Don't Forget to Remember: TO VOTE NO!

"Sometimes you have to encourage people to think again about something that might seem right on its face, but on closer examination is not..."

Alright Nashville.

One of my biggest regrets in choosing to move was the timing. As many of you may have heard, there is a very important election happening in Nashville on January 22... and I am very upset that I will not be able to vote in this election. Come voting time 2 interesting Bills will be voted on. The first is the infamous "English Only Bill" the second is an amendment that, if passed, would allow for ratification of our Charter at any regularly scheduled general election and by special election once per calendar year.. as opposed to the current regulation that only allows for ratification by vote every 2 years.

I strongly, STRONGLY urge you to vote NO on BOTH of the proposed amendments.

The first is a bit more obvious, and I will address that with others' remarks below... but the second, this, "ratification" business is equally as important. Do you know how much money is wasted on these special elections? That's your tax money folks. I understand that our charters are "living documents" but that doesn't mean we need to go around amending them constantly. This proposed ratification bill just makes it easier for the charter to be changed (we're already allowed to have votes to make adjustments every 2 years... we don't need to be voting more often than that!), costing us hundreds of thousands of dollars in elections alone. Republicans? Ron Paulians? Do you hear me on this? Vote no!

Now on to English only...
Let's chat about immigrants. I won't go into the fact that it's largely immigrants who work the below blue collar, low-paying labor jobs that most americans refuse to work while using unemployment and government welfare services... I know we have an illegal immigrant problem, but is passing English only going to solve or even alleviate any of that? No.

Currently, immigrants are required to demonstrate English proficiency before they become U.S. citizens, but there are some exceptions for people over 50 or people who have been in the U.S. over 20 years. Furthermore, not everyone who lives in the U.S. is required to (or even allowed to) become a U.S. citizen. Green card holders, also called “permanent residents,” fit into this category - as do tourists, business vistors, international students, and others.

Those who aspire to be U.S. citizens go through a long and arduous citizenship process, even while they are living in Nashville. Immigrants still have to interact with local government agencies even while they are learning English but before they are conversant or fluent, and it varies from individual to individual. When refugees come to Tennessee from Sudan, they don’t learn English in a refugee camp in Chad. They learn English once they get here.

There are over 45,000 foreign-born individuals in Davidson County who are currently working towards their citizenship. Every one of those individuals is following the right process for becoming a citizen, but English Only jumps the gun, telling these aspiring citizens that they shouldn’t get any help understanding certain Metro communications - even before they take their citizenship test...

And that's just one reason why this proposed bill is ridiculous.

Today in a full-page ad in the Tennessean, numerous Nashville University Presidents issued a statement rejecting the proposed "English Only" amendment. And I am proud to say that the statement was actually Bob Fishers (Belmont's President, and Tennessean of the year for 2008) idea. Woohoo!!!! I'm surprised and THRILLED!

Below is their statement.... (and it's awesome, so read it)

In just a few short days, county residents will go to the polls to decide the fate of the "English-only" amendment that has been proposed for our Metro Charter.

This is not the first time that this proposal has been before the democratic processes in our county. A previous attempt to enact this legislation was halted by the courageous veto of former Mayor Bill Purcell. We have also seen current Mayor Karl Dean stand firm in his opposition. Both of these leaders saw the passage of this legislation not only as unnecessary but as damaging to Nashville.

It is especially important that the higher education community in Nashville be heard on this issue. It is the obligation of institutions of higher education to help their communities think critically about important issues of public policy, especially when the policies have a deep and lasting impact on these communities.

The proposed amendment appears to arise out of a concern about the large number of undocumented immigrants who have moved to Nashville in recent years. While illegal immigration is a legitimate concern that needs thoughtful consideration and action, the proposed amendment does nothing to address this significant issue. Rather, it represents a "shotgun" approach that will have numerous unintended consequences that are largely unrelated to the problems associated with the presence of undocumented people.

Currently, Metro government provides services to its diverse immigrant populations and international visitors in several different languages. These services are provided to facilitate the transition of individuals and families from being "immigrants" to becoming citizens. Refusing to provide translation assistance to visitors, recently arrived immigrants and other English learners who need it is, in essence, refusing to offer the services at all. Is it appropriate to refuse services to those in need just because some are here illegally?

Is it appropriate to deny diverse immigrant populations culturally competent, compassionate health care? If passed, city health-care providers would be prevented from communicating with their patient in the patient's language — a situation that would have dire effects.

Is it appropriate to hinder opportunities for the Nashville community to engage in intellectual dialogue in pursuit of academic excellence? Each year many international students and teachers come to our campuses to enrich our academic mission, participate in our vibrant Nashville community, and contribute to our local economy.

The "English-only" amendment will not force illegal immigrants to leave, nor will it stop the influx of additional undocumented immigrants from coming to Nashville. Instead, it will add unnecessary layers to the natural barriers, which already exist to create challenges for immigrant families who desire to become healthy, productive and contributing citizens of the nation and the Nashville community.

The challenges facing immigrants will go from being "difficult to overcome" to being "impossible to overcome."

These services provided by Metro, which facilitate the transition of individuals and families from being "immigrants" to becoming citizens, also help ensure that our city continues to recruit businesses and attract tourists from around the world.

Metro Nashville is a key player in the global economy. The continued health of Nashville is dependent on the city's ability to attract businesses and tourists from all over the world. The decision of Nissan to relocate its U.S. headquarters to Metro Nashville is but one of the latest examples of international businesses relocating to Middle Tennessee. The proposed charter amendment will negatively impact these efforts by presenting our community as unwelcoming to internationals and backward in its thinking.

Our leaders' efforts to recruit businesses internationally create an environment that is attractive to immigrants, many of whom are not yet able to speak English. A multilingual population is the logical consequence of our efforts to become the business relocation site of choice in the United States. Middle Tennesseans cannot expect to have a thriving, or even stable, economy without an environment that is welcoming and accommodating of the needs of business and those individuals that businesses bring with them.

The concerted efforts of individuals, business leaders, community volunteers and our elected leaders of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County have created a city and a region that is healthy in its diversity, its economy and the opportunities it affords its residents.

The irony of the city known as the "Athens of the South" becoming the first major metropolitan community in America to pass "English only" is a distressing prospect. As academic leaders, we are concerned about the impact — literal and symbolic — on our mission of teaching, learning, curing, and discovering.

A statement by Nashville that we are "English" only — this "blunt" instrument — would undermine our important work and adversely affect this city known for learning and discovery.

Sister Mary Peter Muehlenkamp, O.P.
president, Aquinas College

Robert C. Fisher
president, Belmont University

Hazel R. O'Leary
president, Fisk University

L. Randolph Lowry
president, Lipscomb University

Wayne J. Riley
president and chief executive officer, Meharry Medical College

Melvin N. Johnson
president, Tennessee State University

Dan Boone
president, Trevecca University

Nicholas S. Zeppos
chancellor, Vanderbilt University

Forrest Harris
president, American Baptist College

Please Vote. And Vote NO.

Early voting
January 2-17
(Some voters qualify for mail-in ballots)

Election Day
January 22

for more info please visit: www.nashvilleforallofus.org

** side note on our "friend" and English-only mastermind councilman Eric Crafton: apparently some people will do anything to be remembered... how sad. Please don't forget that the only reason Eric Crafton is in office is because no one ever runs against him... even his own alma mater is against his brilliant idea.

Don't Forget to Remember: City Church / My Neighborhood group!

Even though I probably only made it about 20 times this year.. I love my church. The things that are said/taught. The mission. The vision. the Pastor. The Music. Communion. Love it.

City Church of East Nashville exists to reconcile the diversity of East Nashville by enjoying and displaying Jesus Christ through worship, teaching, and city-focused communities to, for, and from Nashville to the nations of the world.

I will miss meeting with my dear friends at City Church both at Sunday night services and in my (extremely awesome) neighborhood group. In so many ways, they were my family, and they are one of the things that I am going to miss a whole lot! not to mention,I am dreading having to "church shop" again...

If you are looking for a church family in Nashville... consider City Church!! (www.citychurcheast.org)

Don't Forget to Remember: Choir Tour 2005

I'm not entirely sure that I want to remember this... but it was an interesting trip, that's for sure.

Somehow, in the spring semester of my Junior year I only spent three weekends in Nashville. this is where one of those weekends was spent...

talk about a blast from the past.

Don't Forget to Remember: All those Muscial Moments

There were many... sadly I don't have pictures of 90% of them. =( But good times were had.

Hush.

Yet with the woes of sin and strife,
The world hath suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled,
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not,
The love song which they bring:
O hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing.


It's Christmas Eve. The house is full of food, family and glowing lights, and I find myself upstairs taking a moment alone to think over all that has been happening in my life recently.

I love Christmas. I love the stillness and the mystery that surrounds the Christmas story. The idea of God sending a gift to His people, and in the form of a baby on a normal quiet night... maybe it's my maternal nature kicking in, but something about that is so precious to me.

The fact that God would even care to send a gift, much less His son to His people here on earth, is astonishing. And at times it seems unfair that he would lovingly send such a gift just to later take it away. I imagine the people of Jesus' day must have felt betrayed as they watched God's gift, His own son die a brutal death...but it was for their good.. for our good.. for my good. In His sending, he gave His love, but in His taking He secured our safety and our fullness with Him.

There have been times in my life where I feel God has sent gifts, just to turn around and take them away later. I often feel betrayed... but perhaps it's for my good... maybe, just maybe, in His taking He is securing my safety. Maybe in His taking He is ensuring me more of a fullness with Him.

It's hard to remember that in many ways the cross "began" at Christmas... but this year, after two thousand some odd years of wrong, I hope we can pause and hush the noise to hear the song of love, the song of God's gift, the song of the cross... the song of Jesus, the real reason for Christmas.

All things go... all things grow...

(not a picture post! though I'll do a few more before the year is up)

Well friends, the day has arrived and I am feeling a multitude of things.

I've spent the past couple of weeks making almost 6 years worth of good-byes. I've come to find that there simply is never enough time to say good-bye.. especially at this time of year. So if I missed you, please know that it isn't personal, and that hopefullly in this digital ago of connection, we will still keep in touch. I've slept about 6 hours in the past 3 days attempting to make the rounds... what can I say, I love you guys!

As for now I am about to head out on the long ride home... I have so many thoughts, and I don't know how to go about describing what I am thinking and feeling at the moment.. so I will leave you with an excerpt from my personal journal.

Nashville. It has been a crazy ride. I will miss you and all pieces of my heart that you hold.
~danica

...I am sad that my time here is ending, but I think that it is right. Part of me feels that it shouldn't have been this way.. and in many ways, that's true... but at the same time I am leaving feeling very loved, and very blessed.

I don't know what the future holds, and I am afraid. But whatever it is, it will be new, and it will be mine, and I will find my way in it.

I hope to meet God there, and it's likely I'll find that He's gone ahead of me to get things ready, much like my own dad, who selflessly drove to Nashville just to help load up my stuff, then turned around the next day to drive alone to austin to drop it all off for me.

I'm hopeful that this next phase of life will have less growing pains, that it will hurt less... but even so, that's neither here nor there I suppose. The story continues regardless.

And so my chapter in Nashville comes to a close, for now. Maybe it's only a pause, maybe it will be revisited, maybe I'll have another nashville chapter in the future, who's to say? I don't know. But as for today, I'm loading my car and leaving my home and driving away (with blurred vision for a while I'd wager) in search of what comes next.

Don't Forget to Remember: My Kids.

(deep breath)

Ok.

I've been baby-sitting for a very long time. And it hasn't always been pretty. For a long time, most days found me tired and sick of kids by the time I got home. In fact, right after I graduated college, I joined a nanny agency here in Nashville and when I first signed on with them, I had a pretty rough time with my situation. I was sitting for a family with a 2 year old and twin nine month olds, and most of the time I came home exhausted and not-so-fond of children (and only after 7 hours!). It scared me. Was I not cut out for kids? Did I really hate children? Why was this job so trying? Why was I hating my life? (for some reason, it failed to dawn on me that I was in an extremely unique (and terrifying) situation... the average American family does not have 3 kids under the age of 3, all in bottles and all in diapers.... this is obvious to me now. )

About 2 years ago things began to change. I quit my day job to freelance in music and decided to risk a couple of "permanent placements" (families you see once a week or more for an extended period of time) in order to ensure that some money was always coming in... by some stroke of luck, or more likely by God smiling on me, I was matched up with Catherine.... six months later I was matched with Georgia and Harper.

I don't know how I got so lucky.

I plan to adopt when I am 33, and these girls restored my hopes that I may be a good mother. I can only hope that my own kids are as fun and precious as these little ladies.

When I met Catherine, she was 20 months old. Just shy of 2. She was a talker, so much so that most people assumed she was 3. I was the first person to ever give her popcorn and marshmellows (and probably tons of other junk food). I taught her how to decorate Christmas cookies. We baked together. I'd take her to Target and we'd shop, I'd make her mix CD's and we'd sing in the car. We went to the library, to the zoo, to the mall. We'd read together and go to the park (where people assumed she was mine). I took her to fly her first kite. The first time she told me she loved me, I cried.

Today Catherine is 3. She's potty-trained and even more talkative than before (which is hard to believe), she's even about to be a big sister!! Now she has a "big girl bed" and she knows Danica loves her. Today we said good-bye and I didn't cry (till I got to the car). I will miss my Catherine. (and her parents, who are super nice and have spent many a lunch hour talking to me about my boring life and/or how cool their daughter is).

When I met Georgia and Harper, they were 26 and 7 months old. Harper couldn't walk, and I had a hard time understanding what Georgia was saying. my first day at their house I was completely stressed out because Harper screamed non-stop for the first half hour before falling asleep. Turned out she was running a fever and had a double ear infection. As time went by, I was one of the first to see Harper walk and I came to understand Georgia who, like catherine, talks more and more every day.

Today Georgia and Harper are 3 and 1 and a half. Georgia memorizes everything.. especially songs, which she loves to sing. She is in love with pizza and the movie Cars. I've watched her learn to start reading and work puzzles. She calls me Dane-ka, and often asks to watch "Sugarlala" (Cinderella) Together we "cook" in her kitchen, work puzzles, color pictures and read books. The first time she told me she loved me, I wanted to hug her forever and never let go. As for Harper, she is starting to talk and is always into something, her new fetish is climbing on things and getting indignant when she doesn't get her way. It's totally cute. We said good-bye yesterday and I didn't cry (till I got to the car). I will miss my Georgia and Harper. (and her parents who are way too good to me and have spent many a lunch hour talking to me about my life, Obama, and their crazy kids =))

In a strange way, these people have been my Nashville family over the past 2 years. Leaving them is very difficult for me. Knowing that these girls will grow up without me makes me very, very sad. I know I'm not meant to nanny forever, but I will miss being a part of the lives of these families.

As a going away present I took the girls to Brushfire Pottery studios for a painting and cake party. I made a castle cake and we all painted together. It was awesome.

I'm so so thankful to have been matched up with 2 amazingly generous, inspirational and loving families with cool kids.

I'm so blessed.





Christmas Cookie 101
Press down like so..
"Is it ready yet?"

"I'm a princess and I'm going to go to disney world on an airplane with mommy and daddy and I'm going to have a princess party with princess plates and princess napkins and..."


"I'm driving Miss Danica."
"Watcha doin there, dane-ka?"


"I'm running very fast!"Catherine.

Georgia is unsure of this business.


haha best group shot ever... harper being held against her will.



Harper.
Georgia




My castle cake. Another great accomplishment!
McDonald's on our last day. She was super excited... and then the lady gave her free ice cream.

Don't Forget to Remember: WOSmith

I love these guys. I've taught here for a few years now, and for several months one summer I worked as an "office aide" of sorts. From teaching at camp for 3 years, to having weekly piano and flute students, I have learned a lot about music and teaching!! I've learned I enjoy teaching music theory, and I get excited coming up with new ways to teach kids about "understanding" music. I gotta say.. I feel a little proud when I get inventive with my methods (see funeral picture)

If you are a musician in the Nashville area, consider volunteering an hour of your time to share music with some great kids! www.wosmith.org

Formal description is as follows:
The W.O. Smith/Nashville Community Music School, founded in 1984, is a nonprofit educational institution created for the purpose of making quality music instruction available to talented, interested, deserving children from low income families at the nominal fee of 50 cents a lesson. The school also seeks to encourage student participation in the cultural life of the community through concert attendance and performance.

Instruction is provided by a one-hundred member volunteer faculty of area musicians from many elements of the Nashville music scene: studio musicians, symphony players, college professors, public school teachers, church musicians, private teachers and university students. These individuals each donate one to four hours a week to teach their students.

Over three hundred fifty students, age 7 to 18, representing academic schools from across Metro Davidson County and the middle Tennessee area, participate in over 500 different courses. Students must qualify for the reduced or free lunch program in the Metro schools to take lessons.

The school offers introductory classes for pre-instrumentalist, individual and group lessons in all band and orchestra instruments, piano, guitar and voice. The school also provides computer assisted instruction in music fundamentals and theory, classes in composition, music technology and recording. Three choirs, string ensemble,wind band, and other performing groups are available for ensemble experience. A week long resident summer music camp is also available.

Don't Forget to Remember: The Countless Casual Hangouts

Unscripted moments that made life just a tad more exciting...

(amazing how many of these are in restaurants, or involve food... i heart food)