Sunday, February 12, 2012
Presidential Curiosity
On Presidents, I would be very interested to ask Abraham Lincoln to describe what it was to be a Republican.
Family Pick Me Up's
I remember something I told a cousin once, when he was feeling very low and critical of himself. I told him that whatever may come, in 20 years, he, HIMSELF is the one friend who is guaranteed to still be by his side. I then asked him why he was treating that person far less tenderly than he would treat his own best friend and this logic seemed to help. 20 years later, I find I need no excuse for loving the loyal friend in me.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Good Signs
A very wonderful Father's Day story unfolded before my eyes this weekend. If only my father's timing and eloquence IN LIFE had been so poetic!
I painted this piece last night.
Today, when I was driving to the store, I appealed to God for immediate assistance. It's human and I'm not embarrassed to admit it, so much so that I will even admit that it was 'grovel' praying. "Please God, Universe, Oneness we are all a part of! Take over! Send an angel from your Bureaucratic Division! Another one for more sensitive issues! Consume my thoughts with positive nectar! Footprints in the Sand, Yes! Thank you! Pleeeeease send someone to help me! And Thank you, again!"
Similar in form to several similar experiences, right when I got back into the car, the KBOQ Announcer introduced 'The Lark Ascending' by Vaughan Williams, conducted by Wordsworth. My cousin Jim played this piece at my father's Memorial Service which was held at an intimate, historical church in San Francisco, almost exactly 10 years ago and though I don't hear it often, it always shows up in situations like this, in perfect timing, like an answer to my call.
My father was a Classical music lover (me too(o:) and deeply enjoyed my cousin's playing. I remember being there. That San Francisco feeling; Like I could turn around and there might be Mark Twain, depressed in the pew right behind me. I remember feeling the honor of the rigid but beautiful folding of the flag my father earned. I was so proud to hear the many words of love and humor that were shared.
The stories echoed and climbed the high, Spanish walls and vibrated throughout the room, as did my cousin's violin solo.
I closed my eyes and through the music and my mind, I saw the ceiling of the church become the sky and I saw a Lark, slowly circling among tall trees, higher and higher. The violin sang the emotion of the Lark's ascending spirit and shared it with everyone. Whenever I hear 'The Lark Ascending', I feel that day, I am in that church with the ceiling. I hear the wind blowing through the trees in my mind and I lift and vibrate with the echoes of the violin, up the Spanish walls, into the sky, always trusting and knowing that the lark is my father and the sky is limitless.
The Radio Announcer mentioned the Conductor's name, 'Wordsworth', several times, which is the same name as the Author of my favorite poem (aside from poetry by my children(o:), "The Daffodils". I have created several paintings of this poem. It is very special to my heart and the value of it's meaning is priceless.
I stopped and thought, "My father must be the Bureaucrat and Wordsworth must be for the more personal issues!". FYI…this is just a fun thought, which timing can be very great for! Fun is important. I'm not pulling out the Fine Angel China and dressing up in Classical English frocks, toddling around the house, preparing tea for Wordsworth, or anything. But that sort of sounds like fun, now that I think about it!(o:
I sat in the car until the music finished and I felt good but because mother's tend to worry about their children, I wasn't completely settled inside. I walked in the house and looked at my painting. I now saw it as one of my sons and I think the bird is a Lark, still in the trees I see, close to him. This was not painted intentionally. The bird was first a boy and the boy was first a cat, both of which were corrected until they changed into this.
Coincidences, maybe. Perhaps even a series of them. I personally see them as a series and as reminders of something else. Thank you Papa and Happy Father's Day to you and all!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
"Shakespeare's Fell Hand, Defaced"
I am not fully aware and I am not fully educated but I do enjoy Shakespeare and especially appreciate his delicious poems...such tasty morsels of thought that have survived through centuries, just as he had desperately hoped for when composing, "The Spoils of Time", a favorite of mine.
Shakespeare's fear and distraction of the future and all he could foresee threatened the muse of his divine inspiration, but luckily for you and me, the muse won the battle, allowing his 'love', his artwork, to surface in his mind and travel through time to eventually become part of the wisdom of yours and mine.
This kind of eternity is a possibility for every artist and we are ALL artists.
From my not fully aware and not fully educated perspective, I imagine and feel that we are living the days that he foresaw in that poem and if we are wise, we will let the muse of our own 'love' win the battle against our fear and distraction of the shadowy future and what we now foresee. We can choose what spoils we leave behind for future generations who arrive with the same curiosities and fears, whether that's the eternal brass of bullets in the earth that Shakespeare foresaw or the eternal wisdom and entertainment of our words.
Destruction isn't inevitable, it's a choice, just like peace.
It's the same warfare of the mind that Shakespeare experienced, but it's everyone's, always. It's the past, the present and the future. I believe that we all have the opportunity to live forever through the spoils of the 'love', the artwork, the peace that we inspire within ourselves and leave behind. We are each the muse, just as we are each the Prophet of our own thought and future. May the world be patient for our 'love's' inspiration to take hold and change the distraction of what we now reluctantly foresee.
On a lighter note, I bet Shakespeare won that battle of the mind every time by reciting his own, "Exhortation to Courage" out loud to himself. It sure works for me! Powerful, very useful stuff, no matter the battle you are facing! I highly recommend it to anyone feeling cornered-ish in any way. Works like magic(o:
Shakespeare's fear and distraction of the future and all he could foresee threatened the muse of his divine inspiration, but luckily for you and me, the muse won the battle, allowing his 'love', his artwork, to surface in his mind and travel through time to eventually become part of the wisdom of yours and mine.
This kind of eternity is a possibility for every artist and we are ALL artists.
From my not fully aware and not fully educated perspective, I imagine and feel that we are living the days that he foresaw in that poem and if we are wise, we will let the muse of our own 'love' win the battle against our fear and distraction of the shadowy future and what we now foresee. We can choose what spoils we leave behind for future generations who arrive with the same curiosities and fears, whether that's the eternal brass of bullets in the earth that Shakespeare foresaw or the eternal wisdom and entertainment of our words.
Destruction isn't inevitable, it's a choice, just like peace.
It's the same warfare of the mind that Shakespeare experienced, but it's everyone's, always. It's the past, the present and the future. I believe that we all have the opportunity to live forever through the spoils of the 'love', the artwork, the peace that we inspire within ourselves and leave behind. We are each the muse, just as we are each the Prophet of our own thought and future. May the world be patient for our 'love's' inspiration to take hold and change the distraction of what we now reluctantly foresee.
On a lighter note, I bet Shakespeare won that battle of the mind every time by reciting his own, "Exhortation to Courage" out loud to himself. It sure works for me! Powerful, very useful stuff, no matter the battle you are facing! I highly recommend it to anyone feeling cornered-ish in any way. Works like magic(o:
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
The BBC and Me
Now, I am not particularly loyal to any news source, but...
If I never listened to the BBC News, I wouldn't feel so cultured with names like Mubarak and Bagbo floating around in my head and I probably wouldn't be talking to my dog and children with a strong, British accent sometimes, either. I wouldn't have a general knowledge about where the most 'dead bodies' are piling up and I wouldn't feel so curious about places like the dark side of the moon, nor would I be including it on the list of possible origins of my own opinion!
If I never listened to the BBC News, I would feel like the world is a lot bigger than it actually is and my idea of 'neighbor' probably wouldn't extend beyond the block where I live.
I never imagined I would grow up and be interested in the news (yawn), I never really was before, always too busy gathering the latest from the trenches of the natural world around me, seemingly oblivious to the rest.
I appreciate that the BBC attracts my forever-immature mind by delivering the news like a sometimes funny, sometimes tragic, usually interesting epic story of reality that, combined with what I already 'knowish', further enlightens my personal journey of discovery.
If I never listened to the BBC News, I wouldn't feel so cultured with names like Mubarak and Bagbo floating around in my head and I probably wouldn't be talking to my dog and children with a strong, British accent sometimes, either. I wouldn't have a general knowledge about where the most 'dead bodies' are piling up and I wouldn't feel so curious about places like the dark side of the moon, nor would I be including it on the list of possible origins of my own opinion!
If I never listened to the BBC News, I would feel like the world is a lot bigger than it actually is and my idea of 'neighbor' probably wouldn't extend beyond the block where I live.
I never imagined I would grow up and be interested in the news (yawn), I never really was before, always too busy gathering the latest from the trenches of the natural world around me, seemingly oblivious to the rest.
I appreciate that the BBC attracts my forever-immature mind by delivering the news like a sometimes funny, sometimes tragic, usually interesting epic story of reality that, combined with what I already 'knowish', further enlightens my personal journey of discovery.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Political Cab
I'm not particularly well-informed but I am still confused about world peace and who really wants it, other than the very passive, the only folks who actually practice it.
My son and I took a ride from a very kind, but very angry International Cab Driver the other day. He is disgusted by this country and it's failure to educate, as well as the disrespectful young Americans who are the products of such lousy education. He hates the President, puts him in bed with Bush and blames them both for lies and failure. He angrily mentioned that Singapore is doing the most progressive math and that every other country is far ahead of the U.S. when it comes to education. He wasn't happy about China or India either, so he obviously came from neither of those countries!
He stopped intermittently to shake his fist and honk his horn at passing cars not doing what they should. It was funny, I actually burst out laughing a couple of times and though it wasn't my intention at all, I think it might have embarrassed him. He was a wonderful character, right out of a movie!
First, I was heated and interested in the conversation. I agreed about our schools, anyway. What a travesty! This driver was going way over the conversational speed limit and I was right there, along for the ride...until it went past good points that made sense and crashed into downright hatred of my country, OUR country. I was on the brink of another, "Yea, that's true!", but I felt my gut sink. I didn't agree anymore.
I felt what he was feeling but it became too much when I felt his war and inadvertant hatred towards me, my neighbors, as well as`others he might not know. I detected a desire for revenge which is a cycle I adamantly disagree with, whatever the story. We aren't countries, we are people. This cycle of hate, this cycle of revenge is the real travesty, not prehistoric math.
I happen to be an American. As an individual, I practice positive ideals. I am tolerant. I am hopeful. I value me conscience and I am grateful for freedom, especially as it evolves away from a sad history or war and slavery but when I think about it, if we end war and slavery everywhere in the world, anyone from anywhere can make the same claim and move forward, fully equipped for success without the need to become an overly-knowledged cruise missle on it's way to the next battle. What is it they say about excess?
There is no ONE evil empire. Our planet is so small that if there IS an evil empire, such a horrible cancer would have already made it around the globe by now...so please...enough with the U.S. is THIS, the U.S. is THAT. Everywhere is this or that and if we are honest, the U.S. is where everyone has always wanted to be so it can't be THAT bad.
To some, evil is not educating as rapidly or defensively as other countries. To others, evil is taking advantage of that.
Knowledge is something we are not equipped with at birth but wisdom (some would argue), is. It amazes me that regardless of any religion, God-given wisdom is tossed aside for a knowledge of war and a war of knowledge, the new arms race.
If world peace is really the goal, then maybe we should consider that we are all born with the wisdom to achieve this but now, as we enter a new age of mind exploration, even the God-given wisdom we were born with is being manipulated and smothered by facts for the benefit of modern-day war and slavery. If you believe in God, how can you rationalize disrespecting Him this way?
I proudly do not consider myself a contender in any race for knowledge and I respect the direction that was embedded within me, though I try to avoid rampant manipulation of my mind along the way.
If peace and healthy prosperity are the true goals, then a useful education is always available and inevitable, no matter the age or the country you live in...But just remember this, I don't know much and I could be wrong!
My son and I took a ride from a very kind, but very angry International Cab Driver the other day. He is disgusted by this country and it's failure to educate, as well as the disrespectful young Americans who are the products of such lousy education. He hates the President, puts him in bed with Bush and blames them both for lies and failure. He angrily mentioned that Singapore is doing the most progressive math and that every other country is far ahead of the U.S. when it comes to education. He wasn't happy about China or India either, so he obviously came from neither of those countries!
He stopped intermittently to shake his fist and honk his horn at passing cars not doing what they should. It was funny, I actually burst out laughing a couple of times and though it wasn't my intention at all, I think it might have embarrassed him. He was a wonderful character, right out of a movie!
First, I was heated and interested in the conversation. I agreed about our schools, anyway. What a travesty! This driver was going way over the conversational speed limit and I was right there, along for the ride...until it went past good points that made sense and crashed into downright hatred of my country, OUR country. I was on the brink of another, "Yea, that's true!", but I felt my gut sink. I didn't agree anymore.
I felt what he was feeling but it became too much when I felt his war and inadvertant hatred towards me, my neighbors, as well as`others he might not know. I detected a desire for revenge which is a cycle I adamantly disagree with, whatever the story. We aren't countries, we are people. This cycle of hate, this cycle of revenge is the real travesty, not prehistoric math.
I happen to be an American. As an individual, I practice positive ideals. I am tolerant. I am hopeful. I value me conscience and I am grateful for freedom, especially as it evolves away from a sad history or war and slavery but when I think about it, if we end war and slavery everywhere in the world, anyone from anywhere can make the same claim and move forward, fully equipped for success without the need to become an overly-knowledged cruise missle on it's way to the next battle. What is it they say about excess?
There is no ONE evil empire. Our planet is so small that if there IS an evil empire, such a horrible cancer would have already made it around the globe by now...so please...enough with the U.S. is THIS, the U.S. is THAT. Everywhere is this or that and if we are honest, the U.S. is where everyone has always wanted to be so it can't be THAT bad.
To some, evil is not educating as rapidly or defensively as other countries. To others, evil is taking advantage of that.
Knowledge is something we are not equipped with at birth but wisdom (some would argue), is. It amazes me that regardless of any religion, God-given wisdom is tossed aside for a knowledge of war and a war of knowledge, the new arms race.
If world peace is really the goal, then maybe we should consider that we are all born with the wisdom to achieve this but now, as we enter a new age of mind exploration, even the God-given wisdom we were born with is being manipulated and smothered by facts for the benefit of modern-day war and slavery. If you believe in God, how can you rationalize disrespecting Him this way?
I proudly do not consider myself a contender in any race for knowledge and I respect the direction that was embedded within me, though I try to avoid rampant manipulation of my mind along the way.
If peace and healthy prosperity are the true goals, then a useful education is always available and inevitable, no matter the age or the country you live in...But just remember this, I don't know much and I could be wrong!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Paint
Sometimes my best conversations are the ones I have with talk radio. I listen, I learn and I get to make my points with conviction and nobody is there to point out whether or not I sound like a partially uninformed idiot. Does wonders for my self-esteem(o:
I recently listened to a heated discussion about artifacts in a Cairo museum (I THINK it was a Cairo Museum, anyway...Uh-oh, the partially informed idiot...Exposed!). Apparently there is what looks like a conspiracy going on. During 'cleaning', many carved, stone figures have been stripped of their original black paint and re-displayed as white stone, you can even see the chip marks!
I remember a strong-voiced African man taking a lead role in the discussion and as he described, many of the discoveries and accomplishments that Egypt takes credit for were, in fact, discoveries and accomplishments made by Africans who originally inhabited that region so genetically, Africans were the true great Astronomers, Architects, and Thinkers.
Has Egypt done a serious job of pulling the wool over the world's eyes? I felt as upset as the strong-voiced man in the discussion. I know what it feels like to be stolen from but wow, talk about art thieves! The story has kept my curiosity up at night, regardless of the fact that it doesn't really surprise me.
Now, I don't really consider myself a 'Hippie' but I realize I ask some pretty 'Hippie' questions like, "Why do we do these things? Do stones of different colors and origins argue what shape they should be carved into or what color they should be painted? Are they offended when we strip their paint? Do mountains fight for credit? Why do we?". Maybe I should start to consider myself a Hippie...nah, I like shoes, hamburgers and toiletries too much.
A few days later, I went to visit Dan. Dan is a new friend of mine and as he was showing me around his gorgeous, newly-facelifted Victorian, he pointed out the beautiful redwood that was discovered under layers of white paint that had been stripped away. I have to say, the redwood was beautiful and after all of that time, I bet the house itself was enjoying it's new, redwood look!
It's interesting that something like paint removal can instigate such different responses in the same week.
Of course, the circumstances surrounding the two stories are obviously different, I get that, but when paint is removed (black or white), all that is happening is the unveiling of what is underneath, the essence of what it really is. Stone. Wood. Why do we paint figures black or white in the first place? Politics? Credit? Why do we feel the desire to strip the paint away? Politics? Credit? It's terrible to be stolen from, but when do we stop choosing this battle and share the credits of peace together?
Stone and wood go back a lot further than we do and if they don't fight over who cut the rivers, then we shouldn't fight over who figured out where they flow and why! Just look at the wisdom there and consider there's not a single Galileo in the rock pile (though there might be in the forest!)! There are countless colors in nature and none of them fight for credit. WHY DO WE?
When modern children, unimposed by history and hate, are given the opportunity to paint their own figurines, I imagine they paint them in every available color. There is no better way to 'fix' history than by moving forward with this kind of freedom.
Sincerely,
A Partially Uninformed Idiot
I recently listened to a heated discussion about artifacts in a Cairo museum (I THINK it was a Cairo Museum, anyway...Uh-oh, the partially informed idiot...Exposed!). Apparently there is what looks like a conspiracy going on. During 'cleaning', many carved, stone figures have been stripped of their original black paint and re-displayed as white stone, you can even see the chip marks!
I remember a strong-voiced African man taking a lead role in the discussion and as he described, many of the discoveries and accomplishments that Egypt takes credit for were, in fact, discoveries and accomplishments made by Africans who originally inhabited that region so genetically, Africans were the true great Astronomers, Architects, and Thinkers.
Has Egypt done a serious job of pulling the wool over the world's eyes? I felt as upset as the strong-voiced man in the discussion. I know what it feels like to be stolen from but wow, talk about art thieves! The story has kept my curiosity up at night, regardless of the fact that it doesn't really surprise me.
Now, I don't really consider myself a 'Hippie' but I realize I ask some pretty 'Hippie' questions like, "Why do we do these things? Do stones of different colors and origins argue what shape they should be carved into or what color they should be painted? Are they offended when we strip their paint? Do mountains fight for credit? Why do we?". Maybe I should start to consider myself a Hippie...nah, I like shoes, hamburgers and toiletries too much.
A few days later, I went to visit Dan. Dan is a new friend of mine and as he was showing me around his gorgeous, newly-facelifted Victorian, he pointed out the beautiful redwood that was discovered under layers of white paint that had been stripped away. I have to say, the redwood was beautiful and after all of that time, I bet the house itself was enjoying it's new, redwood look!
It's interesting that something like paint removal can instigate such different responses in the same week.
Of course, the circumstances surrounding the two stories are obviously different, I get that, but when paint is removed (black or white), all that is happening is the unveiling of what is underneath, the essence of what it really is. Stone. Wood. Why do we paint figures black or white in the first place? Politics? Credit? Why do we feel the desire to strip the paint away? Politics? Credit? It's terrible to be stolen from, but when do we stop choosing this battle and share the credits of peace together?
Stone and wood go back a lot further than we do and if they don't fight over who cut the rivers, then we shouldn't fight over who figured out where they flow and why! Just look at the wisdom there and consider there's not a single Galileo in the rock pile (though there might be in the forest!)! There are countless colors in nature and none of them fight for credit. WHY DO WE?
When modern children, unimposed by history and hate, are given the opportunity to paint their own figurines, I imagine they paint them in every available color. There is no better way to 'fix' history than by moving forward with this kind of freedom.
Sincerely,
A Partially Uninformed Idiot
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