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lilweaselmuses · 8 months

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human au gems hcs no one asked for

WOOO this one's a doozy so its under a read more.

enjoy

Topaz:

Age: 16

Grade: Sophomore

Born in South Korea

Became something of a musical sensation back home, and is famous for her music mixing.

Became independent at 15, moved to the states a year later with the desire to see what America was like, hollywood in particular.

Lives in an apartment with Saphir, her senior classmate and good friend.

Pastel vibes

Sassy vibes (Much more sassy than gem topaz :o)

MomTM friend. She mediates and keeps the peace. Also will give great life advice.

Judges silently, but says nothing if she has nothing nice to say. (But she’ll think it.)

Currently has a job as a DJ at a local skating rink where her friends hang out. Gets them free food and games..

Hoping to make it big in the US so she can stay after she graduates.

Parents living overseas and helping pay for her life and schooling in the states.

She spends summers in Korea where she visits her family and tours, records music.

Part of the art club and spends a lot of time in the music rooms. She isn’t in Choir, Band or Orchestra, but is in music theory and guitar. Has a LOT of friends in all those programs

Swiss

Age: 16-17

Grade: Sophomore.

Swiss was born in Switzerland, but has also lived in South Korea for 5 years (where she met Topaz), London for 2, and now the US where she started high school.

Lives with her Father who is from Switzerland, her mom who was born in the UK, and her baby sister Kyanite

Class goofball and classic slacker but somehow still passes and knows the material.

‘ Whoops, I forgot my homework again’ type

Dye’d her hair blue at 14, pierced both her nose, lips, and several places in her ear.

Depressed and tired. Brings rockstar energy’s to class a lot.

Punk Rock vibes, but wears her uniform rather well. Her messenger bag is tricked out with a lot of music festival patches and pins though.

Her and Topaz both are those kids that have earbuds and beats headphones on all the time. She gets in trouble for listening to rock in class. Or talking.

Has a band, and is the main drummer and back up vocalist. The band was her idea, but she gives her friends a lot of freedom. Since drumming is her passion she doesn’t mind not being the lead vocalist.

Crushing on / Dating the richest girl in the school (Aquamarine ‘Marie’)

Doesn’t have a job, but thinking about getting a part time one at the record shop near her house.

Oversleeps A LOT. IS late to class a lot. Usually her detentions are from tardiness (or saying some smart ass comment to be funny and getting in trouble for it)

Very protective of her little sister, and gets along well with her in private, despite pretending that she irritates her.

No after school activities for her thanks. That stuffs lame. (Though she does wander in and hang out with the game club sometimes)

Kyanite

Age: 13-15

Grade: 8th

One of the pretty MeanTM girls in middle school. Rather high on the social pecking order due to being an upperclassmen and being a cutie with an attitude.

Fashion sense a mix between soft grunge, a touch of punk and more flowing feminine outfits, or neat and prim /professional outfits. Whatever she decides, she likes to look good.

Very talented at doing her make up and nails, tends to have a lot of requests from other girls her age for help in that dept.

Looks up to her sister a lot more than she lets on. Lowkey wants to be involved in a lot of what she does after school. (She even begged her parents to let her dye her hair blue as well right after Swiss did (She was 12 at the time))

Love’s shopping and collecting outfits and cute little butterfly themed things for her room.

While she’s in the ‘popular’ circle of girls in her grade, shes not particularly stuck up when it comes to other kids. She can be mean, but its usually to just as entitled kids. She’s rather tame and even friendly with less popular kids in her grade. She’s very comfortable around them and enjoys not being put on a pedestal all the time

Romance obsessed. (Duh)

Wishes she could get a piercing and a tattoo like her sissy, but her parents only let her pierce her ears.

A’s in most of her classes, but struggles in History. It’s a snoozefest to her.

Currently in band and debate team. (She plays flute)

Takes FOR-E-VER to get ready to leave the house. (Hey, its not ALWAYS swiss’s fault shes’ late.)

Best friends in school are Livie and Bebe.

Spends a lot of time after school for Band practice, Debate team activities, or supporting her bestie Bebe in her cheer practice.

Really likes sneaking in the upperclassmen building. No one’s cute in her grade :/ (according to her)

Likes to fake being sick so she can go home early. way too often.

Bebe

Age: 14-15

Grade: 8th

Met Kyanite in 6th grade and they instantly hit it off well.

Bubble gum pink hair, and really likes fashion. Always obsessed with wearing the cutest combo of clothes she can come up with.

Really sweet and bubbly on the surface, but she isn’t called a bubblegum bitch for nothing. She knows shes popular and will often trick the vulnerable into believing they have social status only to humiliate them when she sees fit.

A little bit bitchier than Ky. Not that she wants to be mean actively, she just kind of ……is how we say…..spoiled brat.

As long as her best friend cares about someone she does too.

When she actually does accept you, shes a very sweet and almost loyal to the point of irritation.

Crushing on Kyanite, kissed her at a party and has kind of never got over it.

Serial dater. Literally she has a new sweetie every week. its tiring.

Junior Varsity Cheer Team and Drama club are her life.

When she’s not doing those things, she’s spending her time in her Juniors bowling team. They go to tourney during summer.

Parents aren’t filthy rich but they are not hurting for money in any shape or form. Shes always got whatever she wanted.

Loves getting gifts, and will almost try and bug people into sending her stuff to homeroom during holidays. Either because she wants STUFF or for her own popularity.

Might be kind of bitchy but really does feel bad and get upset if people point that out about her. I wouldn’t say she /wants/ to be a bad person. her parents never told her no and nor how to not be self centered.

Very talkative and upbeat. Wants to inspire her friends and lift them up.

On the other end, is a big gossip and bad about spreading rumors and stirring up drama with people she isn’t a fan of.

Show her a cute animal and she’ll sob. I mean the whole 9 yards.

Marie/Aquamarine

Age: 17-18

Grade: 12th

Born and raised in London for the majority of her life. She’s also lived in France for 3 years during an abroad program her parents sent her to where she met one of her closest friends (Astrid)

Her parents are filthy stinkin rich and own a foreign luxurious fashion company and a luxury car company.

Livie is her baby sister and she often tries to pretend like thats not the case. (She loves her guys i swear)

Stuck up, bratty, and just an overall bitch. She RELISHES in it. Marie KNOWS shes mean, popular and has power and she’s proud.

“you can’t sit with me, you can’t talk to me, you aren’t good enough to even know me.”

Her desire for power has her gunning for valedictorian (cue her and satoshit fighting to the death), and she’s currently the president of student government. Thats right. She’s deciding school functions and your future you little peasant fucks.

Will shove her riches and status down your THROAT oh my goooodddd

Throws HUGE parties when her parents are out of town, uses it as a tool to make the popular kids/upperclassmen love her even more and show the ‘losers’ where their place is.

Always has to look THE best in the school, and will probably murder anyone who threatens to take her places as prom queen (i kid i kid………maybe)

Hangs out with Astrid and Mae when they’re in town.

Has a type that does not fall in line with her image (coughcough Swiss cough) and will do a LOT to keep in a secret. But….listen….she also can’t hide it well. Like…not even a little. She gay.

She’s always seen with her posse of popular girls and her two primary school friends the topazes. They’re just the schools huge UNITS of lesbian quarterbacks, their fists as big as your face, they wont squash you, promise. (look at marie wrong once bitch.)

Will die of embarrassment of her sister livie. Unfortunately is responsible for her in a lot of ways. Driving her back and forth from school, taking her to school functions and much more. (She loves her….double pinky swear) But she claims they aren’t related. (no one believes this hoe) That don’t mean she wont DESPERATELY try to pawn her off for the day. Babysitter? Butler? Anyone? SOMEONE?

Will absolutely use Livie as a means to hang out with Swiss via playdates. Oh yeah, she knows their baby sisters are besties. It’s free real estate.

Has expressed to Swiss that she wishes they could trade sisters. ( I swear marie loves livie deep down in this essay I will—-)

In a wealth measuring contest with Satoshit 24/7

Is CONSTANTLY going on overseas trips. She will never stop bragging about it.

Consumed mostly by Student Government and Theatre.

Spinel

Age: 15-16

Grade: (Would be a Freshman but she's held back), 8th grade.

Spinel is Steven’s half sister in the human verse. They share a biological mother (PD). Spinel is 2 years older than Steven, and never lived with him. She was only a toddler when PD broke up with her biological dad, and had steven. Though PD was in her life until she was around 7. After that she cut contact with her previous husband and to a great extent her daughter Spinel. It was soon found out though after Steven turned 8 or so, PD passed away. Dashing any of Spinel’s previous hopes of reconciling with her mother or finding out why her mother treated her like a mistake.

Spinel was born and raised in Boston MA for a good chunk of her life. She lived with her father alone for most of her young life. Her dad would bring women in and out of the house often after PD left him.

Until PD’s death, They shared custody of Spinel. Spinel would spend every other weekend in delaware with PD, Greg and her half brother steven. Though PD never seemed to genuinely enjoy her daughters company---rather tolerating her and pawning her off to Greg whenever possible.

After PD passed away (Spinel was around 10), Spinel became a lot more distant with her brother and step dad Greg. Rarely seeing them, every 2 years or so on a holiday maybe. A month out from her 11th birthday or so, her dad ripped Spinel from her childhood home and moved them to Brooklyn, which is where Spinel would live and rapidly devolve into the delinquent teen she is now. Her relationship with her father, her behavior and the strain her abusive household would put on her and her education and record would devolve further until its breaking point.

At the age of 15 (nearing 16), when Spinel gets tossed into juvie for a week and flunks out of 8th grade, Her abusive father is enraged and tired of the child, Sending her down to Delaware to live with her step dad greg and half brother steven. In his words: “To let her disappoint someone else for a change”

Now a loud mouth, snarky and toxic teen. Spinel stays with her brother and step dad in Delaware. Greg takes her in with a open mind and love for her like she was his own, despite the quick realization that she is more than just a handful. && Spinel has heavy resentments towards greg to boot---considering in her eyes, it was his and steven’s fault her mother never loved her. Be that true or not, Spinel doesn’t care.

Regardless, Greg gets her transferred to the same middle school as Steven. Though she is supposed to be two grades ahead of him, she ends up in 8th grade only a grade ahead, since she was held back.

She is also coerced by the school system along with Greg to sign up for extracurricular activities to straighten her out. Spinel reluctantly agrees---and picks drama club. Which would soon end up an obsession that she would decide to become the top dog in the department, losing sleep and bullying anyone who tries to take her role as the lead in the school’s productions.

She works part time at a pizzeria, and uses her knowledge from working as a carnie back in Brooklyn to fuck with the machines and steal tokens out of the machines. Why? So she can buy things in front of the kids. Cause fuck em.

Despite Gregs attempts to show her love, she still bullies her half brother a lot--a stark contrast to when they got along well as kids & she gets detention a lot. Its taking him everything in his power to keep her from getting herself expelled. This kid is a live wire, and its gonna take a lot of work to turn her around. But if you can believe it----really deep down, she wants to be better. She just wants to be cared about for who she is, which is something she’s yet to be shown.

#ooc #i wanna write the human au so much #and yet...im out of time again for today #maybe tomorrow or tonight we'll see.#;hcs #a repost of an old post just cleaned up

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myandrewstest · 1 year

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'Music makes you feel good'

Music and music therapy an important part of life at Andrews Senior Care and ProTem Memory Care

Amanda Shea has seen first-hand the benefits music can have on seniors and people living with dementia.

Amanda, a program coordinator with ProTem Memory Care, a dementia care home in Moncton, N.B., has been incorporating music therapy, an umbrella term for all music-related activities at ProTem, into residents’ daily routines since she joined three years ago.

“A lot of time with dementia and cognitive impairment, people are in a state of worry,” she said. “Even something as simple as putting on headphones with a playlist of favourite music a family member has put together…that can bring them from a very heightened state (of agitation) to a very calm state.”

She added the benefits aren’t limited to calming distressed residents. Amanda’s seen people’s entire personality shift upon hearing a song they recognize.

“You can see a whole different glow come across their face,” she said.

In other cases, she’s seen residents who had been stand-offish, become engaged through playing music. She recounted one woman who, after watching Amanda tinker with the home’s piano, began playing without the aid of sheet music.

“I didn’t know she was capable,” said Amanda. “But it was like riding a bike for her.”

‘First things in, last things out’

Evidence of the small but significant positive impact music has on people with mild cognitive impairment has been growing in recent years. According to a 2021 University of Pittsburgh study, active music making improved cognition, mood and overall quality of life.

“We are excited to see these results because participating in music, like singing in a choir or playing in a drum circle, is a safe, engaging activity that our research demonstrates can support cognition at a critical time for older adults facing cognitive decline,” said Jennie Dorris, the study’s lead author.

While the reason behind this is still under study, one possible explanation is behaviours learned early in development, like music, are more resistant to decline. They fall under what neuroscientists term procedural-memory, a concept people like Amanda, who work with dementia patients on a daily basis, are familiar with.

“I try to remind everyone ‘first things in, last things out,’” said Amanda. “It’s amazing to see how at times some individuals may not remember their loved one’s names but know every lyric to any song we play. You can always reach them through music.

Good for everyone

While the positive impact of music therapy is most pronounced in people living with dementia, seniors at all stages can benefit.

Sharon Woods-Bryenton, a program coordinator at Andrews of Stratford, makes sure to include music either directly or indirectly in her weekly activity schedule.

“It just enhances their quality of life so much,” she said. “I’ve never had anyone say they hate music.”

Sharon hosts a regular ukulele jam-session, books live performers and holds sing-alongs. She’s even added music to her fitness classes, when possible.

Her efforts have not gone unnoticed.

“I think (music) is one of the most important aspects of living in a retirement home,” said Marion Boyce, a resident at Andrews of Stratford. “Music makes you feel good, it makes you feel alive.”

Marion, a retired nurse, has been playing the violin for 88 years. A social person, she’s found the recent lockdowns and restrictions challenging. Music has been a refuge.

“Anything to do with music is an enjoyment for me,” she said. “If I couldn’t play the violin, I’d just as soon turn my up toes.”

For Sharon, that sentiment comes as no surprise.

“It just picks (the residents’) spirits up incredibly, especially right now (with COVID),” she said. “It promotes mental health, encourages them to come out and socialize and it improves their quality of life.”

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drum-circles · 1 year

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Drum Circles With Seniors

Drum circles are more fun than shuffleboard!

I drum with elderly populations all the time. Mostly at active retirement communities, senior centers, and so on. They are always looking for something new, fun, diverse, interesting, and playful for the residents. A facilitated drum circle is all of that, and more.

The first reaction I usually get when I suggest the idea is, “I have no rhythm.” Or, “I’ve never played a musical instrument before.” If a facilitated drum circle is presented properly, in a matter of 10 minutes everyone can be playing a drum rhythm together. And from there, playing various drum rhythms from around the world. The key to it is setting the right tone that this is going to be playful and fun. You can improvise, play and just have a good time. Like we did when we were kids.

After 10 minutes you can see the joy in people’s eyes as they start to “get it” and are playing a drum rhythm for the first time. Making music is exciting, and if it’s your first time, it’s really exciting.

We play Native American rhythms, African, Latin, Belly Dance, Reggae, Blues, R&B, and a lot more. After that first 10 minutes everyone is in the groove, and no longer “Thinking about messing up” “Can I do this?”, “What if I look silly.” Etc. That all goes away, and all we think about is drumming and making music as a group. That’s the goal. A lot of playing and very little talking. A bit about hand technique, where some of the drums are from, and the rest is all drumming.

I’m there as a rhythm starter, but everyone is welcome to start out a rhythm if they want to. Usually after a half hour, people are wanting to start out their own beats. Great, we go with it because it’s all organic and spontaneous at a drum circle I facilitate.

This is how I like to get drum rhythms going: After a warm up jam, I vocalize a few measures of a rhythm, and then begin playing it. It’s easier for the brain to quickly process words, free up the mind, and then the body can play. Word association is a great way to get a drum circle rhythm going with all age groups.

For example, here’s a drum rhythm called Agilablanca. It’s in 4/4 time. (4 counts to a measure.) Rather than trying to teach it, I say: I-like-to-eat__choc-late-cake, I-like-to-eat__choc-late-cake (and repeat, etc.) (The first half of the phrase is all tones, the last half is all bass notes.) People add in the decorations, and away it goes. Sound like fun? It is. I’m available for hire in the St. Louis area by the way. My rates are reasonable.

Sometimes we try drumming out Morse Code rhythms. Ask someone to suggest 2 letters, or numbers, and put them together to make a new drum circle rhythm. _ _...._ _ A dot is a tone, and a dash, is a bass note. Sometimes they work, and sometimes they don't, that's part of the fun, exploring, and going on this journey together. (There’s a Morse Code alphabet

chart at my site drumcircles.net )

A fun idea to entice movement in the center is to bring along a hula hoop. That can really ramp up the fun at your drum circle. It gives people a rhythmic motion to groove to. I was surprised when I first saw people of all different ages wanting to get in there and try it. The drum rhythm Beledi is a good one to use. In 4/4 time, it sounds like: Doum Doum tek-ka-Tek, Doum tek-ka-Tek. {One of my dancer friends said the Beledi rhythm is the "Catnip Rhythm" for belly dancers. lol. I like that.

With some groups it’s a drum circle once or twice a year for events or special occasions, with others it’s every month we do this. It’s a fun activity that no matter what physical limitations some of them may have, everyone can participate. Even those in wheelchairs, or strength in only one arm.

I like to provide drums from around the world such as djembes, congas, doumbeks, and bongos, frame drums, buffalo drums, sound shapes, and various other percussion instruments. That way, there is something for everyone to have fun with. And we play rhythms from different countries, and cultures. And you can try them all out if you like.

As far as the staff is concerned, all we really need is some chairs set up in a circle about 20 - 30 feet across. So it is a pretty low maintenance activity for them. If outdoors, some shade.

Many times, elders are more playful than kids. You don’t get many chances to just be silly and have fun with friends or acquaintances as an older adult. I am a senior myself, I got my first senior citizens discount last month, and it was kind of humiliating. I thought, should I, or shouldn’t I? It was ten bucks, so I went on with it. And I really don’t like being treated like a senior very much either. Most others I have spoken to feel the same way. It sucks to get old and feel your body growing weaker.

We can’t do the physical things we once could do anymore. But we do want to have fun, and, if possible, do things that recapture some of our youth. Just be silly, and goof off a little bit. I like to feel young again, and so do most other older adults. That’s why a facilitated drum circle works so well. Remembering the things we enjoyed in our past younger days, the music and songs we grew up on, that may mark fond memory points in our lives.

There are some limitations in movement of course. Some have severe arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, and many other things that limit the amount of movement. Some are in wheel chairs, and only have limited movement in one arm or hand. So when I work with elderly groups I try to find out as much information as I can in advance on any possible limitations that may be present. This isn’t always possible, so I like to bring a real mixed bag of drums and percussion. Lots of things they can lay in their laps and play. Or things that can be

easily played with one hand. Finding the right drum for everyone they can easily play and have fun with is very important so they can get the most benefit from it, and the most healing from the drum. It’s a good idea to have about a dozen SoundShapes with the soft mallets. They are the perfect instrument for many with limited movement.

When I arrive, I try to allow extra time so I can say hello, and shake their hands and talk with everyone. I think that it’s very important to make sure everyone is aware of who I am. I want them to feel comfortable, and prepare them for some drumming fun. The hand shake also gives me a little bit of a clue as to their ability to use their hands so I can help them find the right drum to play.

After that initial (accessing the group) warm up jam, I spend a bit more time with them on good hand technique, and volume levels, because I don’t want anyone getting hurt, or feeling uncomfortable. Other than that, I pretty much facilitate the circle from the side, the same way I would any other group, except I make a little more eye contact.

I just let them have fun, and experience self discovery. This can deeply affect some people, I see them get very emotional sometimes. Even tears, and crying at some points. Mostly at the end is when the emotions seem to come through. Caring and compassion is needed here obviously. Lots of times they are tears of joy, because of the self discovery process many of us go through at a drum circle.

I like to bring body style drums that can stand up solid by themselves or in stands that can then be played at a comfortable level for people sitting without having to bend over to hold it. A wood Djembe is rather hard to hold onto for some people. And you don’t want it falling over on someone else. So, I use solid self standing drums, and/or drums with stands. But some people surprise me when they want to play that big ol’ drum, and proceed to jam out on it the entire session. But for the most part, drums that weigh a lot less like aluminum Doumbeks, those PVC Djembes, and Frame drums with beaters that are easy for a person to grip are ideal.

One thing I do with mallets is wrap the handle grip with cloth to be very fat, so they are easier to hold onto for a person that might have arthritis, but still wants to play. You need to think about things that are more comfortable for them, things they can rest on their laps, or play with one hand.

Frame drums seem to be the most popular, because they can be held easily with one hand and played with a soft mallet, or just rested on their laps and played that way. Plus they are just plain fun to play. The ocean drums are very popular also, (A two sided frame drum that has a bunch of buckshot inside it. When you tilt it, it sounds like waves rolling in.) I also use those Compact Congas, and tambourines. I use lots of different sizes. Bongos are fun as well, they can just rest them on the lap and be played with one or both hands. I bring a few throw pillows to put under them for comfort. Some bongo sets are rather heavy, so I

look for the polymer shell style that only weighs a couple of pounds.

For those that can’t, or would rather not, play a drum, I bring loads of different things. Maracas, shakers, guiros, rattles, claves, jingle bells, stick castanets, and real mixed bag of percussion “toys”. This way everyone has lots of choices, and can pick and choose various things as we go along. Like I mentioned, Sound shapes are always in my kit, just in case. I keep 24 at the ready in a cloth shopping bag.

The first thing I would suggest is to go into this kind of drum circles with an open mind. I try to avoid any pre-formed assumptions about what elderly people with various conditions can and can't do. Their individual conditions can affect them in lots of different ways. And some of them might come as a surprise. If something spontaneous happens, go with it. Someone may suggest an idea or a song, or even get up and boogie. Cool. Do it.

It gives some of them a chance to bring some creativity and excitement to an otherwise routine day, and maybe make a few new friends in the process. Some of them want to stand and play instead of drumming sitting down. I let them go for it as long as they want. Some of them put on a belly dance wrap, get in the center, and boogie. It adds a lot of fun to the whole experience because we all know it’s organic, spontaneous, and happening in the moment.

With seniors there is a wide range in degrees of mobility. That’s why I need to think about adjusting and adapting the equipment, but for some it isn’t even needed. I just try to have a wide range of instruments available for them. One thing I have learned is that there is nothing worse (the same as with any person with any disability) than being offered only the easiest drums, and percussion to play. I like to ask everyone to choose a drum. After a bit, trade with someone else.

One good idea if you have someone wanting to play a big Djembe but they are unable to hold it off the floor is to stand it in an upturned stool or chair. Use a bungee cord or two if necessary to keep it firmly in place. Then the sound will fully get out.

I think it’s very important to drum with the group, and not just be waving out instructions and telling them here’s what to play. That’s no fun, these aren’t children. When I’m playing my drum, some people like to watch and follow my hands. (Even though I am a lefty, and I mention that.) I put those ruffled elastic colored bands on my wrists I mentioned earlier, so people can easily see my hand movements if they want to, or need to. I always mention, play what ever you want, just follow the beat. Start a rhythm with a 4 measure vocalization,

ie: Yum, Yum, tastes like chicken, Yum, Yum, tastes like chicken...

Two bass notes followed by 4 tone notes, and repeat. They can either play the support rhythm, or improvise once it’s established. Often it transitions to another rhythm entirely. I

just go with it, because that’s the group dynamic leading the rhythm.

I don’t make a whole lot of eye contact when playing. Just an occasional glance, or smile of reassurance. It’s important not to misread what might appear to be blank expressions. Often the facial muscles often don't work as well as they used to. Many times people like to just sit back and groove without playing for a little while, taking it all in. See with your ears.

It’s important to remember that, sometimes, not all who may appear to be wandering are actually lost. This is true at all drum circles.

Try to have good background knowledge of the music they grew up on. Think of a few of the “American Standards” of their era. Some will suggest one, so go with it. Don’t be afraid to ask if there are any songs they might like to sing or play. I’ve had a couple of big band rhythm jams that were outstanding. Think about playing things like swing, waltzes, Hand Jive, I Got Rhythm, whatever they want to suggest. If they don’t have anything off the top of their heads, I suggest a few and let them choose. Usually someone knows all the old standards like: “Show me the way to go home“, “How much is that doggie in the window?”, “My old man said follow the van”, etc. Really you only need to know is the first line of the song. Everyone can La de da along, and play along. Or try instrumental standards like the song "Sing, Sing, Sing". That one has a grooving big band drum beat to it.

Just having a warm and genuine welcoming and involvement with everyone sets the stage for a very successful musical time with elders.

Many times the attendee's have an assistant, and that helps me a lot! I can then focus more on the musicality of the bigger group. They can help you offer different percussion items that might be better suited for individual people. If someone from the staff is there, ask for some assistance from them. That’s a great relief sometimes, as these particular populations do require a little bit of extra care.

But some of them love the lure of being in the band, even feeling like a rock star. So let them have that opportunity if it feels right to you. It doesn’t really matter how good the drumming is.

They love the beach towels in the center of the circle bit. About half way through the circle, I lay 2 beach towels (or yoga mats) out in the center of the circle before the next rhythm. (The slower beats work best for this.) I ask two people if they want to REALLY feel the healing power of the drum, to carefully lay down on them for a few minutes. I ask them to lay flat on them, arms to their sides, and close their eyes while we play a rhythm. When I offer up the idea, there are always a few takers on that one. And when they get up, the others see the looks on their faces, and want to try it also. It is very powerful to feel the

drum downbeat absorbed into your body. Here's an example:

At just about every drum circle I facilitate, I always do the “Let them feel the healing energy of the drum, in their bodies thing”.

This is the one where at the end of the drum circle, I ask them to all stand up still in a circle, and hold their palms open and outstretched, opposite to each person next to them, and palms opposite facing each other. Hold your palms outstretched directly above each other’s palms, about 12 inches apart. Now slowly compress your hands to the other person without actually touching them to about an inch. Slowly compress your hands up and down slowly a few times and feel that energy. The ohh’s and ah’s as they feel it compress – they are feeling their chi, or mojo in their bodies (some for the very 1st time). This is very powerful. Next, turn their hands into themselves, to let the healing power reach inward, into your bodies. Start from your head, and work it down slowly. This is incredibly powerful when you feel it for the first time. This whole process takes about 3 – 5 minutes. It leaves a long lasting impression.

That’s why I try to get everyone to drum, for at least a half an hour. To get this energy of the drum flowing inside them. All you have to do then, is demonstrate it to them at the end of the circle.

I got this next idea from a friend. What she does, with participants in the more advanced stages of dementia, she includes a “hello” and “goodbye” song into her program, which includes everyone by name. It’s a great idea. It helps to give them clues as to what's about to happen, and highlights the beginning, and ending of the session, like a good story does.

Here’s another great idea. See if they would like to make their own drums, they don’t have a whole lot to do that isn’t routine. If they are in a nursing home, the staff can help them to make their own drums out of those 2 1/2 to 5 gallon buckets, or water bottles. They get them all decorated up, and play them with padded beaters. You can get the buckets free at paint shops, restaurants, and so on. Let the residents make drums for themselves, the differing sizes and shapes provide the varying sounds. Some have even had exhibits of their drums in local art venues. Colorfully decorated drums can also be bright corner pick me ups in their facilities.

Sometimes a few of the residents are into things like knitting, and crochet, and they can make their own Djembe hats relatively easily, to sell online, etc. They have lots of spare time. I have bought a few of them myself, and they look great, as well as being nice and thick so they protect the drum heads very well. I still have one I cherish that an 85 year old lady made for me.

(If you are short on cash, and need some Djembe covers, believe it or not, those round toilet bowl covers work pretty good for 12” to 14” Djembes. They are thick like shag

carpet, so they protect them very well. And they have an elastic band around them to stay in place. You can find them at most thrift stores laying around for just a buck or two. It’s probably a good idea to maybe wash them first.) lol. Yuck, why did I include that?

Anyway, a good basic plan is this:

Try to see the actual playing space if possible, and speak with the staff if you can about any concerns or limitations. Would they like to begin a certain way, etc. Often it’s not possible, but I do it if I can. Most of the time booking, questions, and etc. happen via email. After booking a date, I like to ask if I can come by and see the room beforehand even if it does take a few extra hours out of my day. I can better visualize my drum and percussion set up, and things go smoother for me when I arrive to facilitate the circle. I can also size up the distance I need to carry all the drums from my vehicle. I can just manage my time and energy better. I also like to find the area of the room with the least echo to it. (Just clap your hands in different areas of the room to find it.) Sometimes they have a spot already picked out, and that’s it.

Clean your entire drum circle kit as best you can, before and after. We should disinfect all of our instruments, particularly when working with seniors, children, or special need groups. I keep a travel pack anti-bacterial lotion with me. We want to connect, and keep safety in mind. Clean everything up as best you can. I do my kit clean up when I get home.

Instruments are very likely to get germs on them from playing. Remember that the disinfectant needs some time to evaporate. The synthetic drums are best here in these settings. They are easy to clean with some antibacterial wipes. Lightweight Doumbeks and Darbukas are perfect. Frame drums are ideal, sound shapes, ocean drums, etc. I use many synthetic instruments, like those egg shakers, maracas, guiros, etc. for the same reason. Plastics and laminates clean most easily, and are the most durable. I don’t use many goatskin drums for these groups. But I do bring a few of them for variety.

Sometimes when working with elders, many are scared of the potential noise. I learned from a staff member to get them in there early, and let them explore the drums a little on their own. (And the percussion items.) In many cases, when they're in charge of the noise, they're happy to make it loud. I sometimes have a dancing rhythm going when they enter the room, and do the egg shaker on each chair thing, or have a small percussion instrument on or near each chair.

We play a rhythm together and they can move around as they like. It gives them a sense of making music before the drumming starts. For the first time with a group, I don't expect much of a groove, but be ready for it, because it happens if you anchor it for them with a nice support rhythm, and once it’s solid - fade back and let them take it. It is so important to have stuff that can be played with one hand. I have this basket of fruit shaped shakers I use a lot with them. Expect to spend a little time finding the right instrument for each person,

and let them choose something different later on. Make it fun, and interesting for them. Mixing in a little about the history and type of the drums between rhythms is fascinating for them, and helps me to be able to pace myself.

As I mentioned, some have physical limitations, so I bring buffalo drums, frame drums, drums they can lay on their laps and play. I try to avoid having too many things played with hard sticks or mallets, because sticks have a way of finding their way to goatskin heads. So there’s the chance someone might put one through a drum head or worse. I keep them stashed away and use them sparingly. I bring a few Djembe stands or taller drums to accommodate those who might need one. Even those who you may think can only noodle with their fingers, or bash away, will get the repetition of a drum rhythm, and catch on eventually if you are a good facilitator. It’s a good idea to have some soft beaters for those who can't use their hands very well.

Make sure that your kit is safe. No sharp edge drums like on some Darbukas etc. Think of your players as vulnerable children with the size and power of adults. Avoid taking anything fragile. The first drum circle with a group of active living elders can be very challenging. Expect some total chaos to happen. It gets a lot easier the second time. In my experience some of these people have problems judging how hard to strike a body drum and could hurt their hands by playing it too hard. Show them a few pointers on good hand technique after a warm up rhythm.

As I said, loud noise is my biggest concern. The healthy noise limit is about 85 decibels (Db.) I think that is the legal safety limit as well. That’s what the cop said when he broke up a public drum circle in a park. (This was a public gathering group.) He had his little decibel meter, and showed me the reading on it. We were up in the 120 Db. range. The neighbors called them on us. Actually, he was pretty cool about it. As a radio operator I’m familiar with decibels of gain, etc. but I researched this a little, and here’s what I found. A normal conversation is about 60 Db, up to the threshold of discomfort, that is the 120 Db range. Okay, so I’m still a bit of a geek.

A bunch of people drumming together indoors can easily reach into the 115 to 120 Db range. About 150 Db, is the Pain Threshold. You can get a decibel meter relatively inexpensively. I think Maplin makes one. Keeping the volume level down takes some skill, and experience to pull it off. But it is possible. And this is even more important when dealing with elders and special needs people. Most of the time, circles are 30 to 50 people, and volume is easy to manage.

A good idea is to create a volume down signal early on, or just start to play your drum quieter, more often than not, they will be there right with you. It works just great. And as an added bonus, the participants get to hear each other. But if you use it too much it can have a negative effect. It’s something to keep in mind, some of the beginners get way into it, and are often getting their issues out.

Here’s some advice from a friend of mine. When he does big circles with 100 people, the Db level can be huge. So he charges the client for enough cheap earplugs to go around. As far as I know, if you warn them, and offer protection, you've done your job. I keep a few dozen of them in my gig bag.

A few final thoughts. This new atmosphere of spontaneous drumming can be overwhelming to some people. The one thing I don’t want to do is have people feel threatened, scared, overwhelmed, or lost. Trying to do complicated rhythms too soon can do that. Keep it simple until the group dynamic is created. Three to four jams usually is enough to do so. Lots of positive comments from you during the drum circle helps a lot. “Hey, we sounded great on that one didn’t we?” Smile a lot, thumbs up! If they are in there, they are participating.

A few things I bring besides my earplugs in my gig bag, are some padded tape, first aid, hand creams, anti-bacterial wipes, etc. for anyone who just might ask. It’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with anyone that might have some serious health issues. It’s the staff’s responsibility, but you should know what’s going on if you can. It’s nice if you can speak with the staff beforehand about any possible issues, but as I mentioned, that’s not always possible. So I need to be radar up, and ready for anything. It may be a casual setting with people transitioning in and out as rhythms are going on, so I like to sit or position myself so I can see who is entering or leaving.

Remember to try and speak with the staff afterwards for some feedback. And at the next time you are there. (hopefully) Or, leave them a feedback form to fill out, with a self addressed envelope and a stamp on it. I gathered a lot of useful information with a simple feedback form. The staff knows a lot more than I do about specific medical conditions.

If the group takes a break for tea or something, make sure they don’t come back to the drumming area before they are all finished. Goatskin and cowhide drum heads make terrible coasters.

Here is a sample drum circle program I might use:

Right away to the warm up drum jam, maybe 5 minutes.

5 minutes to introduce different cultural drums, drumming history, and why people do it.

5 minutes to demonstrate the various drums, let them check them out, and pick one. A few pointers on basic playing, and good posture/hand technique. The rest of the time is jamming on different rhythms from around the world. Some slow tempo, some up-tempo for variety. Ask if they would like a take five break after a half hour of playing. Be ready to improvise on the fly. You are likely to have some real musicians in there. I had a guy once

that just got up and started playing a piano that was in the room, and we all accompanied him. It was fantastic.

Be aware of your surroundings. If they ask you to come back and do this again, mention maybe they could bring family members next time.

It’s surprising the amount of engagement they have, and how much they truly appreciate and love drumming – especially with family members. Their expressions and smiles will be permanently etched on your face. Later at night when I get home and unload – have time to reflect - it affects me very deeply.

Ultimately, I just get rhythms started and let people play. It’s a multi cultural drum circle – not rocket science. We drum up some fun playing rhythms from around the world. Let your personality out, and with your calm and reassuring manner, watch the volume, and they will quickly enjoy playing together, and connecting with you.

I hope you enjoyed reading my page, and if you facilitate drum circles for elders, some of it helps you.

- Shannon Ratigan

There is increasing recognition of the health benefits of music therapy, particularly facilitated hand drumming, which is what I do for a living. Unfortunately, places where the people who benefit the most, such as senior centers and special needs can not afford to pay for this.

All of my drum circle music tracks are copyrighted and licensed. Check Soundcloud.com or CDBaby.com & listen to a few. There's a wide variety of cultures, styles, and tempos to choose from. Here's a different way to help support the work I do in our community. The CDbaby website url:

http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/SLRatigan

Or iTunes Spotify and Amazon

This post is a part of my Kindle book, "A Practical Guide to Hand Drumming and Drum Circles". 300 pages for 8 bucks.

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conveyed0 · 2 years

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Alvir Ann Toribio: An Autobiography

Elementary journey felt like a roller coaster ride experience for me because of how fast the time went by, in spite of that the remaining 5 months of it were the ones that stuck inside my head and I could recall the memories happened during those months until now. This includes my last contest that I joined in one of my extracurricular activities, “Warriors Drum and Lyre Corps'' and I was there as a majorette and color guard, tutor sessions for lower grade levels schoolmates, pictorial for our yearbook, graduation practice and reviewing lessons until the afternoon in preparation for high school entrance exams.

In 2016, I finally graduated elementary from Commonwealth Elementary School as 3rd Honorable mention despite having a lot on my plate. And, I can say that our graduation was the most memorable day for me. We had a simple after celebration and even brought our school uniforms so our classmates and friends from other sections could write their signatures or messages on it which serves as our remembrance.

In the same year, I decided to take an entrance exam for Science Technology and Electronics (STE) program in Batasan Hills National High School and after all the stages including the interview portion, a new door unexpectedly opened, for me to keep going and pursue my dream. I have been in the mentioned program for 4 years and during these years you could witness how I was trying my best to explore a lot of things and enjoy every moment throughout my STE journey. I even joined school-based contests such as the Speech Choir which I joined for 2 years and T.M.K. (Tula, Musika, Kilos and we won 1st Place in this contest. These experiences that I have encountered are one of the best memories I would like to treasure in my whole life and the main reason why I joined contests like this is to boost my confidence more, develop my dancing skills which I have been love doing since I was a kid, expand my circle of friends, and to enjoy my junior high school life. Also, one of the precious moments of being a student in the STE program was conducting experiments in our Research Subject for 4 years and defending it in front of the crowd including the principal, teachers, parents, and my co-researchers. When I was in Grade 10, I was awarded 4th Place in our Individual Research Oral defense and received one of the Best Research Poster Awards. I was so proud and happy for myself in achieving a memorable award during that time. The award paid off my efforts I exerted in doing my research entitled “Introduction of Lactobacillus Acidophilus as a Microbial Biodegradation Agent for Polyethylene terephthalate” which I examined the data with the help of one of the scientists in De La Salle University.

Looking back over the years of being a junior high school student, it was not always about looking at the rainbows in the sky or running with curved lips along the road. It also felt like a round-the-clock journey that was filled with uncertainties and unanswered questions popping up inside my head, yet that rough path made my eyes wide open and has even led me to beautiful destinations.

Fast forward to my Senior High School life, I have always considered myself as not a typical student who took up the HUMSS strand despite being shy and afraid in public speaking due to the main reason that I wanted to come out of my shell. I was that voiceless kid who you wouldn’t think of capable of giving a lot of chances in the lead position or agreeing with the responsibility of being a leader, which I never regretted grabbing the opportunity. Honestly speaking, it was such a great help for me to improve my social skills and it’s the time to voice out my thoughts with my members and other people as well which I am working on it until now. I came up with the realization that being a successful leader wouldn’t be possible without the cooperation of the whole group that is full of exchanging ideas to achieve the team’s goal. This seems like a simple experience for others but it serves as one of my biggest accomplishments not just as a student but also as an individual. Also, for me to reach my personal goal, I even joined Sophist’s Coalition – HUMSS Club and I am currently there as Treasurer.

Aside from being a student and helping my parents with our small family online business, I’ve been making time to engage with our community projects and activities for almost six years now such as “Clean-up drives'', “Kalakal mo, kapalit ng Uniform CO'', activities for the youth, and other educational related projects. I admit that I had a good time while working with those projects and surprisingly I have met friends. I have also recently joined as an ambassador to small non- government organization named “Para Sa Ligaya '' that aims to provide the needs of the children inside the orphanage. Through these, it strengthens my dedication to pursue my chosen course, education which has been my dream since I was a child. Despite the steep mountains I could encounter along the way, I will always be prepared to spread my wings and reach those stars I’ve always wanted to achieve. I am more eager now to share these experiences to my future students and motivate them as well to be one of the reasons behind everyone’s smile on their faces.

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shritisharma96 · 3 years

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How effective are drum circle activities for seniors?

In one word - Very! Drum Circle activities for seniors help geriatric groups feel a sense of belonging and bonding toward one another. Through our one-off and ongoing senior drum circle sessions we've noticed many benefits such as elevated moods, positive mild cardio or aerobic stimulation, a sense of happiness and wellbeing

#drum circle activities for seniors #drum circles for seniors

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redbeansoups · 3 years

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Move-In Day

Cove Holden x Reader

In which Cove Holden helps you move into your brand new dorm, and wishes you farewell before your freshman year.

Takes place after Step 3.

Like it or not, your life has always revolved around one Cove Holden. One bright-eyed, silky-haired, infuriatingly endearing Cove Holden. It’s always been him, in everything you’ve done, forever a spectator and participant in one. You have never known a time without him: your classmate, neighbor, best friend and boyfriend-extraordinaire.

Even now, as you edge into adulthood, Cove Holden is all you know: seated beside you with one hand on the wheel, wavy hair tucked behind his ears, his eyes longingly on yours. He catches your gaze, and offers you a smile, full of sincerity as always.

The journey upstate had been a long time coming; a goal, ever-present, but inching along so slowly that you’d opted merely to brush it off. But as the summer of your senior year came to a close, your move-in day had sprung up on you like an unpleasant (albeit somewhat enthralling) surprise.

Cove, forever a gentleman, had insisted on driving you all the way. You’d argued against him, only to be shut down–and quite firmly at that. “If you’re going to be moving so far away,” he’d told you one night, “then the least I can do is go and see you off.” He was a much better driver than you anyway, you’d reasoned with yourself, and it’d be nice to have another pair of hands to unpack. The idea of flying alone didn’t quite appeal to you either, so, after hardly a moment’s hesitation, you’d agreed to let him tag along.

College, all the way up north–you can hardly believe you’d come so far. You’d dreamt of this for years, spent months drafting application essays and crafting resumes. Years of preparation and research, though, hadn't seemed to brace you for the anxiety to come.

Even now, sitting in the car with Cove, hands intertwined, the idea feels more like a dream than your living, breathing reality. But the car trudges along, movements never once faltering for your thoughts.

You’d be on your own soon–a stray left for dead. You’d be nowhere near Sunset Bird anymore.

Lost in thought, it takes you more than a moment to grow cognizant of your surroundings. The scenery has shifted, the sky around you having faded to a pale purple hue. The change in atmosphere is instant. High-rise buildings litter the skyline; the shopping districts, no longer limited to a single street, bustle with activity.

It feels, beyond anything else, unfamiliar.

Isolating.

Realistically, you are far from alone. Derek, having gotten his scholarship, lives right down the hall. Your parents and sister are always a call away, and your friends have never failed to remind you of their presence. And Cove, despite being far from technologically adept, is still a better texter than most–and a relatively consistent one at that.

These thoughts, at least, are reassuring.

But the fear remains–and all you can do is try and work alongside it.

You turn to Cove. The window has been rolled down; you feel the cool evening breeze against your skin, fresh and foreign all at once. His hands are running mindlessly through his hair, detangling the inevitable wind-induced knots. Your eyes flit down to his fingers drumming against the steering wheel, then lower down to his scar, the pale white mark running gently down his forearm.

Sitting there, so unaware of himself, sunset illuminating soft features–Cove is beautiful, in every possible way.

You smile, content.

The hours pass, and before you know it, you find yourself on campus for the first time.

You tap the keycard to your door, and it opens with a soft click. The two of you are met with the sight of the dorm, the yellow-tinted wood somehow even less impressive than the photos you’d seen online. Barren walls, popcorn ceilings, worn-down linoleum from decades past. Sparsely decorated as it may be, the room puts you at ease.

You let Cove move past you to enter. “What a joy.” You scoff at the drawl in his voice. “Where’d you say your roommate’s from?” he asks, his shoulders nudging the door wider. His set of boxes is significantly larger than yours, and he looks smaller than ever with the stack cradled against his chest.

“Florida,” you answer, following his footsteps.

“Oh.” He sets the cardboard down on the ground, the impact resounding with a solid thump. “I hope they won’t mind the mess we’re about to make.”

That draws a laugh out of you; you think back to all the times you’ve stepped into his room, only to find it a complete bird’s nest. “They’re not moving in until tomorrow.” Another thump resounds as you drop your own load. “We have time to clean. But don’t mess things up too bad, please. I’d like a good first impression.”

“No promises.”

You roll your eyes, and, cracking open the first box, begin the arduous process of unpacking.

“Well,” Cove says finally, brushing dust away from his hands. “I think that was the last of your stuff.”

Setting the last of your books in place, you take a moment to revel in your surroundings. Despite his messy tendencies, Cove had done a pretty good job–with your assistance, of course. All your clothes had been folded neatly up in the closet, and your posters were hung all over the walls, like a delicate reminder of home. On the desk sat two small photo frames; one with you and your family, and one with you and Cove.

“I guess so, huh,” you mutter.

There’s a weight in the air around you, and you bow your head.

There’d been too much to discuss. Hell, even now the topic was one you wanted nothing more than to avoid. The ‘what-ifs’ had littered your mind for months now, hanging over you like a constant reminder. And though Cove had tried his best to dispel them, they’d inevitably come back–and with a vengeance. You didn’t know what the future held, nor did you know whether the two of you would last. Uncertainty riddled your mind: what if he grew bored? What if the two of you lost interest? What if, after all your time together, the physical distance became too much?

His hand comes to rest on your shoulder. The gesture is light, gentle–a welcome pressure.

The tension dissipates.

You sigh, lifting your chin up to meet his gaze. There’s a softness in his eyes you’ve come to recognize as sadness. And there’s a warmth behind your own that threatens to grow hot, to liquify and pool before you. You choke back the urge to cry, stifling yourself by clearing your throat. “You’ll text me, won’t you?”

He chuckles softly at that, thumb stroking circles into your skin. “Of course. I’ll call you so often you’ll grow sick of me.”

“I’m counting on it, Cove.”

You give him one last hug, inhaling his scent and pressing your cheek to his chest. He smells like Sunset Bird, a mixture of the ocean and the beach and all the pleasantries that come along with it. His pulse, slow and steady, beats in your ear.

Devoting the moment to memory, you angle your head to plant a peck on his cheek. “Thanks for helping me move in.”

He grins at you. “Of course.” The expression sparks something strange in you, something equal parts melancholy and equal parts pride. You so badly want him to stay–you want to reach out, pull him down into the bed and sit right atop him so he might never escape your grasp.

“I love you,” you whisper, part-plea and part-farewell; you see the pain in Cove’s eyes. “Don’t get into too much trouble while I’m gone, alright?”

He lets out a breathy laugh and, shaking his head, shoots you a smile. "I love you too."

You smile, and breathe him in just once more. Then, with one last teary kiss, you let go, and wish him a safe journey home.

You’re on your own now–

But you know he’s with you, always.

A/N: Another self-indulgent piece as always, because I've fallen in love with one Cove Holden. My freshman year of college starts soon, and I guess my worries culminated in this piece. Thanks for reading, though–I hope this was alright! Any reblogs or likes are appreciated!!

#ok this was so self-indulgent i apologize... i was gonna add more angst but i held myself back #ur welcome ^^#our life #cove holden #our life beginnings & always #gb patch #cove holden x reader #cove holden x mc #reader x cove holden #cove holden fics #our life fics

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spookyvalentine · 3 years

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excuse me you can't just throw out grunt listens to Bon Jovi and expect me to just accept that as one of earths greater mysteries

WIP game

tagging @zet-sway and @irikahkrios for this one too! And beloved co-conspirator @battlemastershepard

grunt listens to bon jovi I know this in my bones and his favorite song is bed of roses these are the facts one time mercy saw him on his knees playing air drums and waving a lighter and then he fell on his back to the floor to dramatically reach a hand up to the ceiling lights and ripped out a handful of flower petals to fling on himself as he sang his big ol heart out. they were very proud. they took a lot of vids and sent them to wrex and irikah

this one actually is a sports coach au! its a lil snip i just couldnt get out of my head. gonna set the scene a little: grunt is like. the star athlete high school senior. top recruit for space sports college. kolyat is a dorky lil middle schooler (who just took up soccer with mercy!). oriana’s on the team too. they think grunt is just. the coolest. mercy is grunt’s battlemaster, and the krios on their family strolls have seen grunt and mercy jogging/exercising in one of the citadel parks. grunt loves bon jovi because mercy has an ancient music collection he likes to comb through on the weekends he spends with them. kolyat and oriana start listening to bon jovi because they look up to him/have enormous crushes on him

Irikah is setting up a snack tray for Kolyat and his new little friend when a shockingly loud throb of music starts to boom from the direction of his room.

Passionate childish singing—shrieking, really—follows soon after. She pauses in the middle of slicing an apple and has to put the knife down, bringing her hand to her mouth to smile down at the cutting board. The edge of her vision blurs, just a little bit, with gathering tears.

She had been worried, so worried, about how their move would affect Kolyat.

He didn’t leave behind many friends in Kahje—a shy and tentative child and possessing such an acute level of self-awareness he embarrasses easily (Irikah isn’t sure if that’s symptom of encroaching puberty, though). In such a large, new place, she had despaired of what it might do to their quiet son on the verge of discovering teenage anger. He’d certainly accessed the angst. She feared he would be alone.

But instead, surprisingly, wonderfully—he joined a sports team. Started something actively athletic, with a blooming social life—he has an abundance of friends and a newfound confidence which Irikah feels like can be directly because of his coach, Mercy Shepard. They’re certainly the most interesting human she’s ever met, with an arresting gaze that lingers like warm honey and attentive in a way that sets off sparklers in her brain—

I am late I am late, the last parent to pick up their child, what sort of example are you setting, I curse to myself as I hop out of the car and jog for the fence, searching for Kolyat. Where is he? My knees suddenly feel weak as I fear the worst—perhaps Thane was correct and someone would be bold enough to try and target him, where is he, where is my son—when I hear a joyful peal of laughter.

He is on the field with a tall human, passing a white-and-black checkered ball between them. The human performs increasingly intricate passes and he copies them, stumbling occasionally with execution.

“Rock on, my man,” the human laughs—a lovely sound, really, ringing clear across the field—and does a complicated handshake with my son that ends with the two of them locking ankles around the ball and hopping in a circle before Kolyat bounces it up on a knee and the human catches it. “Kid, you’re better every time I see ya.” Their gaze lands on me, eyes bright even at this distance, and grins faintly. They shake Kolyat’s shoulder amiably, and turn him around.

“Mother!” Kolyat shouts, delighted, as his eyes land on me. I smile helplessly as he runs to me in his brand-new, grass-stained uniform—cute! so cute in the shorts and tall socks, my little boy—and he grabs me by the hand and drags me onto the field. Kolyat hasn’t held my hand in public in three hundred and forty-five days. If I start crying now, he will be mortified.

“Mother—” he says, suddenly a little stilted, formal. His subvocals twinge with excitement and nerves. He’s trying to play nonchalant. It’s hard not to grin—he’s just so cute, but Kolyat will interpret it as poking fun at him. I school my expression, but still I smile. He beams up at the human. “Mother, this is Coach. Coach Shepard. I told you about them?”

“Mercy, please,” they say, a little breathily—probably from the hours spent corralling children—and holds out a golden hand. Their dappled cheeks flush and crease appealingly—dimples, I think they’re called—as they smile at me, revealing blunt white teeth. They glow under the floodlights, gold hair curling sweat-dark at the temples.

“Irikah,” I reply, taking their warm hand in mine.

—The windows rattle with the next refrain.

Irikah has to see what the kids are up to.

She slinks from the kitchen on silent feet, treading carefully down the hallway to her son’s open door. He’d never broken their noise level agreement before.

Irikah pokes her head around the doorframe before quickly pulling back, clapping a hand over her mouth before she can audibly laugh.

Kolyat is punching the air and Irikah giggles—she giggles—because it almost looks like Thane practicing his katas in the morning.

A vid plays on the projector, humans in leather sweating and singing to an enormous crowd of people that fills the room. Kolyat and his new friend, Oriana—a human girl on his team—are dressed like the people on screen, in all black. Hilariously, they are wearing Thane’s leather jackets, the shoulders comically large on their little bodies, the hems hitting mid-calf. Her body quakes as she tries to contain her mirth. They dance in the middle of his room, clutching markers and hollering into them, jumping onto the bean bags and his bed with the screaming crowd.

The two children meet in the middle to scream into each other’s faces, their gawky kid limbs flailing as they try to keep up with the performing men.

Her son, her soft, so embarrassed little boy, quiet and reserved, now strutting on his bed with his head-banging friend pretending to slam on a guitar—Irikah finds herself getting teary again.

She had no idea her son could dance so well. Irikah watches as he struts in time with the sweating, leather-encased man onstage.

Irikah presses her back against a hallway wall and laughs softly, maybe wipes a couple tears away, before leaning back around and recording with her omni-tool. She has to send this to Thane and Mercy.

Then, as softly as she arrived, she creeps back to the kitchen. No need to embarrass the kids. She messages Kolyat instead, letting him know there are snacks waiting. She fixes a cup of tea for herself, and leans against the counter. The music fades, and soon there are two little faces looking up at her, cheeks and frills flushed from exertion, and Thane’s jackets conspicuously absent.

“Having fun?” Irikah asks, and beams.

Kolyat doesn’t even notice, as he and Oriana converge over the plate of crackers, fruit and cheese like a pair of starved varren. “Yes, Mother, thank you. Can we eat this in my room, please?” His cheeks bulge with strawberries, and Oriana chugs her juice and gasps something about roses to her son.

“Of course, my beloved,” Irikah says, and her son doesn’t even blink at what he normally whines about being mushy, instead gathering the tray in his arms and nodding at Oriana’s arms full of juice boxes. They scuttle back to his room—Oriana shouting a thank-you over her shoulder—and shortly, the music begins again.

A message from Mercy flashes green on her omni-tool. Irikah tucks herself away in her office before opening it.

They’ve sent back a video of them laughing. Irikah admires the way Mercy’s nose scrunches up and the long, vulnerable column of their throat. She absently wonders what their skin would taste like.

“Magnificent,” Thane messages.

Irikah smiles, knowing that he’s replying to both videos.

this is the concert video the kids are watching if you wanna be part of the Bon Jovi experience

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chispas-and-broken-bindings · 3 years

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Warning! Personal Post because I’m feeling extremely nostalgic.

Stories about romantic relationships seem to always be about “the one” or “the one you never should have dated because the dynamic was so toxic”. So seldom do we talk about romances that were short and sweet, but never meant to last.

I just blazed through @cellsshapedlikestars wonderful story, “love's not a competition (but i'm winning)”, which was wonderful (everyone read it), and it drummed up so many memories about the boy I dated my sophomore year in college, let’s call him Jesse, that I wanted to write about him…

The rest of my self-indulgent memories are after the break.

I’ve found myself thinking of Jesse more often years later, than I ever did in the immediate aftermath of our relationship. It’s not because ours was a burning love, or that he was the one who got away or anything like that, but because my relationship with him set the stage for what I came to expect out of even the most casual romantic relationships I had afterward.

I’m thinking of him now, because that story I ready is about a girl who doesn’t realize she is dating a boy (though it's obvious to everyone else) until the last possible moment. It’s funny and sweet, and kind of how Jesse and I got together.

I went to a really small liberal arts college, where the ratio of heterosexual or bisexual men to heterosexual women, does not favor women. That was pretty much fine with me. I was not what you would call relationship-seeking and I liked an uphill climb when it came to my romantic interests. I liked to pine after someone just out of reach, while randomly hooking up with other people on the side (that’s something to unpack on another day).

Anyway, Jesse was my friend David’s best friend from back home, who took a gap year to bike the Pacific Crest Bicycle trail and then bum around the city where they were from. He came to visit a few times during the spring semester of our freshman year, but he didn’t start attending our college until the start of sophomore year. He entered the fall semester with a ready-made friend group and a flock of thirsty girls clamoring for a single, straight guy who was in great shape from his trip down the California coast. While Jesse seemed great, I immediately placed him in the friend category. He was sporty and tan and gregarious, while I tended to fixate on the brooding intellectual type. Plus, I had no interest in throwing my hat in an already overly full ring.

Still, we were in the same circle of friends, so very quickly I got used to him being around, and Jesse was easy to love. He was affable and always up for new adventures. Soon, he was my go-to for many things. If my bike got a flat tire or we needed an extra player for a pick-up game of soccer or a racquetball tournament, I’d text Jesse. And he’d text me too, inviting me along to off-campus dinner parties, bike rides, and sometimes just to lie in the hammock he strung up outside his dorm room and smoke weed. He worked at the sailing club, and there were many afternoons I’d skip out on a necessary study session because he invited me out on the catamaran.

I didn’t read anything into it. Everything was easy with Jesse. Everything was light. Was I attracted to him? Yes, but so was everyone. I knew he was into casual sex because he’d shared a few funny stories from his gap year, one involving breaking someone’s sink, and at least in the first weeks of school, he seemed to very much enjoy and embrace the attention he was getting from the opposite sex.

While I felt a slight bitterness when I thought about how easy it was to get laid if you were a dude, I didn’t hold his good fortune against him. In fact, I went out of my way to be a good wing-woman. If we were at a party, and I realized we had ended up in a corner with only him, myself and whatever girl was clearly angling for him that night, I’d duck out and leave them alone.

Early in the semester I had already picked my impossible romance; a senior year philosophy major who lived off campus and was rarely spotted at the parties we attended. The odds were very much against me, but that was fine by me. It kept me from being too distracted, and when we did cross paths, something about the slim possibility lit me up.

Well, one night the stars aligned. Mr. Philosophy was at a friend’s party and somehow he and I ended up engaging in my favorite type of flirtation; a spirited debate about something theoretical and completely irrelevant where we could both be smug and disagreeable and walk away thinking we had won. We were drunkenly pontificating and probably about two drinks and one late night playlist change away from maybe getting somewhere when Jesse swooped in and completely cock-blocked me!

He just grabbed me by the arm, mid-sentence, and said, “Let’s take a walk.”

Well, of course, I was indignant, and I spent the entire stroll down to the bay explaining why. I could not understand why he was pulling me away from my conversation with the hot senior, when I had been crushing on him all semester. I don’t think Jesse had known that, but when I made it clear, a pained expression crossed his face, but he stayed silent as I continued my tirade. Why did he pull me away? It wasn’t like I was too drunk or anything, and I never pulled this kind of shit with him. When Megan or Rachel or whatever girl seemed into him, I didn’t interfere, even when Jesse was mucking it up by talking too much to me instead of them. Like a good friend, I’d make a graceful exit and leave them to it. So again...after all that, why was he fucking up my love life now?

As a man of action and not words, at some point Jesse ended my stupid rant with a kiss. A very good kiss that led to more kissing, on the beach and then a stumbly, kissy, messy walk back to my dorm where we kissed and kissed and kissed some more in my bed until finally we fell asleep. I suppose at this point, I should explain that I was still a virgin. I’d fooled around enough to be pretty comfortable with other things, and I wasn’t waiting for any particular reason other than wanting to have sex with someone that I liked enough not to make it a one-time event.

The next morning, after Jesse left, I realized we had spent more time kissing than talking and I still had no idea what to make of the previous evening. Was it a one night dalliance, and we’d go back to being friends? Plausible, knowing his seeming aversion to relationships. Still, it seemed a strange thing for him to seek me out like that. What if it strained our friendship? I didn’t want things to get weird just because we spent a night making out.

That didn’t happen with other people I had hooked up with that semester and I’d gone farther with most of them... but the others weren’t Jesse.

And that’s how I realized that I actually liked him. I didn’t really care if things got weird with the others. I didn’t really like them. I liked Jesse. I liked him a lot.

Cue an entire day of me freaking out while he seemed to disappear off the face of the planet. By the next morning, I had convinced myself that it meant nothing to him, and I should never bring it up ever again. Right when I was resolved to this course of action, I ran into him at the campus cafe, with his parents. They had come for a visit the previous afternoon, which was why he wasn’t on campus and why I’d heard nothing from him. But now, he hugged me and introduced me and even invited me to get lunch with them, and acted like everything was totally normal and still I had no idea what was going on.

So I joined them and assumed Jesse’s play would be that the night of making out never happened, and that we would slide back into being good pals, and I was ready to swallow my tongue and slide back with him. I think we went to a concert after that and I was still with them when Jesse’s parents left and suddenly it was just he and I, and while I’m sure I stood there, totally awkward, Jesse just scooped me into another kiss.

We didn’t have a conversation about what any of this meant. We just...started a relationship. A few nights later, we had sex...in a tent, down on the beach, after attending a ribald school tradition; a sex panel led by the most popular students and faculty, more funny than educational, with plenty of condoms and beer for everyone.

Our first time was messy and a bit awkward but also lovely and fun and then we just kept doing it...all semester. I didn’t need to ask what we were. It was obvious we were a couple, but there was also a clear expiration date on our romance.

Around the same time we hooked for the first time, I had decided I was transferring at the end of the semester, to another college in a much larger city, across the country. I told Jesse, a few weeks after we started sleeping together almost every night and it didn’t really change anything. Like I said at the beginning, Jesse was not the one who got away. Even as he became embedded in my life and opened me up to a very active (and I really mean active. To this day, Jesse is the most athletic and experimental person I’ve ever slept with) and very fun sex life, we didn’t connect at a level I knew that I wanted to connect with someone...someday.

It wasn’t until my last week or two at school that he even really opened up about why he pursued me in the first place. Ironically enough, he liked that I never seemed that into him. He knew he wasn’t ready for a serious relationship, and he kept getting signals from other girls that they were looking for something more. This is when he admitted that it drove him crazy when I’d walk away at parties. Apparently he had been trying to send the signal for weeks that he was into me, but like a loon, I missed it. Even so, he liked that I didn’t take him into consideration when I decided to transfer and that I didn’t expect too much from him.

In hindsight, I find this an amusing sentiment, because whether I gave him the expectation or not, he was giving me what I’d guess any of those other girls were looking for in a college relationship. He was there when I needed him, spent almost every night with me, and we shared the same friends. I never said he couldn’t, but I knew that he wasn’t sleeping with anyone else when we were together. He was funny and the sex was good, and he made me feel beautiful and funny and free.

He was the last person I saw when I left that semester. I stopped at his parent’s house on my way home for the holidays. We didn’t talk about what to do. We knew our relationship was over, but I let him press me up against a wall one last time and enjoyed every minute with him until I drove away for good.

We didn’t really keep in touch after that, though a few years later, when I went back to see my other friends graduate, we had a cocktail together by the bay. He was in love then, to a dancer who was as vibrant and as adventurous as he was and I was so happy for them both. I had just ended a relationship with a guy who in many respects was Jesse’s polar opposite; a repressed, overly-analytical intellectual (another philosophy major) who talked everything to death. Our relationship was fraught and intense, and seeing Jesse again put a lot of things into perspective for me.

I never fell in love with him like I had begun to with my more recent ex, but I had enjoyed my time with Jesse far more, and I felt better about myself when I thought about our time together, and that seemed important somehow. Seeing him reminded me that actions could mean just as much as words, if not more, and that any relationship, no matter the scope or intensity, for me, still necessitated a certain level of respect and regard and fun between both parties.

I’m not sure I have the capacity to fully unpack all my thoughts on the topic, but I do know that I will always look back fondly on my first adult relationship. It was short and sweet, but I know there are a lot of women who have bad memories of their first time, and for that alone I will always be grateful.

Cheers to Jesse! Always a laugh! Always a good time! And the only person I ever fucked in a tree.

#personal #first time #nostalgia #self-indulgence #memories #college boyfriends #oblivious me

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weaselsmuses-aa · 4 years

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hey human hcs again because fuck it its revamp time

Ft: My muses && Some others that i just happen to have hcs for.

My muses + oc’s in collab w friends.

Topaz!!

Age: 16

Grade: Sophomore

Born in South Korea

Became something of a musical sensation back home, and is famous for her music mixing.

Became independent at 15, moved to the states a year later with the desire to see what America was like, hollywood in particular.

Lives in an apartment with Saphir, her senior classmate and good friend.

Pastel vibes

Sassy vibes (Much more sassy than gem topaz :o)

MomTM friend. She mediates and keeps the peace. Also will give great life advice.

Judges silently, but says nothing if she has nothing nice to say. (But she’ll think it.)

Currently has a job as a DJ at a local skating rink where her friends hang out. Gets them free food and games..

Hoping to make it big in the US so she can stay after she graduates.

Parents living overseas and helping pay for her life and schooling in the states.

She spends summers in Korea where she visits her family and tours, records music.

Part of the art club and spends a lot of time in the music rooms. She isn’t in Choir, Band or Orchestra, but is in music theory and guitar. Has a LOT of friends in all those programs.

Swiss (birth name: Sage)