Tag Archives: connection

Jan14

fifteen minutes.

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  When America Joined Hands: The Day Hope Stretched Coast to Coast

hands across america

who remembers this?

i do, and it was pretty darn cool

—

On May 25, 1986, something truly remarkable unfolded across the United States. More than six million people from every walk of life joined hands, forming a single human chain stretching from New York City all the way to Long Beach, California.

The event, known as Hands Across America, transformed strangers into neighbors and made hope visible. While celebrities like Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie helped shine a spotlight on the cause, the real power came from everyday people—parents and children, workers and students—standing side by side with a shared commitment to fight hunger and homelessness.

For fifteen unforgettable minutes, a living ribbon of humanity crossed cities, deserts, farmland, and rivers, proving that even in a vast and diverse nation, unity is possible.

The effort raised millions for food banks and housing programs, but its greatest legacy wasn’t financial. It was the message it left behind—a reminder that when we reach out and join hands, literally or figuratively, we can create something far greater than ourselves.

And perhaps now more than ever, it’s time to reach out again.

—

‘when we know ourselves to be connected to all others, 

acting compassionately is simply the natural thing to do.’

-rachel naomi remen

—

source/photo credit: earth geographic

Aug20

music connects people.

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went to my grandson’s (a born entertainer), arts camp

 in a beautiful northern michigan location

to pick him up and to see his choir performance

where some of their rehearsals even took place in the woods

it was a wonderful experience for him for many reasons

new friends, no electronics, learning to play piano, sing new music

time away from home, tell stories, eat camp  food, have new adventures

at the camp performance

my daughter noticed

that grandson j, and his longtime friend, also j

were singing in much the same positions

where they had performed

at a school concert

where they first met seven years ago

so wonderful they are still friends and still love music.

—

‘the true beauty of music that it connects people.

it carries a message, and we, the musicians, are the messengers.’

-roy ayers

*Roy Ayers Jr. was an American vibraphonist, record producer, and composer. Hw began his career as a jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 70s, during which he helped to pioneer jazz-funk.

—

blue lake fine arts camp, twin lakes, michigan, usa – summer 2025

Apr8

woven together.

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This drawing is by Anja Rozen, a 13-year-old primary school student in Slovenia.

She was chosen from 600,000 children around the world

to create a piece of art to show what peace looks like.

She is the winner of the international Plakat Miru competition.

“My drawing represents the land that binds us and unites us.”

“Humans are woven together.

If someone gives up, others fall.

We are all connected to our planet and to each other,

but unfortunately we are little aware of it.

We are woven together.

Other people weave alongside me my own story; and I weave theirs,”

said the young designer.

—

‘the cause of freedom and the cause of peace are bound together.’

-Leon Blum, three-time Prime Minister of France

 

Oct25

connection.

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the courtship is on for pete and olive

‘the need for connection and community is primal, as fundamental as the need for air, water, and food.’

-dean ornish

Jun24

on the hook.

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how exciting to find a real working payphone

caused me to do a double take

the umbilical cord connecting to many a ride home

 the joy of finding a quarter in the coin return.

 

—

“the telephone gives us the happiness of being together yet safely apart.”

*mason cooley

 

 

 

—

 *mason cooley, 1927-2002,  was an american aphorist known for his witty aphorisms. One of the aphorisms Cooley developed was “The time I kill is killing me.”He was professor emeritus of French, speech and world literature at the college of staten island and an assistant professor of english at columbia university.

 

 

 

 

May10

really close!

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The Gordie Howe International Bridge is really close to being connected

Scene from above the Gordie Howe International Bridge (between Detroit, Michigan, USA and Windsor, Ontario, Canada), as the two sides of the bridge are nearing connection. The bridge gap between the two sides is just over 200 feet and will be connected next year. In this case, really close, is still not close enough –

—

According to the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, construction on the bridge is set to be completed for September 2025 with the first vehicles expected to travel across the bridge in the fall of 2025.

Originally, the more than $4 billion bridge was set to be completed later this year, but officials say the project experienced “unprecedented disruptions” from the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for the bridge because of different restrictions in the U.S. and Canada.

“After a three-year pandemic and considering the size and complexity of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project, our project team is pleased that the impact to the construction schedule is limited to only 10 months beyond the original contracted completion date and that we could agree on a reasonable adjustment to the contract value. With safety as our top priority, we will continue to work together to deliver this much-needed infrastructure to the thousands of eager travelers ready to cross North America’s longest cable-stayed bridge,” Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority CEO Charl van Niekerk said.

—

‘the best thing is being really close. the worst thing is being really close.’

-joel madden

 

 

 

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credits: wxyz-tv, chopper 7

Jan11

collage.

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my class, getting into the collage style of art

—

not me, but very similar to how my house l0oks

when i’m happily immersed in my favorite way to create art,

collage.

—

“collage is more than just an art style.

collage is all about bringing different elements together.

once you form a sensibility about connection,

how different elements relate to each other,

you deepen your understanding of yourself and others.”

-bryan collier, american writer and illustrator

Jul11

anxious people.

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what a funny, sweet, sad, moving book –

 a brilliant story of  the enduring power

of human connection, forgiveness, and hope.  

—

“we have all of this in common, yet most of us remain strangers, we never know what we do to each other, how your life is affected by mine. perhaps we hurried past each other in a crowd today, and neither of us noticed, and the fibers of your coat brushed against mine for a single moment and then we were gone. i don’t know who you are. but when you get home this evening, when this day is over and the night takes us, allow yourself a deep breath. because we made it through this day as well. there’ll be another one along tomorrow.”

-fredrik backman (anxious people)

Mar5

warmth.

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after yet another unique and powerful winter storm

with lots and lots and lots of

heavy, wet, beautiful, pure white snow

i woke up early to a power outage

spending my morning in the library

with coffee, power bars, and locals

powering up, reading, talking, and writing

watching as a lovely grandmother

kneels down to her young grandson’s level

as she very patiently and quietly

teaches him and then lets him

check out each of his very own books

one by one

gently guiding him as he goes

only when he needs it

 when he proudly finishes his work

he loads each into his own little backpack

she helps him

put on each woolen mitten and zips up his coat

he holds onto her leg as she slowly stands

 they very naturally cradle their hands together

as they make their way out of the library

 back out into the world with beautiful white snow

what a simple yet powerful act of love

that warms me

more than this comfortable and welcoming building ever will

it’s always the people within who do that.

—

“if a family has an old person in it, it possesses a jewel.”

-chinese proverb

Mar3

commitment.

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even amidst the wind and snow and ice

these two kept good company together.

 

—

“commitment is an act, not a word.”

-jean paul sartre