I was able to walk (more like limp with a bad knee) to Avdi’s in the melting snow, and do the usual erev preps.  By evening it had warmed up a little, under a full moon.  Just to be different, we had a braided risen garlic bread (not homemade), because the outer freezer dies whenever temps are extreme, and its contents had to be evacuated to the inner one.  It’s the spirit that counts!  The kids loved it.  I made an Italian chicken and angel hair dinner to go with it.  Y had a friend L over, who joined us.

Then we (A, K, Y, and I) hustled over to WGHS to watch short films made and starred in by K’s film club (again, supervised by Mr. Schaefer).  This huge, historical edifice/campus has been updated and offers exceptional opportunities and paths for diverse students and their families, drama and performing arts being among the priorities.  It feels like more of a community of likeminded, unconventional friends, rather than the competitive cliques in lockstep being ordered around by rigid, repressed authoritarians that I experienced in school.

The films were all fun, but K’s (not partial) was really funny.  I’m starting to recognize many of the kids now, and it’s so inspiring to see how close they all get through working together on projects they love.  There’s a lot of talent there.  The best part was seeing Y looking up to K and friends, and staying to hang out with them at the afterparty.  This is something Y really needs, to get out of himself and his isolation, and experience the possibilities ahead.  Avdi was thrilled.