‘Tis the Season
I love “people watching” at the Oklahoma City Arts Festival. Yes, I go for the art, the food, the music, but “people watching” may be the best part.
Over a decade ago, my daughter sang with her honor choir at the Arts Festival. So, I met the bus there and served as chaperone for three 5th grade girls. Their performance flowed with elegance and grace beyond their years. After indulging in the perfect all meat calzone, I munched on ice cream and bought cotton candy for the girls.
And somewhere in the middle of browsing the artists’ booths, I realized that the most fascinating people to watch this year were my daughter and her friends!
With grateful inquisitiveness, they observed as one artist demonstrated her technique for creating intricate jewelry designs. Allowing them to lead as I followed, they gravitated toward “girly design” booths that interested me little, while they seemed less impressed with the art styles that drew me in.
But most fascinating were their whispers and giggles of sheer joy as they relished in their emerging freedom. As Middle School fast approached, they were becoming too cool for elementary school…or so they thought. And, I was a bit trepidatious, while also interested, proud, and old.
One way or the other, freedom was on the rise and the 5th graders were the most interesting people to watch at the Arts Festival that year.
Worth Repeating
Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.
-Mahatma Ghandi
