For the life of me I cannot draw!
I can take a half decent photo but what I truly excel at is taking a collection of photos and or videos and making a collage. I was the one who prepared the video clips for all of my children’s bar mitzvahs. I am thrilled to create these projects. Bursts of creativity flame my passions; these are the times that I am lost within its meditative powers! What I do find problematic, however, is dealing with the lingering questions in the back of my mind: firstly, at what stage do I say “cut” and decide that I have enough material for my project and secondly, the ongoing battle between being “present” at the event and being behind the lens;
On which side of the lens should I be?
While my children were growing up, it was very important for me to create photographic mementos of every event, trip, party or performance. At times I felt a spectator, missing out on once in a lifetime moments:
Being in the lens and out of the frame!
Last week I was blessed by my daughter Naava’s presence in my Nia class. What a joy it was to dance with her!
There are people whose presence brings smiles, warmth and magic into the room.
Naava is one of those people! At the end of the class when all of the other students had gone and Naava and I were alone, I asked her how the class was for her. I was blown away by her generous use of superlatives. I asked her if she would mind if I recorded what she had to say. This is an honest to goodness translation of her words:
What She Said (really)!
♥♥♥
So, Naava, how was it going to Nia with me tonight?
Awesome.
Awesome?
Awesome, yah.
Do we speak in English?
No, you can speak in Hebrew.
It was strange. Suddenly I saw you in a different light. You practice (Nia) all the time at home. Aba has commented on this in the past and I, as well as everyone else, agree with him that there has been definite improvement in your movement, your grace. Without warning, however, today I saw you in a completely different light! It was like: wow! Where are those moves coming from?! I looked at you and thought there is no way that I will be able to duplicate those moves! I thoroughly enjoyed watching you move and just wanted to sit down and watch.
Wow!
I would have brought a camera but that probably would have been too much and you probably would have gotten mad at me.
Was it strange dancing with Ema (Mom)?
First of all it was strange watching Ema dancing like that. Strange to dance with Ema? No, I am used to her “shticks” (from Yidish, a usually comic or repetitious performance or routine). I had to get my “shticks” from someone, right?
And did you enjoy Nia?
Yes, I enjoyed it very much. I also enjoyed the company.
Nice! Is there a chance that you’ll join us next week?
Oy (vey), this is not to be recorded; do not record this! If I were to say yes then… Is there a chance? There is always a chance for everything. There is also a chance that you will continue to (dance) Nia.
The pleasure was mine. I had fun. Thanks Naava. Love you!
♥♥♥
