Where did the school year go? I always look forward to summer so much but then I get so nostalgic and sentimental as the end of the year finally does approach.
So I volunteer at the school as an Art Lit coordinator, which means I help to run the Art Lit program at our school. Ever since I started volunteering when Anthony was a wee kindergartener 7 years ago, this lovely lady has been volunteering as an Art Lit coordinator (along with a multitude of other helpful things at the school!) but her youngest son is finishing this year as a 5th grader, which means we lose Alica forever...and I couldn't be more sad about that!
Next year is going to be so different without her around. She has the best sense of humor--I look forward to her emails because they always leave me smiling if not laughing out loud. She loves art and she loves people and she loves the kids especially. Her house could be a museum piece in its own right--I wish I had pictures of it, it's that cool.
So I thought she deserved an extra special parting gift. Her nickname (and she's given all of us coordinators nicknames) has been MonAlica (get it?!?) so what better to make for her than her very own Mona Lisa portrait???
Another friend & I conspired to surprise her at her very last classroom Art Lit to present her with the portrait. It didn't play out quite as we'd envisioned it at least as far as the kids in the class were concerned (they all seemed rather ho hum about it!) but it was all for Alica anyway & I think she enjoyed it.
This is a less flattering shot but it makes me laugh a little--Lisa snapped the pic right after Alica had taken a deep breath trying to hold back tears...anyway, just a funny moment to catch.
I feel so privileged to have worked with so many great people over the years, but Alica is definitely one of a kind! I will miss her so, so much!!!
