All posts by Rebecca Michelle

Educator, traveler, reader, blogger. Loves learning, black coffee, and friendly people.
New York

Les fleurs

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It has been a couple weeks since my last post. Sorry about that. I’ve been very busy at work, and while it’s not an excuse, it’s my justification for not writing. When I was doing my 365 Photos project, I was neurotic about posting every day; one of my goals this year was to be nice to myself, and I can only be neurotic about so many things. Sometimes Emily and I just have to watch Mad Men. (And sometimes I just have to grade essays.)

Anyway. The theme of today’s post is, believe or not, NOT me making excuses. No, it’s about spring. This week has been getting warmer by the day and I think it might be here to stay this time. At any rate, the flowers in my yard are blooming. I hope the same is true for you, wherever you are!

Yellow

RedYellow

Red

New York

Music to My Ears

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The ways in which parts become wholes has always been intriguing to me, which is probably why I love to cook. I love to create, and I am fascinated with the process of creation. It’s incredible to think of how distinct pieces, any pieces, can fit together to make something completely different, like a road, an airplane, a jigsaw puzzle, even a garden.

Today’s photography post, however, focuses on lighter subject matter. Somehow, thanks to some clever people, these pieces . . .

Part SixPart One Part Two  Part Four Part Five

Part Seven
Part Three

 

 

 

 

became this  . . .

The Whole

 

And music, previously inaccessible by listener discretion, was suddenly available. For everyone. At any time.

On My Mind

Soapbox

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There’s a great deal of value in doing what is right simply for that – because it’s right. I’m lucky enough to teach at a school in which my students, for the most part, do the right thing. Maybe that’s because it’s a single-sex environment, maybe that’s because it’s a parochial environment, or maybe that’s because most people, when push comes to shove, understand the difference between right and wrong. I have to believe that most people, when faced with something bad, will try to do good.

However, I also know that that’s not always the case. I understand that doing the right thing sometimes means putting oneself or one’s family in danger, and I don’t advocate for that. For example, during the Holocaust, the people who rescued the most Jews (hid them, made fake passports, smuggled them across borders, etc.) were young, single men. Why? No families. No dependents. Fewer worries.

I do not blame those who don’t speak out for fear of very well repercussions. I do blame those who actively try to make others miserable in any situation.

But again, I have to hope that there’s more good in this world than bad. There’s an excellent BuzzFeed article (linked below) from January 2012 that I read, cried over, laughed at, and bookmarked. I look at it every now and then. I cry. I laugh. In a world filled with conflict, hate, poverty, and fear, it’s nice to remember that there’s also hope and love and compassion.