"The old sleep poorly. Perhaps they stand watch."
— Stephen King, Pet Sematary
This was one of those days when there were children and young people running about MacLeod House. The giggling and loud voices were all over the place. Colleen was in her element, the happy tide of emotions from the kids washed over her like a sun warmed waterfall. Even when she was alone, the echoed voices whispered from the walls; it was like that in many old houses.
Music filled the ballroom that was used a few times a year for large gatherings like Christmas Eve. Today, it was filled with music and had life breathed into it as some of her children and grandchildren practiced on their instruments and danced. Abby and Madison would be old enough for the winter session of Shanachie STARS. Colleen looked forward to signing them up as the experience had been a very positive one for Rhiannon's children.
Maggie, Rick, and Catie had all benefited in some way from Mataya DeLuca's brainchild. Rick had developed some dancing skills and learned how to behave with people that were not his sisters. Catie learned how to use her skill in gymnastics as a stepping stone in other activities. There was more to it than just tumbling, flipping, and landing on point. These skills were confidence builders and sticking a proper landing had taught Catie to be graceful in the finish. Those abilities could be applied to dancing of any kind. Building her confidence helped Catie find her own place instead of being overshadowed by her elder sister. In Catie's eyes, her big sister could do everything well and make it look easy. In most cases, she saw the results, but not the work that went into it. Taking part in the STARS had shown Catie that Maggie applied a simple rule to anything she tried, if you fall off the horse, get up, brush yourself off, and get back on. Maggie had used ballet to improve her footwork for dueling. What the STARS had helped her with was public speaking and performing.
Colleen was looking out the window of her office as rain started to tap against the glass. The door into the library had had been left open as sign she was open to having visitors. A lesson learned early by most of her family, when the door was closed to not disturb the matriarch at work.
This was one of those days when there were children and young people running about MacLeod House. The giggling and loud voices were all over the place. Colleen was in her element, the happy tide of emotions from the kids washed over her like a sun warmed waterfall. Even when she was alone, the echoed voices whispered from the walls; it was like that in many old houses.
Music filled the ballroom that was used a few times a year for large gatherings like Christmas Eve. Today, it was filled with music and had life breathed into it as some of her children and grandchildren practiced on their instruments and danced. Abby and Madison would be old enough for the winter session of Shanachie STARS. Colleen looked forward to signing them up as the experience had been a very positive one for Rhiannon's children.
Maggie, Rick, and Catie had all benefited in some way from Mataya DeLuca's brainchild. Rick had developed some dancing skills and learned how to behave with people that were not his sisters. Catie learned how to use her skill in gymnastics as a stepping stone in other activities. There was more to it than just tumbling, flipping, and landing on point. These skills were confidence builders and sticking a proper landing had taught Catie to be graceful in the finish. Those abilities could be applied to dancing of any kind. Building her confidence helped Catie find her own place instead of being overshadowed by her elder sister. In Catie's eyes, her big sister could do everything well and make it look easy. In most cases, she saw the results, but not the work that went into it. Taking part in the STARS had shown Catie that Maggie applied a simple rule to anything she tried, if you fall off the horse, get up, brush yourself off, and get back on. Maggie had used ballet to improve her footwork for dueling. What the STARS had helped her with was public speaking and performing.
Colleen was looking out the window of her office as rain started to tap against the glass. The door into the library had had been left open as sign she was open to having visitors. A lesson learned early by most of her family, when the door was closed to not disturb the matriarch at work.