It was a beautiful night--just the first week or so of actual decent weather, where we send our kids to school in winter jackets, because what little boy lets go of his "turtle jacket" so willingly, but by noontime, the first romp outdoors, no one is wearing coats at all. It's sixty-eight degrees. The windows are open and nature is keeping our indoor temperature at just the right place.
Tonight, we gathered, our sweet village of mamas and papas and grandmamas and grandpapas and leaders and supporters and alumni and a few current students and we stood outside while Kai hopped onto the picnic table and talked about what's next for RCM: the chairs and the tables and the materials and now, several hours later, after some requested grandma-bidding, we have Red Cottage's original pink tower in our living room.
And we have the quilt the woman who owns Tori the reading dog made. I paid a good amount for it--not likely what it's worth, because that rarely happens with handmade things--but only so high because one of my best friends wanted it too.
There's the end-night bidding report, taped to the wall. The tables and chairs and cases will have to settle back into place, but for now, the wineglasses are upended into their little cardboard slots and the treasurer has taken home the bin of checks and cash and donations upon donations. We made a good amount, the number very close to last year's, which is very close to last year's. Perhaps next year we'll break that pattern, though once we do, I won't be able to bring home the same lovely art that I have--not as many pieces anyway. And for that, my partner is kind of glad, I think. After all, there is only so much one can put into a little house.
Kai's speech really filled me with energy for the path I'm about to embark on, and she made it official: Next year I'm joining the staff of Red Cottage Montessori and will teach elementary school there. The training starts this coming June and will be hectic but good. Filling. In so many ways.
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