Goodbye 2016 ~Descanso Gardens ~ Enchanted Forest of Light and 2016 Goodbyes

I don't want my life to imitate art, I want my life to be art.
~Carrie Fisher

Descanso Gardens
Enchanted Forest of Light
La Cañada Flintridge, California
through January 8th

It's New Years Eve, and it was a tough year for a lot of people. There was a lot of pain and loss in the world this year, and personal losses and heartbreak, as well.  But there were moments to treasure and gifts for a lot of us to be grateful for. For those who's loss is unbearable, we hold them in our hearts and send them light and prayers.

This was something I'd been wanted to do for years. I've been to Descanso Gardens in the spring to see the flowers bloom, for the camellias and the lilacs, but not for their Enchanted Forest of Light. It was a cool night, (for Southern California) with a chilling wind, and the ground was soggy from the rain, but it was a beautiful mile long walk amongst the lights ...

Every day I feel is a blessing from God.
And I consider it a new beginning.
Yeah, everything is beautiful.
~Prince

If only life could be a little more tender
and art a little more robust.
~Alan Rickman

As you walk around the base of the trees and over the lights, they change color ...

By the little lake there are the light wands that change there patterns and colors, dancing in the dark ...

And more lights over the lake ,,,

You'll never find peace of mind until you listen to your heart.
~George Michael

Below, was something that was so magical but almost impossible to photograph with an iPhone. Millions of tiny points of light that reminded me of energy, or of the earlier, magical part of Avatar before it turned into an action film.

The opposite of love is not hate,
it's indifference.
~Elie Wiesel

You never really understand a person
until you consider things from his point of view.
~Harper Lee

~A man who has no imagination has no wings.
Muhammad Ali

Time is a precious thing.
Never waste it.
~Gene Wilder

Change comes from listening,
learning,
caring
and 
conversation.
~Gwen Ifill

We must always take sides.
Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.
Silence encourage the tormentor, never the tormented.
~Elie Wiesel

A film, a piece of theatre, a piece of music,
or a book can a difference. It can change the world.
~Alan Rickman

Karen and I at Descanso. I love that she's up for anything!

Bowie by Lucille
(done before Bowie's passing)




Kids' views are often just as valid as the teachers'. 
The best teachers are the ones that know that.
~Morley Safer

Bowie, by Finnan in 2013



Bowie and Finn



Bowie on Stage, by Veronica, age 5

Bowie was Veronica's favorite. She came to class on her birthday wearing silver pants. A birthday she shared with David Bowie.

Prince, by Eleven, age 15



A strong spirit transcends rules.
~Prince

Sweet Keya and her portrait of Bowie from 2015

There have been so many portraits over the years of Bowie and Prince, Muhammad Ali, R2D2 and others, that I didn't have photos of or couldn't find, but I find these very moving.

I'm blessed to work with these little sparks of light and that I have so many great people in my life.  I was going through photos of this past year and it was good to focus on the positive and be grateful for the good things that happened. Some of the good just sort of "happened" and then some of those things were things I made happen. 

So ... there's that. ;)

End of year slideshow ...

I don't know where I'm going from here, but I promise it won't be boring.
~David Bowie