If there be such a thing as past lives, then I am pretty sure I must have been a cave/rock-painting artist at some time. There is something about a vast stretch of space -- wall, street, or really large paper -- that calls out to me with a kind of intensity that always surprises.
From The Google
Beloved Spousal Unit and I live not quite half a mile from one of Milwaukee's lovely boulevards.
A boulevard (French, from Dutch: Bolwerk – bolwark, meaning bastion), often abbreviated Blvd, is type of large road, usually running through a city. In modern American usage it often means a wide, multi-lane arterial thoroughfare, divided with a median down the centre, and perhaps with roadways along each side designed as slow travel and parking lanes and for bicycle and pedestrian usage, often with an above-average quality of landscaping and scenery. [From the Wikipedia]
Once a year the neighborhood association puts on the Boulevard Bash. Several blocks of the street are blocked off. Tables and chairs are put out, small music stages are set up, and food and craft vendors are strategically placed along the boulevard.
And there is always a swath of pavement left open for people -- usually kids -- to do chalk drawing.
My Beloved and I walked down to The Bash a little later in the afternoon. Most of the pavement had been drawn upon, but there was one nice, large area that was open. Ooooh! I just had to draw something! There weren't too many kids around. (I try to make sure kids always have first dibs in cases like these.) But as soon as I started to draw, a little passel of wee ones immediately came in close to watch.
Kids: What is she making? (Love that third person approach, when I am standing about 3 feet away.)
Me: See if you can guess!
Kids: An eagle?
Kids: Is it a hippo?
Kids: A snake?
Kids: IT'S A DINOSAUR!!!!
One little boy said, a slight tremor in his voice, "But Barney doesn't have sharp teeth." "You're right," I said, "But this isn't Barney. It's just a T-Rex." That seemed to be okay with him.
Once the big therapod was finished, they kids walked around it and on it for a few moments . . . . and then wandered off to find something else to entertain, leaving the dino to bask in the fading daylight.
Kids: What is she making? (Love that third person approach, when I am standing about 3 feet away.)
Me: See if you can guess!
Kids: An eagle?
Kids: Is it a hippo?
Kids: A snake?
Kids: IT'S A DINOSAUR!!!!
One little boy said, a slight tremor in his voice, "But Barney doesn't have sharp teeth." "You're right," I said, "But this isn't Barney. It's just a T-Rex." That seemed to be okay with him.
Once the big therapod was finished, they kids walked around it and on it for a few moments . . . . and then wandered off to find something else to entertain, leaving the dino to bask in the fading daylight.
Postscript: Sidewalk chalk is fun, but it can be pricey.
Fortunately, it is rather easy (if a bit messy!) to make your own. If you are interested, check out this Public Broadcasting System's Crafts for Kids page.
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NOTE: The black/white images of the eagle, hippo, and snake are from the Florida Center for Instructional Technology. ClipArt ETC online resource.
