nothing like a box full of shared music
waiting patiently for me on my doorstep
to make my day.
—
“if you show me good music, i will never forget you.”
-author unknown
Sep22
Author Archives: beth
Sep21
sit down.
“the best way to resolve any problem in the human world
is for all sides to sit down and talk.”
-dalai lama
—
miller nature area, ann arbor, mi, usa
(110 parks down – 50ish to go)
Sep20
‘shrooms.
in keeping with the food theme of the month
and lucky timing
i visited mushroom park
as part of my ann arbor park walk
and there i found
a wonderful unique park
smack dab in the middle of a neighborhood
surrounded by
a group of small rolling grassy berms
once i walked through the path between the little hills
there was a sweet little playground
and a series of
interesting psychedelic painted ceramic mushrooms
it had a very special feel about it
i kept expecting to cross paths with a gnome or fae folk
instead i found a colorful hand-painted rock
one had left behind
and if i had to guess
i’d say that this charming little park
just may have been created in the ’60s.
—
“i’m just some lunatic macaroni mushroom, is that it?”
-joe pesci
—
credits: mushroominfo.com, national food days/months
Sep19
it’s all about that stance.
elvis’ fight-stopping karate stance memorial plaque
in 1977, elvis presley, while riding to madison from the airport, noticed a street fight in progress at a service station. while his limo was stopped at the nearby red light, the king ran from the car and threatened the combatants with a classic karate stance.
the young men recognized elvis and stopped fighting in favor of shaking hands with the star. elvis reportedly left after ensuring that everything was settled and taking time to shake hands with several onlookers. elvis died 52 days later.
the incident was reported by thomas still for The State Journal, who called it presley’s biggest brawl since Jailhouse Rock. a plaque to commemorate the event is installed where the gas station once stood. it shows elvis with a guitar and in a pseudo-karate stance and describes the incident.
‘if there hadn’t been an elvis, there wouldn’t have been the beatles.’
-john lennon
—
credit: atlas obscura, the state journal, thomas still
Sep18
books change lives.
spent a few beautiful afternoon hours
at the kerrytown bookfest
in the ann arbor farmers market
where i usually find the flowers and fruit
on this day
i found all kinds of wonders
new and used books
interesting genres
loved the gunslingers section
illustrators proud of their work
fellow book loving shoppers
passionate authors of all kinds
and
so many, many words
—
“reading is an exercise in empathy;
an exercise in walking in someone else’s shoes for a while.”
-malorie blackman
Sep17
crushed.
i will never forget that day in the 70s
my brother was going to windsor
to sit in the studio audience
of the bozo the clown show
watching it filmed live
the whole neighborhood
had a vested interest in his visit
besides it being so cool to see him on tv
we assumed and expected that
he would be chosen from the audience
for a chance to toss the beanbags into the buckets
and win the bozo grand prize game
this was going to be the best day ever
we knew he was going to win the jungle gym
and our backyard would be
the new official headquarters of endless fun
we ran home from the bus after school
and gathered around the tv
in our family room
to watch it all play out
we could hardly contain ourselves
it began just as we planned
he was chosen for the big game
then
he lost on the final toss
that never made it into the bucket
bozo gave a quick chuckle
a wink, a pat on the back
he had won the second prize
a 6-pack of orange crush
the family room went silent for a minute
as we realized that
our yard would not be undergoing any major change
and we’d have to find a way to share the pop.
(post below found on a bozo fan club site):
Posted on Monday, November 20, 2006 – 8:32 pm:
‘I went to see Bozo around 1972-73 also. One of the things that stands out was taking the tunnel to Canada. I also recall getting there late and having to be separated from my two cousins in the seating area. I was wedged in near the top and had to deal with some Girl Scouts kicking me in the back throughout the show. To this day when a Girl Scout asks me if I want to buy some cookies I tell them to go to hell. I don’t forget easy.’
—
“i’m in competition with myself and i’m losing. “
-roger waters
—
credits: cklw-tv, womc radio-motor city moments,
mayo playground – archives, pre-1920s, pinterest
Sep16
poronkusema.
i have at last found the perfect way
to measure my walks through the parks.
reindeer know what’s up.
Sep15
talents.
one writes numbers
happy giggles
one draws lines
purple squiggles
two young kinders
share a table
each one proud
of what they’re able.
—
“use what talents you possess;
the woods would be very silent
if no birds sang there except those that sang best.”
-henry van dyke
Sep14
off and back on.
(joey, a well-paid reenactor thoughtfully demonstrating how tired i was)
—
“maybe if you go to bed you’ll feel better in the morning”
is literally just the human version of
“have you tried turning it off and back on again?”
– word porn
—
image credit: emgn
Sep13
september tries.
“september tries its best to have us forget summer. “
-bernard williams
—
leslie woods park, ann arbor, michigan, usa
(now deep into the 90’s of the 160 parks adventure)
