Premonitions

All of my life, I've received small premonitions. These manifest in a variety of ways. Usually, a sense of familiarity is felt. Strong familiarity. Overwhelming familiarity. For example, any house or apartment where I've lived, I've received a strong confirmation that it is where I'm supposed to live. It may seem like I've been in the neighborhood before. The address might seem like one I've heard before. My college apartments were all eerily familiar, before I even moved in. With my current house, I sat in my car at an intersection, and knew that I would be at that intersection many times afterward. And, I have been! 

I sometimes feel familiar with students, as I meet them. It's as if I've known them before. One time, I playfully shook a new transfer student's hand, and felt a slight current. As the year went on, that particular student had many medical difficulties. I visited him in the hospital several times. We formed a strong bond. Another student, looked me right in the eye when we met, and I knew that I would be able to be of some service to him. Later, I learned that he had suffered the loss of both parents. He wouldn't speak of this to anyone. But, by the end of the year, he was writing to me about it in his journal. I was able to discuss my responses with the school counselor.

Sometimes, the premonitions happen in the form of a quiet thought. Sometimes, they are visual. I've carried work to the kiln, and I've thought, "Don't load it that way." But, I've ignored the thought, and broken the piece. Or, I've dropped something important, after seeing myself drop it right before.

Last night, and today, I received a strong premonition to not travel on Highway 17 to get to my dad's house. Every Sunday, I travel to the Bay Area, and this highway is the shortest distance. There are many large and terrible wildfires surrounding my town. First, I heard the quiet thought. I tried to put it out of my mind, because I had to pick up groceries for my dad, and didn't want to add 30 minutes of travel time. Then, while pumping gas into my car, I saw myself hitting a deer, or some other large vague animal. It wasn't quite clear. The gas station was on the way to Highway 17. But, I turned around and headed east towards the long route. 

Who knows if I would have hit an animal? But, I've learned, that when I don't follow directions, usually there's a consequence. I also drove home by the same long route.

 

Doolittle's Raiders Help with Arbol de Vidas

This week is Arbol de Vida making week. These sculptures are really challenging to make. They require perfect timing, and clay consistency. It is easy for them to collapse, or to crack. The degree of dryness of the clay must match on all of the parts except for the flowers and leaves. Flowers and leaves must be dry. They also have to be constructed flat, and then flipped vertically. Usually, I make several at a time. Today, the shed was really hot, and I had a frustrating collapse. I think that I was able to save the piece though, after rebuilding it. Hopefully, it won't warp in the kiln. If I make several in a row, I get better at making them, and it becomes a more fluid process. Tomorrow will be easier!

While working, I've been listening to the story of Doolittle's Raiders. Several years ago, one of my students, Ethan, chose to be Jimmy Doolittle for his Famous Californian Report. I was ashamed to say, that I didn't know much about him. Ethan's report was stellar. His costume, his writing, and he even constructed a four foot long cardboard model of Jimmy's bomber. It's still hanging from the ceiling of my classroom, on loan, until Ethan has a place for it in his bedroom. This is a compelling read. It focuses on the airmen who were taken prisoner in China. Three men were shot, and a few died when planes crashed off the coast of China. I am now listening to an account of the war crimes trial, for the three men killed by a Japanese firing squad, and for the torture of other airmen. The defense attorney for the Japanese commander, who wasn't really an attorney, found that the raiders had indeed fired on a school, and on fishing boats, and neighborhoods. Doolittle was very clear about only bombing military and industrial locations. It is really lengthy and detailed, but it's also fascinating. And, there are definitely moral ambiguities. Good stuff. Thank you, Ethan! 

I'm also constructing some red and white polka dot plates for my freshly painted kitchen. They are more like chargers, with irregular shapes. If I make one each day this week, I'll have enough to fill my plate rack!