Sunday, October 31, 2010

Day Forty-Four

"Cages or wings? Which do you prefer? Ask the birds. Fear or love, baby? Don't say the answer. Actions speak louder than words." -- Tick, Tick, BOOM

"Tell Vlad I said Hi ... I like playing with Vlad. He's awesome." -- Student from NC, '08 (letter)

"I hope Valdimir doesn't miss me too much." -- Student from NC, 08 (letter)


Today when I was driving to take a walk at this park I really love not to far from my house, I thought about Vlad. Considering it's Halloween today, you may think that I'm referring to some intimidating Dracula-like figure. Though you would be wrong, because I hate scary and I'm not really a fan of Halloween. Vladimir was a pet ball that I had the pleasure of being owner to when I worked in Yarmouthport, MA for an environmental education program.
In all actuality, he was a ball on the end of an elastic string that I paid a dollar before leaving to use during my field group that season. There was a velcro strap that you put on your wrist and it was supposed to be a game, which none of the staff were really able to make work. You throw the ball and pull your arm back and catch it or something. What the ball became was magical. One morning before going to meet my field group, of 12 or 13 kids, for the first time I strapped the ball onto my wrist with the cuff and began pulling it behind me toward the basketball court.
From then on, he became my pet ball. I didn't really know how it would go over with the kids, but I trusted my imagination and went with it. They were going to think I was weird and eccentric after a few minutes anyway. I might as well express it in a fun way. Besides who doesn't want a pet ball. And so the adventure began. I made him really special to them. Let them be the first group to name him. Jerked him back when one of the kids tried to touch him. Explained his newness, fears and temperament and my concern that he might bite.  So we dragged him through the woods. He chilled out. The kids even argued over who could "walk" him next. During science fair, they walked him to the different experiments and taught him things, on beach day we learned him how to swim, and when the rough terrain of the woods caused his string to detach ... Well, of course we covered him in duct tape for protection and re-attached it.
He really did become a pet and friend to the kids and me for that week. And a learning tool that maybe they didn't see because they were having fun. He could go to the kid that was homesick, to give him/her something to focus on other than his fears and that kid that was a bit too mischievous so that he/she might feel like a leader -- responsible for something. I used him in a couple more field groups, but that first one was the most imaginative and effective I think. I got a whole group of letters from those kids later and they had drawings of Vlad, Vlad and me, and asked me to pass messages along to him. In a generation that is so hindered by being indoors and staring at the TV, video games, and cell phones -- I'd gotten the chance to break through and into their creativity and imagination. And with a rickety ball and rubber band string from the dollar store.
Sometimes I think we forget. We forget that we can take something simple in our days or minutes and turn it into something full of joy with our imaginations. When the day looks bleak or things are frustrating or worrisome we don't tap into those gifts we have of creativity or imagination. We think that embracing and voicing that child-like spirit is strange or abnormal. We might stick out. We might look nutso. We might ... So we don't. But a few weeks ago I looked at a sculpture and saw spaghetti o's and meatballs, I saw some glass creations floating in a pond and imagined them special protectors of all the wishes we make on birthday candles and stars, and I talked to a stuffed turtle occasionally. It's nice to imagine the leaves twirling in a tutu or how high you could climb in that huge magnolia tree next to the university b/c life is stressful and serious and it isn't easy. However, it only takes a moment or two and a commitment to that imaginative, childlike spirit to bring a little joy into your day.
Or maybe you just need a pet ball.