The Art of Observation of Truth and Subjectivity

I am 3 weeks now into my docent training at the North Carolina Museum of Art. And to say I am enjoying it is an understatement. The "art cup" of my soul runneth over. Every Tuesday for two wonderful hours, we meet with two museum educators in the main galleries. We start with discussing business items, then some educational methodology and theory. After that, we are taken on a tour, but one that is trying to teach us a specific skill or tool. We just happen to learn about art as we do it. These skills are useful and could very well be applied in any other area of life for teaching/communicating or trying to engage and draw a listener/visitor in.

The class is primarily 25 students all over the age of 60. There are probably 3 other women about my age. The demographic is all white, except me and another Jackie who is from the Dominican Republic. We are all women except for two men who are retired college professors. One of them has a lovely Scottish accent too. Some are former teachers, retired IBM execs. Its an interesting varied group.

I love love love love love this experience. Right now it feels like its too much fun. I don't know what it is about art that makes me light up, but it is really one of the things I love most in this world. I'm grateful God wired me that way. And I confess, there's something so familiarly comforting about wearing a museum badge again....

One of the skills we are learning is the skill of observation. What things are obvious about looking at art? What things are not? Take time to LOOK. Take time to SEE. Don't take for granted that just because you know about something, you might not miss something there.

Interestingly enough, that is also the skill I am learning in my Bible study "Living By the Book: The Art and Science of Reading the Bible" by Howard Hendricks. I did this study 3 years ago with Sue at her church when I first moved to Raleigh. Back then it was done in 1 semester. It is a pretty intensive study and so now they have it as a two semester class.

This study is one of the single most important classes I've taken in learning skills on how to independently read and understand scripture. Its like a mini-seminary class that is much more practical and hands on for the average Joe, or Jackie in my case. The class is taught by the same lady as before and she is not only gifted at teaching, she knows her Bible. There is significant homework and its not the fill in the blank kinda stuff. I have and continue to recommend this to any one I know. My hope is that God will prepare me to be able to teach this to other women. It has made me excited about God's Word in the same way I am excited about art. My "learning how to learn about God's Word" cup runneth over!

One of the unexpected blessings of this class has been the other women. Okay, so I confess, I usually have a strong aversion (read: bad and judgemental attitude) about women's Bible study gatherings. They are usually women I have little in common with, older, and all like pretty dainty bad pastel fashion. There. I've confessed my horrific heart. Are you shocked?

There are total of 12 of us in the class. ALL grandmothers, except 1 mom of high schoolers and 1 young mom (late 20's/early 30's) and of course me. All white (with white hair too). I have never been more grateful for a group of women in my life. Each week I am thrilled to sit among these disciples of Jesus who know Him in ways with their lives, I have yet to understand. There is so much wisdom and humility and kindness and hospitality and silliness and I can't drink up their fellowship enough. Good, good stuff.

"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the (wo)man who takes refuge in him." Psalm 34:8

A LaHoma Visit

Many of you might remember, that years ago when I first bought my house in Burke, VA, I had a roomate. We both worked at the Freer/Sackler together and ate lunch everyday and commuted together, that it seemed like a good fit for her to rent a room from me and me to take her cash!

LaHoma became family to Lauren and I and the three of us had some good times, just hanging, eating and talking. After a couple of years living with us, she moved back to the West coast where is from and got married (so she claims -- I have yet to meet the "husband"). She was actually in Raleigh last week for a work trip and it was great to see her again.....and EAT :)

She is allergic to cats and for some reason when she lived with us, she was able to endure Bitty. It was hilarious when she was here and saw the Bitty: "Ahhh. We meet again for the first last time."

Go Skins! Beat Dallas (oh yeah!)

This empty nester thing is keeping me much busier than expected. I am wayyyy behind on blogging (again) and must get up to speed.

A couple of weekends ago, we headed to NoVa and stayed at the Rumbaugh Hotel, where Kristy and Matt were kind enough to host us. We were also there to attend the Redskins vs. Dallas game.
By now the entirety of the world should know the Skins beat those pansy Cowboys (girls). Yeah....um how 'bout them Cowboys, again? Ha! Victory is delicious!

For those of you from my McLean Bible Church days, we also went to church there with the Rumbaughs. Danny had never seen Lon in person and was surprised by what he saw. My thought was, "Wow, he's aged." But that is not fair considering I haven't seen the man in 20 years. I've probably aged (a little?) in that time as well.

It was a sweet visit for me to catch up with Kristy. She has been a faithful friend through the years and I am always blessed by the heart she has for others. Her life is plenty busy with her girls Ally and Lexy. You'll see in the pics they are adorable! Matt is working on his MBA at Mason and so he spends lots of time at the library. Like most of our out of town friends, this is a couple we wished lived closer to us :(

As far as the game goes, it was a fun experience. It was my FIRST ever NFL game and although we had fun, it is an environment much to be desired. It is always shocking to "enter into that environment" where rampant drunkenness and debauchery and male ego and hoochie mammas seem to be the norm. In fact, the couple sitting next to us were passed out before the 1st quarter was over.

Its sad to think this kind of experience is not a family event. Expenses not considered, you certainly don't want your daughters (of ANY age) there, or your sons. I don't mean to be catty or crass or terribly critical, but I am appalled by what women of all ages and shapes and sizes are willing to wear in public. Or rather what they are willing NOT to wear. I guess if you have the money to spend on the really, really GOOD seats, you are somewhat "removed" from this scene, but there's no shortage of projection of Redskin cheerleaders showing way too much of their Skin. Save yourself the money and just buy your teenage boys a Playboy instead of spending money on tickets so that they can see the cheerleaders and their booty and boobaliciousness all over the place.

I got some great pictures of McNabb McFabulous (which is still to be entirely proven). He is a smiley man. Also, I was aghast at how HUGE these professional football players are. I had no idea they were all Goliaths. They do not even look human.

Overall we had a great time. I always have a great time with Danny. And no matter what the environment we're in, this man makes sure I am safe. It is such a blessing to be married to your best friend :)

On our way back to Raleigh, we stopped in Richmond and met up with Beth for lunch. As usual it is always a joy to get some Beth time :) !!

P.S. It was a good football weekend also because JMU beat VA Tech!!!