What Is It About February?

I've been missing you a lot lately, Allen.  Maybe it's because it's February. The last time you were able to come to the studio was a Saturday in February.  I recently ran across the picture that we took that day of all of us - me, Lisa, you, Gail, and Ronnie.  Hard to believe this was seven years ago.

That was also the last time I got to see you.  There were so many people around that I didn't really get to talk to you.  I'll always regret that.  I snuck a bag of Cadbury mini eggs in Prissy's purse that afternoon for you.  Do you remember how around Easter, we'd sometimes share a bag of those while we worked?   We didn't do it often because neither of us could stop eating them once the bag was open.  You and I could work in the studio together for hours and not say 3 words to each other.  Not because we didn't have anything to say but because we didn't have to say anything.  We could just BE.  I miss that.     

Today Nikki did something cool.  (I hope she doesn't mind my sharing.)  She saved a pot.  It was one that tried to fall twice - AND SHE SAVED IT. Twice. 

I was proud of her, and I missed you.  I realized that what I really wanted to do was tell you how proud that made me.  You would understand.  You would say something sarcastic and probably tease me for being sappy, but you'd understand. 

I wish you could know these people that use your studio now.  You  would like them.  Gail, Lisa, Vicki, and Ronnie are all still around.  These folks you know.  It's the "new" people that I wish I could introduce to you.  There is "new" Nikki (not to be confused with "original" Nikki).  New Nikki comes in after work on Thursdays and on Saturday mornings.  Sound familiar?  She's the one who saved her pot from certain death today.  There's Kim.  She drives in on Saturday mornings for lessons but mostly works on her wheel at home.  There's Eden.  Eden has a gift for making a mess.  She makes nice pots too, but there's always a mess involved (she does clean up).  Paulette is another of us "retired" folk.  You would love her stories.  They are absolutely hilarious!  

All of these amazing people are learning pottery from you, Allen. Thanks for welcoming me into your studio all those years ago, and for everything that you taught me.