“to the wrong that need resistance,
to the right that needs assistance,
to the future in the distance,
give yourselves.’
-carrie chapman chatt
—
bandameer park, ann arbor, michigan, usa – summer 2025
Aug3
Author Archives: beth
Aug2
a hall of fame toy that costs $0.
anyone who knows me well, knows that i absolutely love sticks, rocks, shells, leaves…..
and why I was thrilled to read this recently:
Curators at the Strong National Museum of Play branched out when they added the stick to their collection of all-time beloved toys. Among the most versatile amusements, sticks have inspired central equipment in several sports, including baseball, hockey, lacrosse, fencing, cricket, fishing, and pool. Humble twigs are also ready-made for fetch, slingshots, toasting marshmallows, and boundless make-believe.
Located in Rochester, New York – about 70 miles northeast of Fisher-Price’s headquarters – the Strong acquired the fledgling National Toy Hall of Fame in 2002. To date, more than 70 toys have been inducted, including Crayola Crayons, Duncan Yo-Yos, and bicycles. The stick was added in 2008, three years after another quintessential source of cheap childhood delight: the cardboard box. Hail to the mighty stick!
—
‘some of you did not spend your childhood making potions
out of random leaves, berries, flowers, and twigs
tossed into a tub of water and stirred with a stick that you found….
and it shows.’
-author unknown
—
source credits: google image, nice news, strong national museum of play
Aug1
the first week of august.
Watercolor by Conny Jager, Canadian Painter
—
‘the first week of august hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. the weeks that come before are only a climb from balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of august is motionless, and hot. it is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color.’
-natalie babbitt
*Natalie Babbitt 1932 – 2016, was an American writer and illustrator of children’s books. Her 1975 novel, Tuck Everlasting was adapted into two feature films and a Broadway musical. She also received the Newberry Honor and Christopher Award.
Jul31
bus, stop!!
best ride in (and out of) town
after the tigers game last weekend
I planned to hop on the d2a2 bus
take it back from detroit to ann arbor
best thing on wheels
4 dollars, always on time,
very friendly drivers
a/c, wifi, comfy seats
no parking, gas, traffic, getting lost, construction
45 minute drive
12 minute walk to my house
except….
when we walked over to find the bus
it wasn’t there
only thing there
was an Indian trails bus
right in the usual spot where the d2a2 bus sits
we waited a bit and a bit more
finally checked my phone again
as the bus started to pull out
only to see
they were using Indian trails
for this time only
so I actually fully sprinted
(very rare for me)
put my hand up
stopped the bus
(kind of like that final scene in ‘the graduate’)
stood at the door knocking
( a tiny sign on the door said it was acting as an a2d2 bus)
jumped on
the driver said
just take a seat
pointing with his driving gloves
giving the peace sign to other buses we passed
we shot off down the road
back in Ann Arbor in 45 minutes
very close call
who knew I could stop a bus?
but I was motivated.
—
‘when you are already in detroit, you don’t have to take a bus to get there.’
-ram dass
Jul30
weather report.
the hot spell will continue a bit longer.
—
‘if it’s a regular day, I won’t wear any makeup,
just leave my hair down and head out to the car.’
-donna karan
Jul29
poppy.
poppy the baby possum (hugging her stuffed koala)
came to my daughter’s house
when her opossum mother was killed by a car
a cat brought her home
the family took good care of this little one
only 5″ long
feeding her goat milk with a syringe
water for drinking
keeping her warm
providing her darkness in a box
with an open doorway out
cuddly blankets
a safe space
human contact
in a few days
she found her new home
with a wildlife rehabber
at motor city possum rescue
a perfect match
when she went to drop poppy off
another woman arrived
with the same breed of baby possum
sweet serendipity.
—
“no matter how convoluted my life got, one thing remained consistent-
my hair looked like a baby opossum had taken refuge in it,
invited some friends over, and thrown a party.”
-jennifer l. armentrout, american author
Jul28
the bats were hot today!
the Detroit Tigers broke their six game losing streak with a big win (10-4)
against our friendly northern neighbors, the Toronto Blue Jays
at a very, very hot summer game
we had to walk around a lot
just to feel a slight breeze
drink some cool beverages
eat some cool ice cream
share a bit of shade
with our fellow fans
but in the end
there was that hot win!
—
‘it’s fun; baseball’s fun.’
-yogi berra
Jul27
round and round.
Active duty service members often carry sentimental items to help combat the challenges of war – perhaps a picture of a loved one, a handwritten letter, or a good luck charm. For Marine Cpl. Scott Harrison, that item was a music box from his sister, which he would hold close to his ear during breaks in the fighting during the Vietnam War. “I would close my eyes, and I would think of a carousel in a mountain meadow,” Harrison told CBS News. “… An image totally opposite of where people are trying to kill each other.”
Harrison left the war in 1968, but his carousel daydream continued to help him through a different battle: post-traumatic stress disorder. He eventually decided to buy a broken-down carousel and bring his fantasy to life spending 26 years handcarving the animals himself.
In 2010, Harrison opened the carousel to the public in Nederland, Colorado, and launched a nonprofit called Carousel of Happiness to spread smiles round and round for all. “Just to go to that carousel and see everybody having such a great time, is good medicine for me,” Harrison said. “Because I started out trying to treat myself, and then it just changed into something that I could do for others.”
—
source credit: CBS News
”there is in the worst of fortune, the best of chances for a happy change.’
-euripides
Jul26
abundance.
you’re welcome, friendly bike rider
—
“gratitude is an appreciation for every moment in your life.
it is a feeling of abundance.”
– brenda nathan
Jul25
open mic.
open mic night at the comedy club
where future comedians begin
everyone gets five minutes
(a tough gig, very brave souls, all)
to try out their material
win over the audience
including this guy
who sat off to the side
looking like he really enjoyed the set.
—
‘as soon as I did my first five minutes of stand-up
i knew that i would rather be a failure at comedy
than a success in marketing.’
-jimmy carr
I didn't have my glasses on.... 