Misty Celebration

Yesterday was the big potluck party for the outgoing principal at YG's school. She's a woman on the Roz Russell tough-babe-with-a-heart-of-gold model, who can strike terror into a kid one second, then give the child a hug on the way to class the next; she's been at the school for eighteen years, something like ten of those as principal, and knows her way around the politics of the SFUSD system (which, as I learned when I was on the committee to select a new principal, is neither a mean accomplishment nor an easy one). It was extraordinary the way some of the people in the community put themselves out for the party--several of the parents on the party committee turned in receipts for stuff bought with food stamps (which means their families likely won't eat as well tonight), and everyone worked hard.

The day was gray and misty and cold (after a string of warm, California-like afternoons). Aside from the set-up committee, people started arriving at 2pm. The principal, Patti, was scheduled to show at 2:30, brought by her husband, who was in on the surprise. And one of the committee guys had arranged for both the police and fire departments to send people to "cite" her for her work there. As it turned out, both arrived just before Patti, did, with the result that she got to the school, saw the black-and-white and the firetruck and an open door, and stormed in, thinking that a crisis was in the making--and was genuinely surprised by the crowd, the balloons, the music, the food--and the special table with a crown, a "throne," a 48-oz. martini glass, and a bottle of sparkling apple cider on ice. Followed much food, some speeches (all of them translated into Spanish and Cantonese, so that everyone would feel a part of the celebration) and many hugs and gifts for Patti. My own contribution (other than getting materials for a scrapbooking project, where all the kids were encouraged to make a page with a picture or a note for her, which we will bind and give to her before school lets out on Thursday, was to make a cake. Actually, three cakes (well, technically, eight 9x12 cakes, stacked on each other, 3, 3, and 2) which, when arranged together, made a model of the school. klages, who has a refrigerator far emptier than mine, invited me to make the cake at her house and store it there, and I did (she also mixed about nine batches of frosting in what we termed "Moscone orange" for the paint color of the school, and loaned me two tiny figurines to put on the top of the cake). Peets Coffee and Double Rainbow Ice Cream donated supplies (blueberry ice cream! Yum!) and everyone ate until they were flattened by it.

Pretty much the highlight of the program, if you can call it that, was the point at which all the kids processed by Patti and presented her with a rose--she wound up with something like 100 roses, plus flowers some of the families had brought her. By the time the last child with the last rose went by, the weather wasn't the only thing that was misty.

A swell afternoon, and I think she knows how much this community values her. Her successor has large, stylish shoes to fill.

Tentatively Emily

We went to the ASPCA to look at dogs today. One of them looked back. She's a 3 month old dalmatian mix, sweet, energetic, and friendly. We got signed up for "puppy manners" class, bought a crate and treats and a grooming brush. I got to hold her in the car, a bundle of quivering, licking warmth. She has peed on the floor once, and thus far seemed very uninterested in her dinner. It's going to be an adventure. Needless to say, Sarcasm Girl has eschewed sarcasm, and Younger Girl is almost as quivery as the dog in her joy.

She is tentatively named Emily RowRow Robins. But that, of course, could change.