Mind Picking : Spilling the Tea

                                                                                

  

Kennedy asked me a few weeks ago if I had anything special going on last Friday, and when I said I hadn't, she said, "Great! I'll make fun plans for us!" And she went on to buy tickets to see Paul McCartney's photography exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario, Eyes of the Storm (essentially some rediscovered photos from 1963-64, including from The Beatles' first trip to the US), with the added treat of an afternoon High Tea. And when it turned out that Dave could be available in the afternoon, she bought a ticket for him, too.

We started with the Tea, and everything was just incredibly delicious and posh. (Particularly delightful as it was drizzly as we made our way from the nearby parking garage to the gallery and a pot of Earl Grey tea hit exactly right.) We then made our way to the exhibit and it was a lot of fun: so many candid, behind-the-scenes photos — I especially liked the view looking out from inside The Beatles' limousine at the streets lined with screaming teenagers; what an experience that must have been for four young guys — and it all made for an entertaining display.

We then toured the rest of the building — at least as much as we could take — and spent most of our time with the Group of Seven and the Modern artists. As Kennedy took a minor in Art History, it's always interesting to see pieces through her eyes; not least of all because learning cultural facts from my kiddos makes me feel like I've added something worthwhile into the world. Just a fabulous day.

And a final note: Kennedy insisted on arranging and paying for these "fun plans" as a thank you for everything her Dad and I did to help her and Zach get their house ready for sale. It was no small amount of work, for sure, but we don't help the kids for thanks or gifts; we'd do anything for them. And as I've written recently, I am so grateful that I have adult kids who want to spend time with me and their Dad; particularly pleased that they are the kind of young people who are curious about art and music and theatre (and high tea). Again: I look at Kennedy and Mal and think, "I've achieved something real here, adding smarts and warmth and curiosity into the world." And that's all the tea I need to spill today.