Tonight is Bella's final dance class. How can that be?

Somewhere, in my many envelopes of photos are the pictures of Bella from her first dance class. I don't really need the photos. I can remember her sheer joy at dancing on Saturday mornings with Miss Aurette at Dance Magic.

For some foolish reason, we left Dance Magic for one year and went to the Town of Cortlandt to dance for a season. It was fun, but it wasn't the same.

So back we went to a place we had missed.

While waiting for Bella during class, I would watch in awe as the older girls came through the doors. Poised. So sweet to the little girls. Kind. Confident. And I knew, no matter what, that for as long as she wanted to dance, I wanted Bella to be a part of this world.

One week, in a completely surprising move, Dance Magic closed.
  
W-H-A-T?! What would the girls do? Where would they dance?

Like salons, there are more than a few dance studios around. We checked out several. They are wonderful, but they weren't the right fit for Bella.

AND THEN. There was joy in the land. Jody and Diane were going to open a studio. Until the new studio was opened, dance was held at a restaurant, because hey, it worked.

We were delighted when Hudson Dance and Tumble Center opened 90 seconds from our house.

At the studio, besides the obvious, dancing, Bella learned confidence. Strength. She participated on the competitive dance team when that was offered. That experience taught her how to work within a group in a way that is different from team sports. She made friends from other schools. 

She has two "dance sisters," Sam and Marissa, who have been in every show together since they were five. They live in a different town. The beauty of them growing up and driving is they will always be able to see each other. Sam graduated last year. Bella this year. Marissa next year. How lucky to have such great friends! You know I will be at Marissa's showcase next year.

Not only has Bella met amazing women, so have I. From the parents of the kids Bella's age and older, to the parents of the little ones, the studio is a haven. A place to sit in the lobby and chat. To compare the stories of raising these amazing young girls. I ADORE the staff. Love and adore and am so glad we are all friends.

Jody will hold a place in the entire family's heart forever and a day. The heart and soul of the place, Jody's artistic visions make their way onto the stage thanks to the brilliant choreography by the teachers who make it happen.

I have yet to attend a show and not cry. It's what I do. (Me and Chris...we're peas in a pod!)

Claire and Laura are the faces at the desk. The calm in the storm. The women who have all the answers. Without them, it just wouldn't be the same.

Bella has taken tumble, tap (very briefly), jazz and ballet for years.

Colleen was Bella's first tumble teacher. Colleen moved to Florida, but thanks to FB, keeps up with all the activity up north. Aaron took over tumble and suddenly, there was flying through the air with the greatest of ease. It has been so much fun to watch her flip and twist and turn and move on mats.

MARY, Mary, Mary. Perhaps THE single greatest influence in Bella's life two times a week for so many years. Confidant. Teacher. Friend. Private lesson giver. I remain steadfast that we will never lose touch.

My favorite line, ever, from Mary, when Bella was just seven and in her first show, "Maggie...could you remind Bella she's not the director? We've got this."

Cait. THANKS for the private lessons, you darling woman, you. I know you and I will forever stay in touch.

Mary and Cait made Bella's solo a dream come true. She had only been thinking about it for something like six years. Bella's solo took my breath away. It was glorious. 

This year, I watched the show with the knowledge it was Bella's last. People ask me how I feel about her leaving for college in the fall. I can say in all truthfulness, it is nowhere near as hard as knowing this was the last recital for my girl.

Bella was one of eight seniors moving on to greatness. When they danced to "I Lived" I saw them all as the young women they all are...and as the little girls they were.

The three year-olds, as always, needed only to walk on the stage to the collective "Awww" of the audience.

The ballet blew my mind. Gorgeous.

Cait's lyrical and hip hop numbers were so outstanding I am clapping while writing this.

Each and every number was a sight to behold.

A simple Saturday morning class called "Move and Groove" in 2000 morphed into a community, a family, a home away from home, a safe haven to be with people who care about you and who you care about. Summer Camp that was not only fun, but filled with important life lessons.

Unless Jodes goes crazy and stages an alumni dance (give it some thought, I like the idea!) it is unlikely Bella will ever dance with HDTC again.

But OH, what a magnificent experience.

Rest assured, I am ready to be a backstage helper whenever you ask. I think LD and I could have a future as the "mean duo who make everyone follow the rules."

Thank you seems entirely too inadequate.

It's all I've got.

Thank you. ALL of you who have ever held a place in Bella's dance life. Gretchen. Aurette. Colleen. Kait. Barbara. Miss Barthelmes. Diane. Jody. Joelle. Katie. Mary. Aaron. Caitlin. Suzi. Susan. Claire. Laura. For 15 superb years. It went entirely too quickly. xo

With all my love,
Maggie

Music today - Bella's solo music. We were asked not to video, so I didn't. There is a CD of the show, but I don't know how to just show you Bella's solo. If I figure that out, I will share.

PS - clicking on any picture will make them bigger.

I am a week behind publishing this. It still matters.
Warning: It's a lot of words.

I have a high school senior and a college freshman who are wrapping up their academic year.

Last week was teacher appreciation week.

In past years, I have written to the teacher, principal, and superintendents when my kids have had stellar teachers. This year, I am writing a blog post. To encompass them all. Because they deserve recognition ALL the time.

My kids were day care babies. From a very early age they interacted with people who have been magnificent. I can't say enough about Montrose Child Care Center and the impact this small facility had on my kids.

To this day, some of their best friends are from the baby room. The women in the day care dealt with an infant who was a breath holder. No easy task. They potty trained my toddlers. They had to hire an additional staff member for nap time because I had the kid who wouldn't sleep. The taught them their letters. They taught them manners. They taught them compassion.

They taught ME the same things.

It really is a shame little kids don't remember these caregivers because they are the ones who shine bright in the beginning. Fifty-one weeks a year, five days a week, my kids had quite the day! Fun with friends, learning without even realizing it and getting love from lots of people.

And then they moved to elementary school...

Frank G Lindsey Elementary School.

These were the years where the next best friends were made.

It was my kids home for seven years.

I can literally hear the kids on the playground from my house and it is a sound I have come to love. Every Memorial Day there is the parade that comes right past my house - the JOY on the kids faces, especially the little ones, is priceless.

Except for kindergarten, my kids had the same teachers all through elementary school.

Flora Wistreich began Peter's introduction to FGL in kindergarten along with Halette Sharkey. Terry Pierce was Bella's kindergarten teacher. They each went on to have Dory Antonini in 1st grade.

They were fortunate enough to be in a multi-age class in second and third grade - so for one year they were actually in the same class. For three years I had the privilege of working with astounding women. Barbara Pettersen and Robin Dolacky had a profound influence on my entire family. Peter learned public speaking. Bella learned to love, in no particular order, sparkly nail polish, perfume, nice smelling lotions and all things glittery. They both learned script AKA cursive - which will now be a lost art. We started watching American Idol the year Bella was in 2nd grade because it was, indeed, the talk of the classroom. The learned according to where they were in their academic world, not their age.

When Peter was in 4th grade and Bella was in 3rd grade we adopted Tucker, the wonder pup. He was smuggled into the school and loved by all.

Each of my children had the inordinately special Jenny Stack in 4th grade. Love oozes from every inch of her body. She GETS kids. Colonial Day was a hit. During a year when it is testing, testing, testing, they still thrived. 

Fourth grade for Bella's class was particularly challenging for Jenny. My friend Janet's son's leukemia returned and he subsequently passed away in March of that year. His twin sister was in a different class and that group of teachers provided a safe haven. They explained what was going on in age appropriate terms, and held them in their hearts when he died.

To this day, this group of kids, now all seniors, remain some of the most compassionate and kind kids I know. They are tight. They are friends, even if they don't all hang out in the same crowd. The have each others backs. Much of the credit has to go to that group of fourth grade teachers and the teachers before them. They knew Jack and Kate and would hold the questions of babies, really, in their hearts to make sure the kids had a grasp of what was happening while letting them still be kids. It was witnessed compassion and you can't make that up.

Fifth grade was a circle of teachers. Preparing our kids for middle school, they went to different teachers - each of them fantastic. Kelly Dyckman had them loving math from the get go. Rita Many moved then forward in reading and writing and science. Megan McConville was the social studies teacher. How much fun was it when we realized Meg's mom had adopted Tucker's mom!

Then, of course, there was the librarian, the art teacher, the music teacher, the band teacher, and even the nurse, where Bella was able to keep a large supply of Barbie Band Aids for anyone in need.

And then they moved up to the middle school...

It takes a special person to teach preteens and teens. Hormones on the warpath makes for some interesting situations.

Blue Mountain Middle School

The place where three elementary schools come together as one.

Each of my kids have always been involved in sports. It made the transition to the middle school a little bit easier since they knew so many kids from the various teams they had been on.

Like at FGL, my kids had the same teachers in middle school from year to year.

I always count who was talked about at the dinner table as the teachers who have made a wonderful impact on my kids.

• Fred Frost - he made reading and essays fun. He expected A LOT from the kids and they delivered.
  
• Stacey Siegel - suddenly math wasn't too much of a chore. (To the kids...me, I am happy for online banking and Excel!)
  
• Killy Hayden - social studies was exciting and they loved his first name and the story of how he got it.
  
• Sean Bugara - the man who made science come to life in the fields and stream by the school. A wild and crazy dude who's idiosyncrasies were laughed about.
  
• Amy Deegan - Bella fell in love with all things related to genetics this year and it started her on the path towards medicine.
  
• Kelly McGillicuddy - and once again, reading was fun.
  
• John Pezzola - "Pez" made dioramas cool and fun - albeit slightly stressful on the parents to find the correct color soldiers.
• Kristin Martenelli - and suddenly three out of four Pinque's were speaking Italian. A love for this romance language was born in her room that continues to this day.

Band, chorus, art, and home and careers need a shout out as my kids have done their own laundry since the week they had to keep track of it for a grade. Amen, amen, amen.

Modified sports began and so did road trips to watch them play at other schools.

The guidance office is stellar.

John Owens talked me off the ledge more than once with his wisdom and his experience at having two kids a couple of years older than mine. Many a tear was shed in his office.

And then they moved to high school...

Hendrick Hudson High School

Here's where my kids continued to blossom under the tutelage of some outstanding educators. They had different teachers and yet they really did have many of the same teachers.

• Scott Perlman - Health. Perhaps one of the most important classes taught in the district - probably a couple of years too late. Be that as it may, his name was in MANY a dinner conversations. Bringing home the babies for the teen baby project made for a loss of sleep for my kids, but they had a small, intense experience with a baby who thankfully wasn't real.
  
• John Annunziata - History. "Nunz", a democrat who isn't afraid to share his views, definitely made Peter a better debater. He is an intense teacher who helped Peter think outside his comfort zone. He was one of the teachers who took both my kids to Italy last summer, so he holds a special place in my heart.
  
• Melissa Golia - Italian. She continued the love of Italian with both kids. Bella's classes have always been chatterboxes, really, really smart chatterboxes who somehow manage to do very well while discussing fashion. Melissa was another one of the teachers who took the kids to Italy last summer. Big love to her.
  
• Andrew Lupien - History and Psych. "Lupe" has been Bella's "go to" teacher when things are hairy. A man who gets this age and who understands the pressures they are under. Bella has spent countless hours in his classroom just shooting the breeze and I am SO incredibly grateful he has been open to letting her vent. Kids need a teacher they can trust and confide in and Drew is just that man. Bella has been to Hawaii and Alaska with him and is heading to Costa Rica with him in July. Obviously, HUGE love to him.
  
• James Rogulski - English. Anyone who can control a group of seniors who are SO ready to get out gets my vote. Jim DEMANDS good work and he gets it. He also gets respect. These are magnificent qualities in an educator - he is passionate about the books the kids read and he is passionate that their papers are well thought out and not just something they pulled out of their asses in the late hours the night before they are due. Rogo is "the man" according to my kids.
  
• Corrine Rogulski - English. Corrine developed, designed, and created the class, "Transition to College" for the district. In it, my children wrote their college essays. They decided which schools they would apply to. They figured out the costs of the colleges and universities they liked. They whittled everything down and worked with a precise timeline. THERE IS NO WAY I COULD EVER SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH. Ever. This woman saved my sanity based on what I have heard from other parents whose kids did not take this class. I wrote about Corrine in October 2014 after the school experienced a lock down. She too was in Italy last summer. Again, buckets of love and kisses.
  
• Richard Zangrilli - Economics and Social Studies. "Z" helped Peter decide on accounting, I am sure, because of economics. He helped Bella many, many times last year. He was a crowd favorite and he was quoted A LOT.
  
• Joseph Kalata - Math. This man had Bella in his room day in and day out, usually frantic, over math. It was endless. Kalata would talk her off the ledge of mathematical craziness with a regularity that deserves a medal. I know she misses her one on one time with him!
  
• Meg Greiner - Athletic Trainer. I am convinced there is not another kinder, compassionate, talented, professional Athletic Trainer in the world than Meg. If your kid gets hurt (and my kids have gotten hurt) you want her on the field. You want her in her office each and every day prepping the kids for whatever sport they play. Taping. Icing. Giving them Cup-A-Soup to stop cramping. Meg is an A#1 amazing person and I am totally grateful my kids had her in their lives when they needed her.
  
• Francois Barcomb - Physics. Francoisbarcomb is really all one word. God bless this man as he had an incredibly bright group of kids asking him a million questions about a subject I can't even fathom taking.
  
• Erica Denler - Chorus. Bella has thrived in music. There is nothing like the concerts this woman puts on for the three choruses. Enchanting. Beautiful. Moving. My personal favorite is the annual winter concert when the alumni come back to join the current chorus to sing the "Hallelujah Chorus." I cry every time.
  
• Meg Jandrasits - in Peter's freshman year, Meg taught THE class that got Peter interested in accounting. It was five years ago and my brain is mush now, so I don't remember the name of the class, but boy, oh boy, did she get him interested in business and numbers and money!
  

I must also give shout outs to Maura Koch for making accounting interesting for Peter and for her steadfast belief in his abilities. Christine Caiazzi for being Bella's confident as well as chaperone in Hawaii, Alaska and the upcoming Costa Rica trip. She is Bella's PIG (Part In Government) teacher this year, so she finally has her for a teacher as well as a mentor. Buckets of love to Caiaz! Bernie Small for making Peter laugh through math - and Bella cry. Stephen Purcigliotti - AKA "Stevie P" for also chaperoning in Italy and for Peter's senior year of social studies. Antonietta Gliubizzi - AKA Senora Gliubizzi, for finishing up Bella's final year of Italian with not only a trip to the opera but to Little Italy as well. Clare Carey - who made sure Peter has a muffin or two last year and who would let my kids eat even when their account balances dipped into negative numbers.

And then, they graduated.

With each year I have been involved in the schools (it's been 16 but who's counting...), I have witnessed moments of thriving and moments of distress from each of my kids. Naturally I prefer thriving. However, as our pediatrician told us when Peter was a toddler, "Frustration is the catalyst to learning."

There are no perfect teachers. There are no perfect students. But there are perfect teachers for each kid and mine have been fortunate to have more than a few.

Our kids got a great education that has prepared them well for college. And it started when they were just babies.

Peter is home from his first year at college and he is a delight to be with. He has matured. He has always been funny, now he's funnier. I cried when he left for college last year. That was silly. He will be home until September 6. ALMOST FOUR MONTHS. There is zero reason for tears ever again.

Bella is weeks away from graduation. She has three AP tests in the bag and one on Friday. I see her FINALLY starting to relax. She still wants excellent grades, but she's no longer insane about it.

My most sincere thanks to the teachers and every single staff member who have had such a positive impact on the lives of my kids. You don't have to be labeled a teacher to teach. You just have to care. You did and do make a difference with what you do.

You may have summers "off" but boy you have to be ON when they are in the throes of each milestone in their lives, and for that, you deserve a summer off. And even more thanks. 

Here's to you. I appreciate you all.

xo

My FB post and this post are two opposite feelings; silence and loud. When I saw the quotes yesterday I knew they had to go together.
Because love also calms the soul.

Then I started thinking about music and I wanted today to be an epic instrumental. I love lyrics, but sometimes I like a sweeping instrumental version of a song.

This version is over the top.
SO GOOD.
Listen to it.

https://youtu.be/GIrc5cnK28g

Did you see the moon last night?

The build up to it this week has been something.

My friend Melissa commanded us via FB to get out there and look at it. Anticipating the power of this month's moon, I absolutely made a point of paying attention to it.

Cast spells.
Make wishes.
Embrace the moods.
Consider there is a dark side as well as a bright side.

Happy Full Moon!

xo

This year, for the first time, I took part in an A to Z Challenge. To write an alphabetical post every day for the month of April.

It was excellent to get back to writing.
I liked my subject matter - positive affirmations.
I liked my Sunday's off - a day of rest.

I am not terribly good at writing posts ahead of time. I might have a plan, a word I like, and then, real life taps me on the shoulder, and I needed to adapt my subject matter to that.

So, in many ways, my organic writing took a backseat to writing with a purpose. Interestingly, although I had done this kind of writing before - Rumi for a month, Dave Matthews for a week, pages from the book, "Words of Wisdom for Women" for a month - this particular challenge was as hard as it was easy. Seriously, the letter "X" is a pain in the ass.

I loved reading new blogs. I have added quite a number of them to my Feedly feed for my day of frenzied reading - usually one Sunday a month where I read every post in succession.

I didn't see any significant upswing in readers as a result of the challenge. My one suggestion for next year would be to have the blog categories separated up front and have the sign up be via the blog category. For example, I am a lifestyle blogger. I love to read other lifestyle bloggers. If we were all together, I could start there and then bounce to the other types out there - writers, photographers, etc.

It's been a fun exercise and I am already thinking about next year; that equals success.

I write for myself with the hopes that someone else might connect with it. It makes my heart happy.

Thanks for coming along for the journey!

xo

PS - music today - this was the first song that popped into my head when the theme for today was revealed. Knowing the lyrics but never really listening to them, I didn't realize how sad it was...