road trips and epiphanies

I've wanted to have a focus for this here alliance. It's difficult when there is so much to care about. Diluting care does not suit me ..or anyone for that matter. Thinking about my "why" and staying focused is a chore for this girl with so many interests.

Road trips are one of the best best spaces to come up with ideas. (amiright?) All that stretch of highway with nothing to do but think? Arriving in the midwest with no agenda other than to keep an open mind and heart did me right this time around. I became aware of what I'm naturally drawn to and who I naturally get along with. The kids I've come across in Missouri have held a certain appeal. Their learned politeness and respect of elders is disarming sometimes but I dig it!

There is also a closed door when it comes to differences in race, sexual and gender identity and culture. I don't know about disabilities but I'm guessing that might be the one thing god fearing people may be ok with as it's not fraught with "choice" or "sins of cain" or some such thing I have yet to wrap my head around (I have better things to do, sorry).

I know about the closed minds having been raised mostly in Utah and now living in rural Wyoming. I can't imagine what it would be like to be a kid who is "different" growing up in these communities. Because I choose to educate myself and because I am naturally charmed by all kids in one way or another, I know that I am a pretty soft place to fall when a kid wants to be heard and seen. This is my gift. Yay for me!!

My epiphany came on the last stretch of highway between Nebraska and home. I started humming Do Re Mi in my head. Then I got my handy phone with the spotify app out and found The Sound of Music soundtrack. My favorite movie growing up flooding me with memories, I had to plug it in to the fancy truck stereo system.

Let's start at the very beginning. A very good place to start. When you read, you begin with ABC. When you sing, you begin with do re mi..

Tears.

wtf? Just like happened when I watched this movie during a break in high school drama competition. Ruining my competition make up.

I had some road time to examine. Remembering the scenes where Maria falls in love with the Von Trapp children. Teaching them, playing with them, singing and dancing with them. Holy cow..the next song Lonely Goatherd and the scene of nanny Maria putting on a show with the Captain's children? more freaking tears. I can't even type right now.

What made me love this film so much?

It was Maria sitting the Captain down and telling him why she wasn't going to use the whistle he gave her to summon his kids. And (if memory serves..I don't know if I can watch it again just yet)..proceeded to go one by one..each of his motherless children and telling him what she sees. Advocating for each child in such a way that Captain Von Trapp starts to melt his tough and grief stricken exterior (one can understand that he lost the kid's mother and was raising the kids the only military style he really knew).

Advocating for kids has been part of me for a very long time. I connected the dots and was like..damn, I'm Maria! Aside from that sounding a little arrogant (have you seen and heard Julie Andrews in this movie?)..I also know the awkwardness of flying by the seat of my pants when met with systems and rules I didn't agree with and doing what I can with limited resources (the play clothes made out of old drapes that needed replacing is classic upcycling). I've been in the places where kids are misunderstood and put aside. I've also been in the places where kids are held up as the innocent souls they are and where being a mentor and teacher is an honor. I've learned from kids more than any other community of people.

The end of the trip was spent getting excited about finally having a focus and all the ideas that flowed along with that. Catching young humans while they are forming? what a responsibility. Being with young humans as a job? what a gift.

Bonus prize: "kids" offers up the best acronym of what I want to do with this CARE Alliance.

kindness, inclusion, diversity and service are my jams. Offering a space for kids to use the arts to their soul advantage at the same time they can serve their communities and be the activists they are pretty much meant to be...well, I feel the responsibility to my core.

I'll talk more about the knotty part later. It includes the fact that tying together all these important things in one program and practice is a pretty neat offering. It includes that belief that textile art and craft - with it's portability, with it's sustainability and with it's possibility...knots and knots of awesome.

(I know..I said later..I'm about done.)

If you have anything that sets you apart in the sea of kids? Join us! If you have a need for a community of being seen and heard? Get over here. If you are a person who can't stand bullying, racism, sexism, homophobia, disability bias, mental health misunderstanding and wish to be part of the solution and/or at least part of the awareness train of Kindness, Inclusion, Diversity and Service..welcome. WE NEED YOU!

Let's start at the very beginning. A very good place to stART.

peace, love and light - Tori