strangerthan

The Durango Cheerleaders have qualified for USA Nationals in Anaheim, CA.  Their first competition ever, after traveling on the short bus for 10 hours, they accomplished their goal.  For a small town, this is a very big deal.  The DHS cheerleaders have never had the skills to compete at a superior level, nor had they ever attended a competition.   It has been such great fun to escort them to this new level - teaching them to stunt and cheer, finding them a wonderful choreographer (thanks Marlon), outfitting them in gorgeous uniforms and teaching them how to handle competition emotionally and mentally.  They are finally understanding that they are pretty good.  We have a ton to do before we leave for Nationals at the end of March, but qualifying early is a great stress reliever.  Way to go girls.  Yes, you can hang a banner in the gym - CHEERLEADING, Nationals 08-09.  Now, if we place top three, we’ll have more to put on that banner

I have been smiling all day.  Some of it has to do with the fact that we woke up to snow this morning - the first snow of the season.  Most of it has to do with the enormous historical significance of yesterday’s election.  I can’t help but feel overwhelmed with the bigness of the event - of what it means to so many people here in America and around the world.  While I am often proud of individual Americans, I am seldom proud of how Americans behave as a country.  I don’t have any deep, profound insights into political shenanigans and really dislike the whole philosophy behind politicking.  I am, however, for this moment, proud of my country.  I am proud that young people voted.  I am proud that the disenfranchised felt their vote would matter - that they wanted to affect something bigger than themselves.  I am proud of people who decided they were not afraid of the color of someone’s skin.  I am proud to demonstrate the hope we so often preach from our privileged American bubble.  Yes.