Arts & Entertainment
The best cure for my worst pity party
Published
6 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersBy Daryn Kagan EBS contributor
It was a link to volunteer for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. I figured, “What’s the harm in giving a couple hours a month to a kid?” That’s how I met her. An 8 year old in pigtails with an impish grin. That first outing to buy giant M&M cookies at the grocery store bakery was the beginning of the rest of my life.
From two hours a month, to school events to trips across country. I have no doubt the act of caring about this tiny person opened my heart. Made me ready the following year when I met the man who would become my husband and his daughter.
Somehow, we fell into a foursome, spending weekends, traveling the world. By high school, my Little Sister was living with us full time. We never formally adopted her or even became her legal guardians. Her mom had some challenges to deal with and we were able to give her access to a better education, a home.
It hasn’t always been easy. About a year ago I called her mother and declared I was done. “Oh, no you’re not,” she replied. “All those years ago you promised me you would get this child to college. I don’t know how to do that. There’s one more year. So, no, you’re not done.”
“But she can be so sassy and disrespectful,” I complained.
“Don’t you know that’s what babies do to their mamas?” her mother counseled. “You’re her mama, too.”
Perhaps, this fills in some holes, Dear Reader.
Who is this second kid you refer to in your columns? She’s ours. And she’s not. In this, we are not alone. Perhaps, you, too, are raising a kid who is kinda sorta yours. Maybe we all are. None of them are really ours, after all.
It is now 10 years later. Today is the last time I drive her to school. Last kid. Last ride. In a couple months she will, indeed, be off to college. “I hope you’re not crying when you read this,” she wrote in the card she left me. The one where she called me her second mother.
She knows better. I was bawling my eyes out. For this is the story of one lucky girl. That girl is me. The one who was sad, lonely, and pitiful enough to click on that link. To meet a little girl who showed me how to care about someone else. And changed my life forever.
Daryn Kagan was a featured speaker at TEDxBigSky 2018. She is the author of “Hope Possible: A Network News Anchor’s Thoughts on Losing her Job, Finding Love, a New Career, and my Dog, Always my Dog,” and the founder of darynkagan.com, a resource for uplifting and positive news.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
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Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
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We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
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We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
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Trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Waypoint in Town Center. Participation is free, food and beverages available.
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