Not Wade Away

Over a decade ago I had the good fortune to bond with a friend over a discussion of an Ann Tyler novel in which the main character just walked away from her family down a Florida beach. It was a very appealing fantasy for both of us. Carole and I have been swimming laps for exercise this year, and we might qualify as "old swimmers". I know our friendship will not wade away.

Swam seventy lengths at the pool today. I keep increasing my "monster" swim. Sometimes I swim a shorter workout, but the long one is sooooo relaxing. I keep my mind busy calculating fractions and percents, and observing the water colors. In weak moments I also worry that my swimsuit is fading away. Today the worry was real. I had to throw my swimsuit in the trash.

I'm hoping to visit Mike in Lubbock next weekend. While he is at work I will go to the Buddy Holly Center. I know my suit will not wade away!

Not Fade Away
by Buddy Holly

I’m a-gonna tell you how it’s gonna be
you’re gonna give your love to me
I wanna love you night and day
you know my love a-not fade away
a-well, you know my love a-not fade away
My love a-bigger than a cadillac
I try to show it and you drive a-me back your love for me a-got to be real
for you to know just how I feel
a love for real not fade away
I’m a-gonna tell you how it’s gonna be
you’re gonna give your love to me
a love to last a-more than one day
a love that’s love - not fade away
a well, a-love that’s love - not fade away

The Paint Fairy and Fluffy

Back on 5/19/04 I wrote about how to play "Pass the Paint" in your art class. I don't think I explained about Fluffy the Paintbrush, but I will do that someday soon. "Pass the Paint" is like Musical Chairs. It is a chance to review how to hold and treat Fluffy the Paintbrush, to recap the shapes we've been learning, and cut loose with bright tempera paints. "Pass the Paint" is also a chance for me to dance around as the silly Paint Fairy, and to play lots of good music. I play lots of Mozart and other classical favorites, Linda Ronstadt, and Buddy Holly:

Peggy Sue, Peggy Sue, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, Peggy Sue,
Oh, my Peggy, my Peggy Sue
Oh, well, I love you gal, and I need you, Peggy Sue.

The preschoolers especially like "Peggy Sue", but they think the song is "Baby Sue".

Baby, baby, baby, baby, Baby Sue! They start singing their version and playing air guitar. I twirl about in my imaginary pink poodle skirt and saddle shoes, while I wonder about my sister's doll with the bad haircut. The doll was named "Baby Dear", and my sister mastered her left-handed scissors by giving "Baby Dear" a really bad haircut. My students sometimes give themselves equally bad haircuts when they learn to use scissors. It doesn't happen often, and we usually take it in stride, unless the student is scheduled to be a flower girl or ring bearer (aka "Pillow Boy") in the near future.

Afternoon downpour

Some very aerobic teaching was required during the big thunderstorm this afternoon. The preschoolers were freaking and sobbing. I had to be the clown, the stand-up comedian, and the NFL dancer, while doing the usual waitress/storytime lady/art teacher routine. Got the kids to yell, "Good one!", and do a fist pump/disco bump for loud thunder, and an endzone celebration dance for the really impressive ones. Then they started yelling, "Wimpy one!", and "Pretty good, but try harder!" We played air guitar to Buddy Holly, and danced a Mexican hat dance to Putomayo World Music. Thank heaven I didn't have to sing, "My hat, it has three corners; three corners has my hat." That is scarier than thunder.