Bye Bye Menudo

15 more minutes remain of my life of eating animals. After much thought and debate I have decided what is best for me and my health is a Vegan diet. Its very scary throwing that out there, for I have kept the details to myself and even the thoughts of this transition only amongst a close few because this decision it very near to my heart. And for all who want to know why I have made this choice, all I will say to you is this is about me, what I want, and what I feel is truly right for myself, period. I am not going to spar or debate, or convince anyone to change, this is just for me. And I am so excited.

I have spent the past week preparing for this transition, making my shopping lists, thinking of ways to rework my favorite dishes, and saying farewell to a few that have long sentiment. My final meat meal was Menudo, at Amaya's Taco Village. There is a great divide to those who love this soup, and those who think its disgusting. But to me it's has a true ability to make me feel Christmas, and being a child, and family. It took me a long time to find a Menudo that tasted just like the kind my Grandparents used to make every year, working together to get the meat free of bone, and the recipe just right. Eating Menudo reminds me of the times I'd curiously stumble upon those preparation nights, feeling the giddy anticipation of the holiday, of laughing with my Grandpa. With giving up Menudo, I give up a food that allows me access a past, that's what I will truly miss. Not meat, or diary, but the emotional ties and remembrance that ones has with foods.

Goodbye old memories and give way to new ones.
Dear Meat and Milk, it was real, it was fun, but it wasn't real fun!
Mauh!!

Yesterday

Yesterday I saw a baby deer get hit by a car that was speeding down my street. I saw the car stop for a minute, the deer motionless on the ground, there was a child screaming, or is it the deer. I watched the car drive away, and the baby deer come up half alive. I watched my husbands empathic face, as he keeps me at a distance. I watched as the cars continued to speed by as this little animal fought on the side of the road. I watched as the drivers gave us dirty looks as we stood out in the road to make them slow down. I watched the frighten tiny deer scrabbled to get away, with no where to go. For over an hour we guarded the little deer, waiting for help or and answer from god. After fearing for the deer's safety in the street, my husband gently put the deer in the grass. I watched as a group of girls stopped to help guard. I watched as a Jeep came by to offer us waters. I watched as most everyone else couldn't have cared. I watched a cop come, I watched a cop leave. And we watched as this sweet little deer left it's misery. How are some people so thoughtless to the life of an animal while others so affected. I have grieved for that little deer like it were my own, I will be haunted by that day for as long as I live. Every time I close my eyes I feel the momentum of that car as it flies by, I hear the screams, I see that deer, I wish I could have saved it. Why are humans so oblivious and so absorbed, to not have stopped and let others deal with their messes. Why are we so often the ones who have clean them up...my heart hurts.

Flash Forward

So it's been quiet a while since I have done this, forgive if I'm a little rusty, but there is a lot to report since I last paid this blog a visit. Over a year ago I learned I had landed my first teaching job and now here I am into the first week of my completetion of my first year of teaching...and boy am I exhausted. To put into words all that has happened in this past year would be near to impossible. The past 9 months have changed my life in ways I could never explain. I have learned so much, I have worked my body to exhaustion, I have pushed my sanity to its limits, but I can honestly say I truly love teaching. It is the hardest job out there for sure, and people that don't teach can never understand. My life has been changed and has changed 300 little lives. I know every one by name, I have spent countless hours trying to find ways to convince them that Art can change their lives, and I can honestly say that I have seen an evolution in them.
But now it's summer, and time to wind down and have some time for myself.... all by myself. The one thing I can explain about being a teacher, is the longing and loving of having ones own space and quiet in the world. And that what I have done all week... just slept, and listened to music, and enjoyed the quiet. I feel bad because I have friends texting to do things and go out, but for now I need to wind down, rest, let me nerves settle and my mind ease. Teaching puts you on constant alert and it takes some getting used to, to not have to entertain, teach, and parent 300+ kiddos.
So here's to the start of my summer, and some much need me time!