This Could Be the Last Time

Not to toot my own horn here, but I have a good education, I’m on time and meet deadlines, I’m helpful with museum visitors and do my best to engage in edifying discussion about the museum pieces—yet today might be my very last day at the Chrysler Museum of Art. It’s a job I’ve enjoyed very much, and I feel sad. 

The main problem? No affordable childcare options. I love my kids. Thankfully, I don’t need this job to survive financially—and that is a huge blessing. But the fact is, my babysitter moved and her replacement was unreliable. Other options would have had me paying money to work. That doesn’t make sense to me, especially since it’s looking like we’ll be moving sooner rather than later. 

Trying to figure this out has given me a lot of respect for working parents. It’s hard to decide what’s best for your kids and make it all work. It’s just hard. 

But anyway, I really appreciated my final hours in the galleries today. Glass (above) never seemed so luminous. Renaissance never seemed so sacred. 

These are my favorites from Contemporary (above), and Impressionism (below), some by Norfolk painter Susan Watkins. 

It’s been a dream to roam these galleries each shift, learn more and more, and chat with the bright and quirky characters that make up the brilliant museum staff. 

This place will always define Norfolk to me.