Were usually in and out quick. Too fast to get your bearings or soak in much. It was nice to change the pace this week. Three days in Florence, Alabama for a music residency and concert at the end of the week to help raise funds for the school orchestra program. Daniel Jamison, conducts the orchestra and teaches guitar at Florence Middle. He also plays cello AND guitar! I was impressed the passion and commitment he brings to his work and that community is certainly lucky to have such a dedicated teacher.

We also had a good time teaching and performing for the students, but I think what struck me was just being around the students. It's easy to forget what it was like in middle school and high school (and for a lot of us it's probably something we want to forget! :) Something we hear over and over that sounds a bit trite is "Children/ Youth are the future". I thought about that a lot this week and some of the different things that means. What future will they build, based on our ideals. What reality are we creating now? I suppose, that (adults) don't know or really give it that much thought. We mostly accept that "this is the way it is. There is nothing I can do to change the world". In working with the students this week, I realized they haven't reached that place yet, their eyes are filled with hope, innocence, excitement about their future and their place in it. Sometimes it's the things that go unsaid that are the most inspiring.

Here are some pics from the week.