fairest of all – solc2018#31

On this last day of the month, the end of the Slice of Life Challenge to write every day in March has arrived. Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for this inspiration and this opportunity.

This year, March ends and April begins on a high note.

We celebrate Easter as the pinnacle of our faith, the gift of new life after the cold, empty sacrifice made by our Lord.

Fairest Lord Jesus,
Ruler of all nature,
O Thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
Thou, my soul’s glory, joy and crown.

Thank You, Lord, for Jesus.

I opened my front door to this view today:

Of course Easter comes in spring. New life springing up everywhere after the cold winter.

Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring;
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
Who makes the woeful heart to sing.

Evidence of renewal and growth in every twig, each blade of grass, even in the pollen floating through the air. All brought forth by the Master’s hand.

How I wished for this view in the cold days of winter. But I could do nothing to make it happen. Except wait… wait with hope and with faith. And now, here it is. Spring Beauty, indeed.

Thank You, Lord, for spring.

Last night, the first clear, cloud-free night in a while, the full moon lit the sky and warmed our hearts with its luminous glow. The moon is mesmerizing to me: always a puzzle, yet lovely and unfailing.

And today’s sunshine, wedged between cloudy days of yesterday and rain predicted for several tomorrows, is energizing and uplifting.

Fair is the sunshine,
Fairer still the moonlight,
And all the twinkling starry host;
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
Than all the angels heaven can boast.

Thank You, Lord, for the Light and Hope that Easter brings.

home for a lifetime – solc 2018#30

My precious older friend moved into her home when I was going on two years old.

She has lived my lifetime there.  And a large part of her own.

But now she has gone along with her children’s urging and sold her home. The first two offers were from people who were going to tear it down. The man who bought it is going to restore it. So she hopes.

Fifty-nine years ago, she and her husband restored an old gem and made it into a beautiful home, and a comfortable spot for raising their three children.

She once told us that the local history organization wouldn’t allow them to place a historic marker at their home because they had altered the original facade. “But’s there’s a marker there,” I said. “Oh, we bought that and put it up ourselves,” she replied.

Their backyard, which borders a city park, was a longtime home to a pair of buzzards, often written about in the paper. “They never got in my way,” she said. I suppose everyone felt comfortable there.

She loved for her friends to stop by and sit with her on the screened porch. No doubt she will miss that the most.

The large tree between the house and garage grew and grew and grew, raising the asphalt driveway into a formidable hump.  “Be careful and watch out for the tree when you pull to the back to pick me up,” she would always say.

My parents moved out of their home after 37 years. It was a tough, heartbreaking move for them.  It is now the same for my friend.

I can only imagine how hard it is to leave your home of 59 years.

What parts of your heart stay behind, whether you chose to leave them or not?

vision – solc2018#29

More road work in our area. This is the path I travel to get to our daughter’s home. The road is being enlarged from 2 to 4+ lanes (turning lanes in some spots.)

Someone has to have a clear vision to change the road’s path and its surroundings so much. It is incredible to me how the landscape is altered when roadwork is done.

There is a lot of UNdoing before any doing is accomplished.

• trees are cut
• ditches are filled
• driveway entrances are demolished
• fences are moved
• electric lines are rerouted
• dirt is brought in
• rocks are taken out
• bridges are replaced

And so many orange and white striped barrels line the way.

Have you ever eaten cookies like these?

Today I passed an area along the side of the road where blasting had lifted the ground and left a surface similar in appearance to these cookies. Cracked and separated by a powerful force beneath the surface:

Lots of trees have been cut down. On many that remain, branches have been trimmed, leaving only light colored circles against the gray brown bark of the trunk.

Were those missing limbs lush and full? Were the branches long, reaching towards the sky? I can’t remember what those trees looked like before.

Is that how it will be when this roadwork is finished? Will anyone remember how this place looked before?

Or will we be traveling so fast along the new road that we won’t take time to even consider the past?

Hindsight, they say, is 20/20 – but does this vision allow for that?

hallelujah – solc2018#28

A few years back, my book club read the Geraldine Brooks book, The Secret Chord.  (Note: I am not recommending the book.)  We tried to connect the title with this retelling (and oftentimes disparaging version) of the life of King David in the Bible. One of our grown children who came with her mom helped us by reminding us of the Leonard Cohen song that begins:

I’ve heard there was a secret chord

That David played, and it pleased the Lord

I have always been troubled by the words to Leonard Cohen’s beautiful melody, Hallelujah. They have seemed so bitter – almost unworthy of such a beautiful tune. (You can read those lyrics here.) I know he was writing about his own life, as everyone has a right to do, but both the encouraging title and then the lovely tune draw you in. However, soon you discover it’s not really what you thought (or wanted) it to be.

I was thrilled to know that a better story could be told. Kelly Mooney wrote an Easter version of the song. It tells the story of Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection, including this verse:

Took from his head the thorny crown
And wrapped him in a linen gown,
Then laid him down to rest inside the tomb
The holes in his hands, his feet, his side,
Now in our hearts we know he died
To save us from ourselves, Oh Hallelujah!

Many people were moved by this powerful version of the song, so Kelly Mooney decided to reach out to Leonard Cohen’s publishers. Now she has the official rights to record this rendition of the song.

This version, to me, makes the beautiful melody into a song with more truth and joy.

Hallelujah!

today – solc2018#27

Wedged between yesterday’s blustery clouds

and tomorrow’s torrential rains is

TODAY

Sunny, warm, spring-filled, breezy, satisfying today.

 

Thankfulness fills my heart for –

my husband’s quick return home from the ER

flexible schedules

healthy grandsons

our giggley granddaughter

being close to our children

a fun trip and safe return (for family)

a healing friend

plans for a kitchen remodel

unexpected home buying possibilities (for family)

chores accomplished

planned outings with friends

celebrating the hope of Easter this week

And I am so very thankful for today.

 

I am reminded of a song by Brad Paisley:

I don’t know about tomorrow
Right now the whole world feels right
And the memory of a day like today
Can get you through the rest of your life

exceptional service – solc2018#26

Recently I ordered something online, and then cancelled the order about 2 hours later.  I received this email reply:

Your order has been canceled, for the following reason:
* request from you
Your credit card charges (if any) have also been cancelled.

 

Hooray! I kept this email and I waited for my credit card bill to come, only to discover that the charge HAD gone through. So I sent the following email in reply to the one above:

Unfortunately, this charge, for a cancelled order, DID come through on our credit card bill.

In the meantime we have had a fraudulent charge and that credit card has been cancelled. We are waiting to receive another card. Please advise as to how we can have this amount returned.

 

I sent this email on a Sunday, because I had the time to do so, not expecting to hear anything right away (if at all). Imagine my surprise when I received this response within a few hours:

You are correct, and I apologize. The order was canceled immediately, so I’m not sure why the charge went through. In any case, please note the following:

* we have refunded the amount, Below is a summary:
Transaction ID: XXXX
Payment Method: XXXX
Amount: $XXXX
Customer Name: XXXX

HOWEVER, after reading your email more thoroughly, I realize that you might not be refunded for the charge since you canceled the card.

I will make our accounting department aware of this issue, and they can send a check to you. Is the address on the order the correct address to which the check should be submitted?  Please verify, and again I apologize for the initial error.

 

I was so impressed that I immediately answered:

Thank you so much for your prompt reply. This kind of customer service is rare these days. I will definitely remember this when placing future orders.

I am sorry about the card being cancelled making this difficult. Thank you for sending a check.

The correct address is…

 

And by this time I wasn’t surprised when I received another prompt response:

You’re very welcome! We’ve tried very hard to maintain superior customer service as we’ve grown. It’s nice to know it’s appreciated!  Hope to see an order from you in the future. We are here whenever you’re ready!

 

How could I not reply to my “new friend”?

I work with our local Library Foundation. Two years ago we ordered several frames from you for our first Student Art Show, featuring fourth grade art from each school in our two districts.  It has been quite a success! We love the frames and re-use them each year. But we are a growing area, and seem to add new schools every year. This year we had our third annual show, and needed more frames. There was some confusion as to who was to order them, and that’s why I had to cancel. I will be sure the “new” people have your contact information in the future.  I have attached a couple of pictures from the reception. The art is displayed in local libraries for the next year. Thanks again for your help! I appreciate it very much.

I certainly complain loudly enough when something doesn’t get handled efficiently, and I have even written about that a couple of occasions on this blog. SO it is only fair for me to say that if you ever need frames that open in the front, making it easy to replace artwork from time to time, you might want to remember this company:

dynamicframes.com

Facebook: dynamic frames @EZStoreFrames

IG:dynamic_frames

 

pixie dust – solc2018#25

Having a three year old granddaughter has brought me back to the Wonderful World of Disney.

We love to watch movies together – although too much screen time makes a grumpy girl. So we choose carefully.

Yes, she loves the Disney princesses. “Cinderelly” fascinates still.  She can sing “Arell’s” under-the-sea songs, word for word. And Pocahontas models what it takes to be a strong girl in a changing world (in both parts 1 and 2).

There are Disney princess puzzles, band-aids, and even a pillowcase as parts of her life!

Today’s animation of Frozen is so realistic, three-dimensional, and enthralling. Yet the original Snow White (Disney’s first feature length animated movie, which we watch on VHS in an old video player) still captures her imagination – and is often requested first.

Along with her, I have become taken with Moana. Have you seen it? The music is by Hamilton‘s creator (and it features the most realistic animated hair and water I have ever seen). It’s the story of a Pacific island girl who is destined for great things:

See the line where the sky meets the sea
It calls me
No one knows how far it goes
If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me
One day I’ll know
If I go there’s just no telling how far I’ll go

This weekend we have both been enchanted by the live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast. Belle has long been her favorite, but even more so with this version. I didn’t think I could love it more, but I truly do.

The setting is a lavish, gilded French castle, perfectly designed, and yet not overwhelmingly garish, and the small town scenes reflect exactly how those places must have appeared. The animated characters – elaborate and romantic Lumiere, stodgy but finely detailed Cogsworth, light and airy Plumette, proper but sweet Mrs. Potts, and her charmingly friendly son Chip – all seem completely believably real. The additional parts of the plot tell the story in much more depth, and the newly created songs are hauntingly beautiful.

All those days in the sun
What I’d give to relive just one
Undo what’s done
And bring back the light

I highly recommend this masterpiece.

It is such a joy to view a movie that presents the happier side of life. There are always problems, but they always get solved. Today’s thinking veers away from setting higher standards, perhaps trying to prevent disappointment in not achieving them, but I believe high expectations are a good thing. And the beauty and joy of Disney’s worlds are delightful.

A little pixie dust goes a long way.

unexpected, scheduled visitor – solc2018#24

here you are again –

consistently regular,

but yet still unexpected

we’ve been lulled into thinking

that the recent change is complete

 

so you surprise us –

riding in on the wind and rain

bringing cold and snow as you come,

reminding us of your last name

 

tomorrow will be sparkling

like ice drops and diamonds

shimmering in the cold

 

and the purple-y pinkish mauve,

the magenta plum you are named for,

shows best and most strikingly

against a backdrop of evergreen

 

your stay is brief

but we will remember you

until you take us by surprise

again next year

 

redbud winter

 

the power of a book club discussion – solc2018#23

This week our book club met to discuss Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks. I didn’t finish the book before our evening together. I had been busy, and to be honest, the stories just didn’t pull me in. And then, most of them ended so abruptly, and I felt we were left hanging as we dove into another tale. I decided I’m just not a short story fan.    BUT     Our discussion leader started out by enthusiastically reminding us what a great actor Tom Hanks is, and then we tried to name all his movies (so many!). She shared a lot of information about his early life, and some of his ideas about writing. These are, as another member said, “boy stories,” things a guy would write about. It was all a game changer for me. Tonight I emailed our discussion leader:

 

You did such a good job with our book discussion Tuesday night. Thank you.

I just wanted you to know that I have finished the rest of the book, and after our discussion, it was a different book for me.

After book club, I quit reading each story looking for the plot and characters that I would have chosen for a story, and I started seeing what “Tom” intended for me to understand. This was his take on the lives of these people, and after thinking about his background and his contributions to our culture, the stories came alive.

I also thought about the research he must have put into some of the stories. Or maybe it’s just a natural part of his thinking, based on his travels and experiences, which far surpass my own. There were some fascinating facts included, as well as some powerful imaginative ideas.

His use of language is so … real!  His words and phrases drew me into the setting and the lives of the characters so quickly. I never once became bored or uninterested. The various formats he tried, with junket schedules, and scripts, and stream of consciousness, and unexpected twists – and ALWAYS a typewriter – kept things fresh and engaging. And somewhere in each, a good heart is revealed.

Now I am thinking I might go back and read the stories I read previously, now that I have new eyes.

Isn’t it great how a book club discussion can change our thinking! Thank you again!

remembrances – solc2018#22

Recently we have been saddened by the deaths of people who have touched our lives in many ways.

Their obituaries have touched me and I am recording parts of them here,  so I’ll know where to find these sweet words again.

I learned a long time ago, when a friend of my daughter lost her life in a car accident during her freshman year of college, that we who remain only have one chance to honor the lives of those we love when they leave this earth. This is so hard in the midst of a great loss, but the family of my daughter’s friend beautifully honored her brief but meaningful life and shared God’s hope and assurances with those who were left grieving.

The words written and spoken about these friends who recently passed have touched me in different ways, but above all, they have honored the essence of these dear souls, and reminded us of the impact of their lives, and the radiance they leave behind.

One was the head of the high school where I graduated: a woman I never met, but wished I had known:

Let us ensure, together, that her legacy lives on in whatever form that might be: the words we choose, the love we share, the acts we do, the attitudes we hold, and the dreams we pursue. Most importantly, let us honor Stephanie by how we make each other feel. May we all take an ounce of her love and spread it to others, so that her contagious spirit continues to impact the world. 

Another was a friend from church, a man who lost his first wife to cancer, met his second wife at a cancer support group, and then succumbed to the disease himself:

Maya Angelou once wrote, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”  That was John’s motto, and he lived his life that way. He always made you feel good. He always made you feel special. He always made you feel important.  John was truly one of the good guys: thoughtful, generous, respectful, loyal, honorable, loving and kind. John loved abundantly. He lived honorably. He cared completely, and he will always be missed.

The third was the wife of the headmaster at our children’s high school. She was also a friend of mine and a kind, caring soul:

She was a writer of life, the family genealogist, a backyard bird watcher and a lifter of souls with her frequent smiles and encouraging words. Ann’s greatest accomplishment will be revealed in the memorials of loving acts carried out by those who were blessed by knowing her. We will be more determined to live counter to our narcissistic and image-conscious culture. We will find more joy in the simple things of life: the relationships with family and friends, the laughter of a grandchild, the quiet of a morning and the song of a sparrow. We will be humbled by our imperfections yet live in the freedom of grace. We will love and will not judge. We will live with more empathy for others and the pain they are carrying. This is how Ann lived and by God’s grace how we should all carry on.

Stephanie, John, and Ann: In honor of your lives that touched so many others, and your actions that made this world a much better place, I thank God for allowing each of you to be a part of my life.

shade, hue, tint – solc2018#21

Colors are popping up everywhere these days, erasing the monochrome grays, browns, and whites of winter.

Joy!

Color lightens the soul. The presence of a favorite shade in a room or a well-loved tint in our clothing can “color” our attitudes.

In Tom Hanks’ short story collection, Uncommon Type, he tells of a man who travels back in time and notices the bright clothing colors on all types of people, not the “black over black” of today. Although I would have imagined clothes more black and white back then than now, I can relate.

Years ago I went to a state accountancy dinner with my husband. I tried to choose the most conservative outfit I had in my elementary school educator closet, but when I arrived it was easy to pick out the teacher in the crowd. The small amount of turquoise on my dress was like a flashing light in a room full of only slightly different “black over black” suits.

When I was leading fourth grade classes years ago, we had a reading challenge this time of year.  Each book that a student finished was listed by the reader on an Ellison Press diecut of a book, in Roy G. Biv shades that were arranged in a rainbow arc on the back wall of the classroom.

Our goal was to reach the pot of gold at the end. Once arrived, I told my class that the real reward was the words, phrases, stories, chapters, and books they had devoured – but they also received a gold-wrapped chocolate coin, too.

When I was in college, Color Me Beautiful was embedded in the fashion mindset of the time. My “autumn” mother finally understood why she didn’t look good in navy. My roommate’s muted “summer” wardrobe suited her perfectly, but was not my style.

I was a “spring,” and I loved wearing bright colors. Variations of nature’s blue, green and yellow, with touches of coral, remain my favorites to this day.

We are embarking on a remodeling journey that involves expanding and updating our kitchen, a bath, and the laundry. And we are repainting the interior of our whole house. As much as I love color, I am not good at choosing the right hue.

Fortunately my daughter is a master at this. Her willingness to help us has been priceless.

Still, colors can fool you. My daughter knows this, too. A small sample color chip does not tell the whole story. So, following her advice, we have painted several samples on the walls, in opposite corners of the rooms, which we examine at various times of day and in different lights.

We have painted over some of our early choices, and taken some we thought were good for one room off that list and painted it on the walls of an adjoining room. It is a process.

But we are getting nearer to finding the perfect shades, hues, and tints for our home.

Meanwhile I search the skies for the rainbow after the rain, or for the sunbeam after the storm, that brightens those spring colors that are arriving daily outside.

spring delight – solc2018#20

The first day of spring is encouraging for many folks, for many reasons. It holds the promise of better days – warmth, growth, and delightful surprises.

The first day of spring, to me, is a reminder of my mother. Today would have been her 97th birthday. She has been in heaven for 15 years, but in so many ways, she is still here with us.

My mother was a milliner – she made hats. She LOVED hats. And she loved people.

Last fall a friend emailed me that she was going to an estate sale the next day that was featuring some of my mother’s hats. She sent me the online link with pictures. This friend thought the world of my mother, and she was going to get one of the hats for her daughter, who also remembered my mother fondly.

Our family doesn’t have many of Mama’s hats, and my daughter has been wanting one of her own. But sadly, I couldn’t go to this sale. I stewed about it overnight, and the next morning I texted the number listed for the person in charge of the sale.

I can’t come to your estate sale today, but Orcelia was my mother and we don’t have many of her hats. I would love to get one for my daughter. If there are any left after the sale, please let me know.

Immediately there was this response:

Really? That is great. Which hat would you like me to check on for you? I’ll be glad to keep it back for you.

The sale was starting in 15 minutes. I couldn’t believe this unknown woman was willing to help me at this busy time!

Long story short, she kept the white straw with the big brim and the flower trim. AND it was in the original box with Mama’s logo on it. This kind soul met me a few weeks later at the site of another sale she was preparing. She would not let me pay her for the hat. Bad karma, she said.

At Christmas, my daughter opened the mysterious big box – and loved the hat! She looks gorgeous with it on. She’s been planning the outfit she will wear with it to the races this spring.

Oh, Mama. You know how to delight us still.

Of course you were born on the first day of spring.

clothes make the man – solc2018#19

Today is a cool, cloudy, gloomy day, with storms predicted for the afternoon. When I dressed this morning I put on black pants, a brown shirt, and brown, clunky tennis shoes. And a black vest to keep away the chill.

My clothing choices reflected the weather of the day. This is often the case. I do try to wear something appropriate for the predicted temperature, but I often, subconsciously, choose colors and styles that reflect either the sky outside or, sometimes, my mood. That was the case today.

I don’t suppose this is unusual. But I can’t wait for warmer, sunnier days – with brighter, happier clothing!

As I thought about titling this piece, I remembered the words, “clothing makes the man.” I don’t believe this is a true statement, not in today’s world anyway, but I do believe that the way we present ourselves says a lot about who we are – or maybe who we hope to be.

I wish I were a better dresser, but I am definitely not of a fashion mindset.  I tell myself I’d do better if I lost some weight (and I would!), but the style gene skipped a generation with me. My mother had it and now my daughter does too. Meanwhile I adopt trends slowly and I wish I had more traditional choices in my closet, too.

Today’s fashion is sometimes “anything goes.” I am smitten by the tailored clothes in old movies (almost as much as by the decor…), and I feel like it is a sign of respect to wear your best for certain occasions – which I do. But things are not as they once were.

As I discussed in a previous post, my memory isn’t what it used to be, so I Googled this phrase.

There is a lot of history to it:

Clothes make the man: what one wears is taken by others as an essential signal of status. The proverb is recorded in English from the early 15th century, but an earlier saying in classical Greek is, ‘the man is his clothing.’

And psychology:

One study observed an interesting phenomenon: wear a white coat you believe belongs to a doctor, and you’ll be more focused. Wear a white coat you believe belongs to a painter, and you won’t see that improvement. It’s been well-established—in the scientific literature and real life—that what we wear affects how others perceive us. Women who wear more masculine clothes to an interview (such as a dress suit) are more likely to be hired. People dressed conservatively are perceived as self-controlled and reliable, while those wearing more daring clothing are viewed as more attractive and individualistic.

I like the quote attributed to Mark Twain the best:

“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society.”

 

 

my Father’s world – solc2018#18

All nature sings

And ’round me rings

The music of the spheres

Spring is not even here (officially) yet, but all around us there are signs. Contrasting hints of a coming change. Not easily accomplished, but definitely on the way. A promise being fulfilled.

emerald grass

blossoming trees

swirling breezes

nest building

bulbs blooming

cloudy skies

bright sunshine

warmer air

snow flurries

sunlit raindrops

contented sighs

 

This is my Father’s world.

memory – solc2018#17

As I have aged, I find that my memory isn’t what it once was.

This used to trouble me greatly.

I taught at a school about 20 years ago with a PE teacher who had been MY teacher in high school. She had a few years on me. Even back then, I was noticing my memory lapses (a word, a name, the end of a story I was telling), and I once complained about this to her.

I have remembered what she said ever since. (So I guess I have some memory left after all.)

She compared the memory part of our brains to a filing cabinet. (I suppose these days it should be a computer filing system.) She said those memories were all in there, it was just hard to find the right folder (access the correct file) them when we needed it. This eased my troubles a bit.

So I am hoping the things I forget are still around, and will surface when most needed. If I dig deep enough.

Also, sometimes I recall things very vividly. And yet, when comparing notes with others, or when looking at pictures, I find that my memories are a bit skewed. Really?  They seemed so clear…

Today we are making a day trip to a lake where we once owned a house. We want to see how things look now (before all the leaves come out on the trees). There were two houses being built down the cove from us that looked like they were going to be quite nice. We want to see how they turned out. And of course we are curious to see our old cabin.

We haven’t been in two+ years.  So I wonder if my memory will serve me correctly? We shall see!

midway reflection – solc2018#16

Today is the halfway mark in the Two Writing Teachers’ Slice of Life Challenge 2018 to write every day for the month of March.  Many thanks – MANY thanks – to all of those who work so diligently to make this possible, and who challenge writers to… WRITE!

Time to reflect on how it’s going.

Since I haven’t written much since last March I have had to get myself back into the habit of noticing, pondering, evaluating, and then writing. Definitely a process that needs practice. I feel like I am still finding my voice.

It has been so encouraging to be back in this community of writers – to read their words, to further develop this habit, and then to have others read my words.

I am realizing that I need to be more real. I need to dig deeper, to reveal more of who I am, and to also think outside myself. I will work on that for the rest of the month.

Since I haven’t written in so long, I have several “life events” to share. Although they are not “fresh,” the words may gain strength through time. I hope so.

Looking forward to the rest of the month!

 

say what? – solc2018#15

Disclaimer: this post discusses one of my pet peeves.  If you are not interested in feeling peevish today, read no further.

I am sometimes concerned about the changes I hear in our language.

It may be yet another example of “herd mentality,” where people jump on a bandwagon that is full to overflowing, and they do what everyone else is doing – possibly without thinking it through.

First of all, it seems common to hear people to raise their voice at the end of a statement, as if it were a question. This leaves me wondering if they are sure of what they are stating.  “Today is Thursday(?)”  “We would like for you to come (?)” Some might say this draws the listener into the conversation. I beg to differ.

Then there are unusual pronunciations that are taking over:

• “ohright” for “all right” :“Everything looks ohright to me.”
• “impor-un” for “important” : “It is impor-un for you to understand.”
• “sh” sounds for what should be “s” : “The shtress is shtrong on the shtreet.”

Finally, there’s the overuse (and inaccurate use) of words like literally, curated, and athleticism. “I could literally write a book with all the curated examples I have gathered of athleticism in athletes who are athletic.”

These grate like nails on a chalkboard. I should be more understanding, I know.  But I also think people should want to be correct.  The sad thing is, in today’s world, we do not attempt to correct these practices, which makes them more common.

Or perhaps it isn’t that imporun. I am sure I am being too shtrict (?) No doubt it will all be ohright (?)

a perfect picture – solc18#14

There is so much to like in this photo. I keep being drawn back to it.

• The geometric design is endlessly fascinating. Circles, squares, triangles. Beside, between, and among. Woven together in a satisfyingly symmetrical pattern.
• A compass that points out, but draws you to its center.
• The overall intransient permanence and stability, yet with tiny shapes that suggest a sense of orderly, continual movement and activity.
• The colors of primarily shades of blues and browns. Complimentary and contrasting as well.
• Defining lines of brighter colors pop.
• Those separate spaces in the somewhat equal shadows that are alike and different at the same time.
• Hundreds of fuzzy dashes and short strokes that create the realization of living but dormant plant life.
• The light – the LIGHT!– creeping in with highlights and silhouettes, adding clarity and focus, hinting of a new day dawning and busier times ahead.
• The stillness and tranquility of this present moment in time.
• Because I know and love this place, the heightened viewpoint makes me think differently and ponder a different perspective.

Can you see it? Are you curious?

The photo itself is in the previous post. Perhaps the picture will be worth a thousand words.

Hopefully these parts, made of words, are at least a suggestion of the photo’s perfect whole.

picture perfect

A photo from a higher perspective – our town “square”

anemic – solc2018#13

Our son has his own son now, but it doesn’t seem so long ago that our son was just a little guy.

Way back when I took him for his Kindergarten physical/checkup, the attending nurse was a friend of the family. She was so good with him, explaining things on his level. He was quite chatty back then, and they carried on quite a conversation throughout.

Towards the end of our visit, after seeing some blood work results, our friend told our son, “Now Mark, it seems like you are just a little anemic. That means that your blood needs to get stronger to do the work that it should. One way to give strength to your blood is to eat lots of broccoli and strawberries. Do you like those foods?”

To which Mark replied, in all sincerity,  “I beg my mother to buy those things at the grocery store, but she won’t do it.”

Our friend looked at me, and we both raised our eyebrows at exactly the same time.

“Oh, silly boy,” I said. And we all laughed.

Yet I think she has always wondered just who was telling the whole truth, though. So I’ll set the record straight once again.

It was me.