Day 24, April 9, 2020

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Labor and Love

The latest fashion.
One of my daughters sent us some of her handmade masks today. It is a beautiful bespoke item, with a pocket to load with some kind of filtration fabric (like the blue shop paper towels I have in the basement) and hand stitched straps to tie around your head, and ear elastics for an even tighter fit... plus it is paisley. 

When my daughter was in high school (I think it was high school, but was it middle school?) she disassembled a store bought backpack, taking apart every stitch until she had a pattern that she then transferred onto materials she picked and reassembled into the most amazing object I had ever seen. When one's child plays Shostakovich on the piano, or writes a beautiful poem, or constructs a backpack out of nothing, it is an amazing thing. 

I am lucky to have witnessed such things, and many more. For all my failings as a parent, still my children amaze me with their capacity, their focus, their dedication to the things that they are passionate about. 

What does it take, to learn how something is made? How do you take an object and deconstruct it piece by piece until you can reengineer its very existence? Whether that is a backpack, a face mask, a piano sonata, or a painting. I think you can only do that with passion and love. I am proud that my children have that. 

Take care and be well,
Leo
I made scones this morning. They were meh.



From Our Friends: 

From Alyssa Arnell's history class:

At the end of class Alyssa asked her students what they were grateful for. Here's a partial list:
  • Thankful for school… a reason to get up every day.
  • Everyone has been so sweet. 
  • Connection and community even being so far away.
  • Thought I would hate Zoom, but it’s user friendly and I love it.
  • Grateful I get to see everybody again. 
  • Grateful to still have a job. Big Y. Something else to keep my mind off of things.
  • People practicing social distance and staying home.
  • Took a lot of things for granted, now I realize I miss those things.
  • Time to read. Grateful for time. Using your time to keep yourself sane.

From CISA:


Franklin is actually kinda scared of June Bug, but he wants her to play.

Today's Online Teaching Tips:

From Inside Higher Ed:

"The New Accessibility," a free booklet on accessibility and access to technology for students with disabilities.

Also from Inside Higher Ed:

"Adjusting to Remote Learning at Community Colleges," an interesting article with different community college faculty sharing thoughts about their adjustment to remote learning/online.

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