Last week I had a dream teaching experience in the north suburbs of Chicago, with the most delightful group of ladies. The group attacked each exercise, each process and each new stitch with exuberance and good cheer. Usually there's at least one class member who's a little bit difficult or negative and the vibes they send out become an obstacle to the class, and I have to move into ultra-patience mode to bring balance to the group. But not this class. Everyone in the guild contributed in their own way to an excellent visit. I always learn so much when I teach, and it seems like a fair trade even without getting paid. But I like to get paid!
Because I spend so much time in hotels, I opted to stay with a host, a member of the needlework guild. Most teachers like the privacy of hotels, but I enjoy spending time with families and, I'm not ashamed to admit it, I like eating home-cooked meals. This time I stayed with Jean and Walter a half block from Lake Michigan in Wilmette. In their 70s and 80s, this couple is active and vibrant, and Jean and I ran one morning along the lake, watching the sun rise next to the Bahai Temple, which was just one highlight of a terrific visit. Walter shared some of his life history, fascinating since he was a teenaged German Jew refugee in the 1940s. After one dinner he pulled out his xeroxed copies of his own arrest record during the Kristallnacht, photographs of the 92 children he'd lived with in a farm building in southern Vichy France and books written about their group. They were terrific hosts, and I thank them for their generosity.
There were many interesting moments during my stay in Chicago. I'll write more later about it, as I'm in Bloomington visiting family for a few days, and will return to Texas on Tuesday.
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