You know those moments when you are spontaneously overcome with gratitude for your life? They've been occurring on a happily regular basis, lately. Let's see if I can cover some of the fabulousness of the week:

Monday was the second day we actually got to meet with the kiddos at the Community Growing Center. It rained the whole time, but we stuck it out and had a great time. (Imagine a bunch of 4-year-olds lugging rain collection barrels, making and using shakers made from seeds, and singing to the rain!)

Tuesday... I can't really remember Tuesday, I think because I was writing a paper that was due the next morning. So I was up til 3, but so happy in the process! The paper was a brief literature review about Arts Integration (arts experiences used to support other learning). Very cool stuff.

Wednesday night, I got to hear a conversation between Yo-Yo Ma and Howard Gardner, that was part of Dr. Gardner's "Extraordinary Minds at Work" series for PBS. Those guys are pretty representative of the good of this place: passionate, intelligent, congenial. Mr. Ma played a bit of Bach and a new original piece based on Dona Nobis Pacem (that we got to sing with him!) and talked about his guiding principles: making things memorable; finding and following his passion, and helping other people find theirs; keeping a "disciplined imagination"; empathy. It's so nice to hear these intellectual conversations naturally turn to the subject of how to be good in the world. (Afterwards, Vanessa, Anna and Claire came over for a late-night fit of baking whole wheat goodness banana bread and blueberry muffins!)

Thursday morning we had an informational meeting for ART. HERE. NOW., the Harvard-wide conference on Arts Education that Anna, Amy and I dreamed up. We found out a few weeks ago that the SGA is funding it, and we've had great support from the folks in our program. Woo-hoo! It's going to be a lot of work...

And Thursday night I got to hear the Wailin Jennys live. Those ladies are SO GOOD. I think they're taking folk music and singing harmonies to the highest level possible, really pushing the edge, challenging themselves to learn and do more. SO beautiful. It was one of the best concerts I've ever heard. I'm inspired to sing harmonies again!!

Yesterday I worked at the Fogg, then hit a career fair, then had a group meeting for my Informal Learning class (our project about global warming is coming together. Yay!), and attended an eye-opening forum about international perspectives on education. There were representatives from India, France and Guatemala. I was impressed by the power of resources, of locally-driven education, of involving parents in the philosophy behind education.

So far today, I've made a lentil squash stew, applied for two jobs, made banana bread muffins and delivered them to Tatiana and baby Tanvi, had some great kitchen conversation with Anna (about storytelling, rural education, the power of looking at a concept through different lenses), and taken some books to the library. Now I'm at the coffee shop a few blocks from my house to do more job stuff, then Carissa, Liz and Eve are coming over for dinner and singing, and then there's dancing at ZuZu's in Central Square. Shew!

p.s. I'm particularly proud and excited that I haven't brushed my hair for three days straight! And I think it's looked o.k. SUCH a time-saving policy, particularly when there are so many other incredible things to do with one's time. (This is how you think in grad school...) I'm getting a haircut tomorrow morning, though. My friend LaurieAnn's doing it and her fee is only some red tulips. :o)