Author Archives: beth

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About beth

Ann Arbor-ite writes about enjoying life with all of its ironies and surprises.

cherry blossom.

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“the significance of the cherry blossom tree in japanese culture goes back hundreds of years.

in japan, the cherry blossom represents the fragility and the beauty of life.

it’s a reminder that life is almost overwhelmingly beautiful but that is also tragically short.”

-homaro cantu

 

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image credit: peak bloom, 1920’s. this lantern slide of the cherry blossoms along the tidal basin in washington, d.c., usa, is from smithsonian gardens’ archives of american gardens. the cherry trees arrived in 1912, when japan gave them to the city as a gift of friendship.

when 5 isn’t 5.

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“the most painful thing about mathematics

is how far away you are from being able to use it after you have learned it.”

-james newman

no point in hurrying.

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a walk in the woods, northern michigan style, in the new spring
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“there is no point in hurrying because you are not actually going anywhere.
however far or long you plod, you are always in the same place: in the woods.”
-Bill Bryson, A Walk in the Woods

oui, s’il vous plaît.

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new french patisserie in town

 seems an impossible challenge

to make the right choice

yet an impossible challenge

to choose wrong.

 

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“but compared with the task of selecting a piece of french pastry held by an impatient waiter,

a move in chess is like reaching for a salary check in its demand on the contemplative faculties.”

-robert benchley

first rainbow of spring.

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followed a rainbow on my first walk in spring 

 

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“if you have ever followed a rainbow to its end, it leads you to the ground on which you are standing.”

-alan cohen

on the spring equinox.

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now is this isn’t a sure sign of spring, i don’t know what is…

 

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“spring makes its own statement,

so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of his instruments,

not the composer.”     

-geoffrey charlesworth

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Art credit: Margaret Tarrant – The Fairy Troupe / Spring’s Flowery Cloak. Circa 1920s painting. A female sprite with a blue cloak shepherds tiny fairies and elves, each carrying a spring flower, through the undergrowth. Published by the Medici Society. 

go.

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when people ask

what is your mantra or what quote do you live by?

my answer is simply one word:

go.

this covers everything for me-

go ahead

go slowly

go with care

go away

go for it

way to go

go now

go with the flow

go out of your way

go all in

let go

go with a kind heart

go take a closer look

go find your way

easy come easy go

go for broke

go in peace

go around it

go softly

go to sleep

go when you need to

give it a go

go over the top

go see the world

go live life

go help

go deep

go on

go toward

time to go

go gently

go home

go.

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how do you go?

 

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“there is a time for departure even when there’s no certain place to go.”

-tennessee williams

 

 

confidence.

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 when you choose

to step out of your comfort zone

to dip your lucky charms into ranch dressing

and fully enjoy eating them that way

no matter how others react

that is confidence. 

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“i have made the choices that work best for me. i know i cannot please everyone, and that’s fine.”

-marlee matlin

luck.

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“i’ve always believed in luck.

i love the fact that people can change their lives instantly.”

-fiona barton

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happy st. patrick’s day

 

 

 

 

 

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image credit: google images

something special.

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not my class or horse, but a tiny bit similar if you squint your eyes.

 the quote below perfectly sums up my vocation.

 

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“if you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day. that’s a heck of a day.

you do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special.”

-jim valvano

 

 

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weareteachers.com (1950s vintage)