it was lacking, something to look forward to every day, friendly people to turn to, and a deep seated respect for the arts.

PLEASE don't let YTN go under. I'm not a begging sort of person, but if you have ANY money to spare, I implore you to help a wonderful organisation that is so much for so many people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAEvL8ZF6IQ

Find Your Tennis Ball!

A couple of summers ago, I drove down to Portland for a weekend. Several of my friends live there, and it is always nice to see them. On this particular weekend, I stayed with my friend, London (so nicknamed because that is where she now lives). London's family has a dog, Luke. Luke is charming. Luke is gregarious. Luke is, well, a bit of a nutcase.

There is no greater joy in Luke's life than the presence of a tennis ball. Pick up a tennis ball, and you are his new best friend. Some dogs (and people, come to think of it) are like this about food. Luke likes food too, but it's nothing compared to the joy of the tennis ball. I spent ages playing with him that weekend, throwing the ball for him to retrieve, and hiding it for him to find. When he discovered we were going to play TENNIS BALL, his whole back end would start wagging. He had a grin on his face that just said, "Oh I LOVE this! This is the best day IN THE WHOLE WORLD!"

And so, my friends, I have decided that it is all there is to it. Find your tennis ball. If there is something that makes you happy beyond all reason, then do it. If there is a job, activity, or hobby that makes your whole body feel like it's sparkling, then don't try to talk yourself out of it. You, your friends, your family, and everyone who comes in contact with you will have the benefit of spending time with someone who is satisfied with him or herself. Someone who is happy and excited.

And that is how I hope to approach my future. I know that reality is going to sneak in there and become an issue, but if I set my sights on being happy (and, you know, with food and shelter, etc), then I HOPE I can't go too far wrong.

I got this quote from Yaya's blog, and I like it a lot:

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." -Howard Thurman