yet another
delightful encounter
with a stranger
at trader joe’s
when checking out
my cashier
put the chocolate i was buying
into my hand
‘i know this isn’t going far.’
spot on.
working there a long time
knows what chocolate means to some people
rarely looks them in the eye
the chocolate gave him a reason to do so
i told him to
have a good day
he told me to
have a good life.
—
‘good things happen when you meet strangers’
-yo-yo ma
“i have learned that to be with those i like is enough.”
-walt whitman
—
art credit: olga soldo
“the best way to get along with people is not to expect them to be like you.”
-joyce meyer
—
art credit- L Józef Wilkoń – Leopanter
how exciting for the class (and for me)
to receive a beautiful poster and message
from our penpal friends
led by a blogging friend/teacher i admire, jennie fitzkee
all the way from the aqua room in massachusetts
connections can be made in so many wonderful ways.
jennie with the letter we sent back to our friends in massachusetts
https://jenniefitzkee.com/2023/05/03/thank-you-letters/
—
“with a little paper and ink –
and some help from the postal service –
friendship can span many years and many miles.”
-caroline rose kraft
this film.
i recently saw it with one daughter and two grandies
based on a youtube character created by comedians who were bored at a wedding
with low expectations, just wanting to be entertained
i was not prepared for this poignant, sweet, sad, funny, and heartwarming story
a documentary with a perfect blend of stop-action and live-action film
you may recognize some of the humans who appear on the screen
not an action film but fully a reaction film
give it time, it’s slow, it’s quiet, it’s incredibly touching, and will enchant all ages
it’s seeing the world through marcel’s tiny eyes,
as he deals with joy, love, loss, fear, grief, courage, and a renewal of life
reminding us of the importance of family, friendship, support, and connections of all kinds.
–
This poem, The Trees, by Phillip Larkin, was read at a pivotal point in the film and is so fitting:
ADVERTISEMENT
attending the annual ann arbor art fair
i had great luck and the honor of meeting
photographer/human rights advocate, jim spillane.
i happened by his stall
drawn in by the beauty and subjects of his photographs
especially taken with his pictures of children
after much thought
finally decided on one
a young tibetan child
tiny hands held together in hello.
i asked jim his story
how he had come to take these stunning pictures all over the world.
once a criminal defense attorney in the gerald ford white house
representing vietnam war draft resisters seeking amnesty
he got sick, had a horrible experience
changed his life
trained with an ansel adams associate
began traveling the world
taking photographs of people
his subject is the human condition and the connections and responsibilities we have for each other.
using his pictures as a way to create interest, open discussion, communicate, call attention to a cause
he has worked taking photographs of workers at a nepalese brick factory for many years
created a photo book of the workers
to speak out and to tell their stories with his photographs
still seeking to help those in need and to be an effective advocate for them.
he is a natural artist, storyteller, teacher, advocate, and man.
—
“in recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.”
-thurgood marshall, former justice of supreme court of the united states
—
link to his website: jimspillane.com
link to his book, ‘the face of bricks’: https://www.blurb.com/b/9897011-the-face-of-bricks
for those of you who’ve followed, read, or commented on my posts over the years
I’ve finally put my finger on my ‘writing style’
it’s collage
and no surprise to anyone who knows me outside of the blogging world
it goes along with the creative outlets I’ve always enjoyed
making cards, books, and art
using pieces of things I’ve found, read, and collected in the world
it’s simply a matter of combining
images, thoughts, prose, quotes, poetry, music, and ideas
that generally don’t begin together
but once gathered
looked at in new ways
rearranged mixed and shuffled
like a puzzle with no absolute solution
suddenly seeming to belong together
to bring new meaning
when combined into a whole
my blog is the same
but the difference is
rather than being made of anything concrete
it’s abstract
it’s a mix of electronic media
it can vanish into the ethernet at any time.
like all of life
it’s about making connections.
and having lived a while
I suppose I am a bit of a collage myself.
—
“every art I do is a collage.”
-santigold
what began as post #1 in may of 2012
has led to post #2001 today.
thank you to all who
view, read, comment, chat, post, and share.
i appreciate each and every one of you
even in those far away countries
where i may have only 1 loyal reader
you have all offered me
great support
much food for thought
inspiration
and most of all
wonderful human connections.
here’s to the next 2001.
—
“i think statistics go in one ear and out the other.
all of us respond to stories more than numbers.”
-koren zailckas
—
image credit: metro goldwyn mayer, media.com
had to catch an early morning flight
out of the little village of new york city
super shuttle came to the rescue
arriving right on time at 3:20am
picking up 6 other people along the way –
2 young women speaking korean
1 southern man speaking with a heavy twang
1 set of parents who giggled and hummed along with the radio
and their two year old boy
who yelled out ‘woah, man!’
every few mintues for no apparent reason
making everyone laugh over and over
couldn’t have had a better crew to send me off on my way
what a lift.
—
“i love those connections that make this big old world feel like a little village.”
-gina bellman
—
image credit: supershuttle.com
(a candid moment from my recent fiesta)
—
my goat and i would like to thank
each and every one of you
who help me
celebrate every day
(the best day ever)
by being a part of my life.
—
“instead of hate, celebrate.”
-prince
I didn't have my glasses on.... 