Wednesday, February 20, 2008

the last week of something wonderful.

it's never a good time to say goodbye to a place you love, to a family, to an era. after 35 years of business, santa monica gymnastics center will close its doors. i have spent two thirds of my life dedicated to gymnastics (whether as a gymnast or an instructor) and i wouldn't have it any other way. even though i have only been a part of the SMGC family for a year and a half, this place is responsible for making los angeles a home to me and i will be forever grateful.

perhaps i should have spent hours and hours in the gym photographing everything that i love, but i didn't. there is something about leaving my camera at home and fully experiencing life in the gym. however, i did shoot a little with my digital as well as my diana film camera over the last week, just so i had some keepsakes..







SMGC's 35th anniversary/reunion/farewell party (open house) is saturday february 23rd 3-8pm for anyone who has ever been a part of SMGC and would like to celebrate with us. there will be dozens of cupcakes and lots of hugs, i'm sure.

also blogging:
Gymnast Crossing
Sparklehaus

a special thanks to al and linda luber for providing such a warm, positive place for children to learn gymnastics and have fun for all these years!

6 comments:

Carol said...

these pics are great. i love them.
get ready for cupcake mania!

The WordSmith from Nantucket said...

Gorgeous photographs!

It's a shame not to have shared SMGC with you and the current staff, longer. You, Heather, and Robyn and Lemi (you newbies) have been great! Don't know if we can recreate a similar experience at LASG.

Erin said...

Nice Teri!
^^ I'm in a picture! Yay.
Yah, the whole thing is really depressing.... =(

The WordSmith from Nantucket said...

It was sad and sweet, tonight.

Esther made my eyes moist with her goodbye. Not sure why hers, and not others. Something in the way she approached me just hammered home; and she's one of those whom I have known for a long time, there. The feeling happened again when I was going through Isabel's origami giftbox with the Hershey's kisses and memory quotes.

Teri said...

yes, it definitely was bittersweet. the memory quotes were adorable, i'm glad you shared some with us. i loved every minute of yesterday and it's hard to believe we will be teaching at LASG this week while our gym empties out. i'm so grateful for all the times we've had.

The WordSmith from Nantucket said...

My photos are already up, and a brief, upbeat post.

Thanks for copies of your photos. They are very cool.