Whew I had a whirlwind day today. Lily had a college day , where she had to take some tests and meet instructors. I got off work an hour early to drive her down there. I had about three hours to kill so first I went to the clay supply , Contintental Clay , and got a new sponge and some interesting looking carving tools. Also a glaze I want to try. Also some warm fuzzies from the great folks there.  The retail space is filled with books and supplies, and a big collection that they have acquired from pottery people from all over the place for many years.   I gazed at the pots and smiled as I recognized some old friends , and some famous guys.  I said hi to some of our pots in that collection.   I caught up alittle with the nice people there, and read the bulletin board.    I slowly ambled out thinking I had two more hours to burn.  Well the traffic was getting thicker as I headed back to campus, and I took a wrong turn  off the freeway and lost my bearings.  Was headed down Franklin av when I passed Northern Clay Center.  So I pulled in , and looked around there for awhile.  This is a showroom featuring many potters, with a gallery of special installations, and each month features three artists from the group.  There is studio space in the back, and the girl at the desk said I could go back there.  I did wander back there, and saw some people , but was unable to even get a hello back when I said hi. I rather felt like I was intruding on them,  so I slipped out.   The work in there was indeed the cream of the crop.  the heierarchy of the ceramic realm.  It gave me the feeling of being an outsider in clay land.  Like I wish I could be one of the cool kids kinda feeling.    But that was fleeting.  I again got to "see" many friends, and it really is fun to see what they are doing.    And that they are still doing it!  By the time I got back to campus  Lily had finished  her tests and the rest of the time we ate some great food and met some instructors.   I am relishing every minute I can spend with the kid right now.   It was so nice just driving and talking about stuff.   It was hard for her to come back  home , her heart is already at college!

When we got home,  we watched the movie Strictly Ballroom by Baz Lurman 1991, Lily is doing a report on him, and is a giant fan.  Gosh that was a beautiful movie! " A life lived in fear is a life half lived"  It was the perfect cherry on top of a really glorious day.  Tomorrow back to work!!