Author Archives: beth

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About beth

Ann Arbor-ite writes about enjoying life with all of its ironies and surprises.
Nov4

muddy.

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89th annual Mud Bowl

 

It’s another home game in the Big House today for the Michigan Wolverines, but meanwhile on campus, this happens first:

Started in 1932, the annual Mud Football Bowl takes place during Fall Rush homecoming in the natural kettle hole on the side of the old SAE frathouse, which the Ann Arbor fire department fills with 10,000 gallons of water. The party is now thrown by the Michigan Mudbowl Club and all proceeds benefit the UM Mott Children’s Hospital and many, many turn out to cheer them on and celebrate.

—

“there is an eagle in me that wants to soar, and there is a hippopotamus in me that wants to wallow in the mud.”

-carl sandburg

 

 

—

credits: university of michigan, sae, ann arbor townies

Nov3

dia de los muertos.

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one of our classrrom families
came in to teach us about
this very moving and beautiful tradition.
what a lovely way to celebrate and remember our loved ones.
Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1 and 2 and is a time to remember and honor deceased loved ones. 
The holiday has its roots in pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican cultures,  and it is a unique and beautiful blend of indigenous and Catholic traditions.
On Dia de los Muertos, families build altars in their homes and cemeteries to honor their deceased loved ones. The altars are decorated with photos of the deceased, as well as their favorite foods, drinks, and other belongings. Families also visit cemeteries to clean and decorate graves, and to leave offerings for their loved ones.
Dia de los Muertos is a time for celebration, not mourning. It is a time to remember the lives of loved ones who have passed on, and to celebrate the bond that continues to connect them to the living.
—

“to live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.”

-thomas campbell, author

Nov2

fire.

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walking around

on halloween night

cold

with a bit of snow flying

coming upon

a briliant idea

a  very large pumpkin

transformed into a driveway bonfire

trick or treaters

chilled to the bone

gathered ’round

like moths to the flame. 

 

—

“fire is our first form of technology.”

-ridley scott

Nov1

finally, a pinata.

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when i woke up on halloween morning

and finally, finally, i am a pinata

even cocoa the sweet dog joined in the fun

no candy in here

but luckily my kind colleagues

were the candy to my pinata.

“i feel like a human pinata. the disappointing thing is, no candy is going to spill out.”

-katie couric

Oct31

tell a story.

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Mack Elementary School Students in Halloween Costumes
For All-City Party, October 1941
Photo by The Ann Arbor News
All decked out in costumes,
these lads and lass are determined to win prizes
in the all-city Halloween party to be held in West Park.
Between 500 and 1,000 children are expected to attend the annual event.

happy halloween!

—

“clothes make a statement. costumes tell a story.”

— mason cooley

Oct30

full of it.

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this is not me, but we both have eaten our fill (and then some), of candy

before giving what’s left of it to halloween trick-or-treaters tomorrow night.

 

—

“every time i avoid eating halloween candy, i reward myself by eating halloween candy.”

-author unknown

 

 

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art credit: ‘Maltesers’ by Alison Friend

Oct29

warning label.

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this is the kind of note that we sometimes see at arrival

pinned to a child’s school bag

giving us a heads up about how things are going so far.

i think adults should also be able to wear these as needed

in our lanyards or clipped to our clothing or bags

a simple statement of fact

 a quiet warning

when we arrive somewhere

no questions need be asked

just a smile and a nod will do.

—

“i really should come with a warning label.”

-tom upton, american author

Oct28

’tis near.

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full october moon tonight, and something’s different

 

—

“when witches go riding, and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers, ‘tis near halloween.”

— author unknown

 

—

art credit: Ida Rentoul Outhwaite, The Witch on her Broomstick

Illustration from The Enchanted Forest – 1921

Oct27

like books.

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“we are like books.

most people see only our cover,

the minority read only the introduction,

many people believe the critics.

few will know the content.”

-emile zola

 

 

 

—

image credit: newton free library

 

Oct26

prepared.

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my daughter and her family are prepared for pretty much anything that comes their way.

(also noted: she had just given away a lot of it and this is what was left)

keep a wide berth if you are a pirate, clown, space alien, ninja, vampire, monster or….

—

 

“every time I thought I’ve seen every possible scenario, something else comes up.

you just have to be prepared at every level.”

-chris hansen