Thank you, Echoes, Deepblue, and RF!
I have my gallery opening this evening, and I have to go get food, ice, unload it all at the gallery. I also have to get myself ready, and "dress up!"
I didn't know how I could accomplish all of this today, and work at my teaching job, so I took the day off. My principal let me know she disapproved of this, and at the same time, my students were behaving horribly. I just didn't think I could handle it again today, and so I took off, knowing that if I worked, I'd be rushing around like a chicken to get there...barely, and then be all frazzled.
As I was hanging my show at the gallery, all the grad students, and even faculty clustered around me like baby chicks to a mother hen. At one point, as I was struggling to hang my biggest piece, pounding, sweating and struggling as they tried to help me, one of the grads said, "She's such a lovely person." I didn't know what to think of this, as I am not used to such positive feedback or affirmations. At my job as a teacher, I am somewhat of an outcast, and I rarely talk to anyone there. They think my job as an art teacher is unnecessary, and I'm somewhat of an old "kook!" When I do get brave enough to sit with a group and engage in conversation, I see sideways glances of sarcasm, and so I mainly just stay to myself.
I am not imagining this, as I've worked there for 20 years. Over the weekend, I realized I need to be around more like-minded art people in the future.
Patty