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| Bathsheba at Her Bath, Rembrandt |
That's the title of the NC-17 French lesbian movie that I'm going to see this afternoon, after I have coffee with a fellow de-schooler. I'll let you know how it is -- the movie, not the de-schooling -- whether I give up dreams of Javier Bardem in favor of the fairer sex. Here's a poem from the 16th century:
Bethsabe's Song
Hot sun, cool fire, tempered with sweet air,
Black shade, fair nurse, shadow my white hair.
Shine, sun; burn, fire; breathe, air and ease me;
Black shade, fair nurse, shroud me and please me.
Shadow, my sweet nurse, keep me from burning;
Make not my glad cause cause of mourning.
Let not my beauty's fire
Inflame unstaid desire,
Nor pierce any bright eye
That wandereth lightly.
George Peele (1556-1596)
Maybe I should have posted Sappho, but I loved this one, especially the line Make not my glad cause cause of mourning. I got a couple of sweet emails today from teachers at Oliver's school that have worked with him and with Henry, when Henry was at the same school. My eyes teared up when I read them. I also heard that the Powers That Be at the school were snarky when they heard we were leaving, and my ego bristled and my thoughts turned toward the negative, but I let it go, let it go, let it go, more links in the chain behind me.
Make not my glad cause cause of mourning.
I've seen the film. Enjoy! I think Bathsheba may be wearing a merkin in that painting. Beth and I talked about you at dinner last night. Yes. You were TALKED ABOUT. With gigantic admiration.
ReplyDeletelove,
Rebecca
So much better to be talked about with gigantic admiration than with snark.
ReplyDeleteJeez. Let those people GO!
Wonderful poem.
ReplyDeleteAs for the snark (in contrast to the teachers!) good riddance.
Let them snark all they want over there. Now you and Oliver are over here and you don't have to interact with them. Soon they will be a memory only.
ReplyDeleteA shame that snark would be their reaction. Perhaps it goes some way toward explaining the need for your departure in the first place? I hope that Oliver is getting some peace in his deschooling and that you are able to find a homeschooling path that does not cause him further distress.
ReplyDeleteSchool "Powers To Be" are snarky more often than not, don't you think? I try to have realistic expectations. Helps me feel less crazy. Best of luck to you and Oliver in your new academic ventures :)
ReplyDeleteHow did I miss that you are officially home schooling Big O?
ReplyDeleteIf you want to pick my brain feel free. I was just recently reflecting on how good it was for both of our girls to unplug for a few years from what school options were offered to them while G and I created something at home where they could blossom and grow and learn in peace. It was a really good decision at the time, even though at first I was overwhelmed.