This morning, I read an article by Kathleen Parker in The Pantagraph, our local newspaper titled, "Don't Dismiss Influences of Nancy Drew." She referred to Senator Charles Schumer introducing Sonia Sotomayor at last week's confirmation hearing for Supreme Court Justice, and mentioning her girl-hood love for the Nancy Drew books. Ah, a girl after my own heart! Like many other women of my age, I devoured the Nancy Drew Mystery Series, and delighted in this smart, clever, courageous young girl (there were so few to read about) who figured out plot twist after plot twist with her brains (girls had brains?), intuition and ingenuity. Without my knowledge, she became a role model for me in my own adventures. I think that because of Nancy Drew, I was more willing to take risks (i.e. going to Africa with the Peace Corps) than I might have otherwise been. She was my first woman hero. She also, like me, had a father who was a lawyer, and though very busy with his work, always made time for his daughter.
I loved the mystery of it all; what impressionable young girl wouldn't? The books, my favorites being: The Secret in the Old Attic, The Secret Staircase and The Secret of the Old Clock, provided the excitement my own life lacked going every day to a very strict Catholic school where everything was quite defined. Nancy Drew's life seemed so carefree, so adventurous, so exciting compared to mine. Many morning I woke up wishing that I was Nancy Drew with a mystery to solve. Instead, I was just Gretta Conlan with twenty spelling words to memorize.
Only later in life did I discover that there was not just one author of Nancy Drew, but a whole roomful of people sitting in a room cranking out these mysteries on a daily basis. And while this created a momentary pause in my thinking about the books, it did not reduce my enthusiasm for them.
Young girls today have so many women role models; when I was growing up in the 40ies and 50ies, we had very few. I don't think I could ever underestimate the value to me, of reading book after book (sometimes with a flashlight under my covers) of a young, heroic woman who influenced me to be much like her.
There are many websites for Nancy Drew but the one I went to was http://www.ndsleuths.com where you can read about the upcoming Nancy Drew Convention, September 30-October 4th, 2009 at the Excalibur Hotel in Las Vegas. One of these years, I might just attend to pay homage to one of the heros of my life.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Walter Cronkite
When the world seemed altogether less sure, and less safe, the one person I looked to for the strait scoop was Walter Cronkite. He got the country through the Kennedy assassination expressing the emotion we all felt at the time, but with the strait forward professionalism he was always known for. He was always the voice of calm, the voice of reason, and the voice of truth. He was like a grandfather who told you the facts even though you might not want to hear them. He truly deserved the name (first coined with him) of anchorman, for he truly was an anchor for many Americans during very tremulous times. Later, I never missed Walter Cronkite on New Years eve when he M.C.ed the New Year's celebration from Vienna. He brought such class to what was already a beautiful performance. Thank you Walter Cronkite. You were as much a part of my life as everyone else who greatly influenced my life.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
To Lie or Not to Lie
My last post addressed the question of "To dye or not to dye." Today, the question is "To lie or not to lie."
While looking through the Internet this morning, I found an awesome website: http://literaturepage.com where you can read full text entries of some of the more famous classics...fiction, non-fiction, poetry, famous quotes etc. right on your computer. I clicked on an essay by Mark Twain that jumped out at me called, "On the Decay of the Art of Lying."
"All of us lie," says Mark Twain; "it is the highest form of politeness." it is only "children and fools who always speak the truth."
Is Mark Twain serious here? Should we learn the art of lying as we grow up? What do you think? Does the 'commandment' "Thou shalt not tell a lie" or something like that, really mean NEVER? How about when your mother-in-law asks you if you like her potato salad that she has brought to every family event since you married her son? Are you going to say, NO? Not if you want to continue living peacefully with her son, you're not. Do you agree with Mark Twain when he says,
"I think that all courteous lying is a sweet and loving art, and should be cultivated."
How about when your boss calls you on your cell phone while you are still in bed and says, "Where are you?" What should you say?
"Oh, I'm getting a few more winks, (because I was up late partying last night), before I get up and begin the boring job of trying to sell your stupid product that no one want to buy."
OR
"Just heading down the highway to call on my first customer; they sounded really excited about the product when I talked to them this morning."
Leave a comment and tell me what you think? Of course, Mark Twain is the same guy who said,
"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."
While looking through the Internet this morning, I found an awesome website: http://literaturepage.com where you can read full text entries of some of the more famous classics...fiction, non-fiction, poetry, famous quotes etc. right on your computer. I clicked on an essay by Mark Twain that jumped out at me called, "On the Decay of the Art of Lying."
"All of us lie," says Mark Twain; "it is the highest form of politeness." it is only "children and fools who always speak the truth."
Is Mark Twain serious here? Should we learn the art of lying as we grow up? What do you think? Does the 'commandment' "Thou shalt not tell a lie" or something like that, really mean NEVER? How about when your mother-in-law asks you if you like her potato salad that she has brought to every family event since you married her son? Are you going to say, NO? Not if you want to continue living peacefully with her son, you're not. Do you agree with Mark Twain when he says,
"I think that all courteous lying is a sweet and loving art, and should be cultivated."
How about when your boss calls you on your cell phone while you are still in bed and says, "Where are you?" What should you say?
"Oh, I'm getting a few more winks, (because I was up late partying last night), before I get up and begin the boring job of trying to sell your stupid product that no one want to buy."
OR
"Just heading down the highway to call on my first customer; they sounded really excited about the product when I talked to them this morning."
Leave a comment and tell me what you think? Of course, Mark Twain is the same guy who said,
"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."
Sunday, July 12, 2009
HOW TO MAKE A COMMENT USING GOOGLE
SOME OF YOU HAVE E-MAILED ME THAT YOU WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT AFTER ONE OF MY ENTRIES, BUT DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS OF SIGNING UP, OR DID NOT WANT TO SIGN UP TO WRITE A RESPONSE. FOR THOSE WHO REALLY MIGHT LIKE TO TRY THIS, IT IS PRETTY SIMPLE, AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ELSE IT WILL BE USED FOR OTHER THAN TO MAKE COMMENTS. GOOGLE WILL NOT BE SENDING YOU UNINVITED "STUFF" OR ASKING YOU TO DO WIERD THINGS, LIKE SIGN UP FOR DOG AND PONY SHOWS OR FIND YOUR LONG LOST FRIENDS FROM GRADE SCHOOL THAT YOU HAPPILY LEFT BEHIND YEARS AGO. SO, IF YOU WANT, JUST FOLLOW THE PROMPS, COPY THE SQUIGGLY IN THE BOX, GIVE YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS AND PASSWORD, AND VOILA....THERE YOU ARE. SIMPLE, AND I REALLY WOULD ENJOY SOME DIALOGUE BACK AND FORTH. TAKE A CHANCE....GO FOR IT....DON'T BE AFRAID....DON'T HESITATE.... HOPE TO READ YOU HERE ON MY BLOG.
Harold Gregor, Illinois Aritst
Yesterday Mike and I went to the 26th annual Sugar Creek Arts festival, held this year, on the beautiful Quad of Illinois State University. It is usually held in downtown Normal (Illinois), but this year our little town is having a major make-over, and Main Street was not available. Strolling along, we were enjoying the various art (it is highly competitive to get into this event) under white tents when it began to pour rain. This was our cue to leave even though we had umbrellas, but we had just come to look, not to buy. We are not in the market for buying "extras" these days although there were beautiful items to choose from. What will happen to all these struggling artist in this economy?
Our real reason for being down on campus, however, was to stop at the Illinois State Art Gallery where a friend, Harold Gregor, artist extraordinaire, was featured with his newest paintings in a series called, "Radiant Plains." We met Harold and his wife, Marlene, when we first moved to Normal, Illinois fifteen years ago, and were friends for several years. Marlene took me under her wing and with her robust energy showed me around the town, and introduced me to many interesting things.
Harold Gregor is known for his prairie landscapes, one of which currently hangs in the Oval Office Private Dining room at the White House. (President Obama had to make a special request for this as, apparently, only deceased artists may be displayed in the White House. (weird!) I encourage you to go to the Harold Gregor website (I will tell you how at the end of this entry) to enjoy the magnificent color of his newest watercolor and painting called Viberscapes. They are truly vibrant; their color is amazing, and to my surprise, these new paintings were done with Harold's left hand while his right hand was healing from a bike accident in 2004. After the injury healed, he painted right-handed versions of his left-handed efforts. (Talk about making beautiful wine out of sour grapes!) Not since Matisse have I enjoyed color like this. Harold's canvas, Landscape #217 "What of Yellow Eyes" is one of the most joyful pieces of art I have ever seen! Harold Gregor's work is represented in prominent public and private collections throughout the U.S. and Europe including the Art Institute of Chicago and the Filipacchi Collection in Paris. Now, how to see for yourself, this amazing art.
Go to Google and type: Harold Gregor Illinois Artist
Click on first entry: About Harold Gregor
Scroll down to SELECTED ARTICLES
Click on the 11th entry: article by Kinsey called: "Plain Pictures: Images of American Prairie"
Click on Portfolio, and enjoy Favorites of mine: Ten to Neon Blue, What of Yellow Eyes,
Viberscapes
Our real reason for being down on campus, however, was to stop at the Illinois State Art Gallery where a friend, Harold Gregor, artist extraordinaire, was featured with his newest paintings in a series called, "Radiant Plains." We met Harold and his wife, Marlene, when we first moved to Normal, Illinois fifteen years ago, and were friends for several years. Marlene took me under her wing and with her robust energy showed me around the town, and introduced me to many interesting things.
Harold Gregor is known for his prairie landscapes, one of which currently hangs in the Oval Office Private Dining room at the White House. (President Obama had to make a special request for this as, apparently, only deceased artists may be displayed in the White House. (weird!) I encourage you to go to the Harold Gregor website (I will tell you how at the end of this entry) to enjoy the magnificent color of his newest watercolor and painting called Viberscapes. They are truly vibrant; their color is amazing, and to my surprise, these new paintings were done with Harold's left hand while his right hand was healing from a bike accident in 2004. After the injury healed, he painted right-handed versions of his left-handed efforts. (Talk about making beautiful wine out of sour grapes!) Not since Matisse have I enjoyed color like this. Harold's canvas, Landscape #217 "What of Yellow Eyes" is one of the most joyful pieces of art I have ever seen! Harold Gregor's work is represented in prominent public and private collections throughout the U.S. and Europe including the Art Institute of Chicago and the Filipacchi Collection in Paris. Now, how to see for yourself, this amazing art.
Go to Google and type: Harold Gregor Illinois Artist
Click on first entry: About Harold Gregor
Scroll down to SELECTED ARTICLES
Click on the 11th entry: article by Kinsey called: "Plain Pictures: Images of American Prairie"
Click on Portfolio, and enjoy Favorites of mine: Ten to Neon Blue, What of Yellow Eyes,
Viberscapes
Saturday, July 11, 2009
To Dye or Not to Dye
To dye or not to dye; herein lies the question of the day for me...whether tis better to dye my hair again, or let go of my one last prideful vista of looking young (er) than I am. But in dying, am I perpetuating a lie, both to myself and "the world" as Falstaff says in Shakespeare's Henry IV...
"Lord, lord, how subject we old men (women) are in the vice of lying!"
And again in The Merchant of Venice when Bassanio says,
"Look on beauty, and you shall see; tis purchased by the weight (cosmetics) which therein
works a miracle in nature, making them lightest (lustful) that wears most."
Well, I am certainly looking for a miracle in nature; helping my ever graying hair return to its younger, natural brown, but I am certainly not, at my age, looking for lustfulness! I guess what I should be looking for is acceptance or contentment. This, of course, would be the ideal.
"O God! Methinks it were a happy life....to be no better than a homely swain." (King Henry in Henry IV)
Ah, but Shakespeare did not have to put up with this "ageless" culture we live in today where everyone is young; where no one is ever going to die, at least not in our lifetime; and where one begins to be ignored with the first sign of aging; where I, at the college where I work, like to hang out with young kids, trying to fit in, speak their language, enjoy their interests, keep up with their technology and overall look and act "cool." A tall order for this sixty something gal. So, once again I will head to the drugstore to pick up No. 5, medium brown hair color....my one "cosmetic of choice" to keep me looking young. So, to dye or not to dye. Yes, at least one more time.
"Lord, lord, how subject we old men (women) are in the vice of lying!"
And again in The Merchant of Venice when Bassanio says,
"Look on beauty, and you shall see; tis purchased by the weight (cosmetics) which therein
works a miracle in nature, making them lightest (lustful) that wears most."
Well, I am certainly looking for a miracle in nature; helping my ever graying hair return to its younger, natural brown, but I am certainly not, at my age, looking for lustfulness! I guess what I should be looking for is acceptance or contentment. This, of course, would be the ideal.
"O God! Methinks it were a happy life....to be no better than a homely swain." (King Henry in Henry IV)
Ah, but Shakespeare did not have to put up with this "ageless" culture we live in today where everyone is young; where no one is ever going to die, at least not in our lifetime; and where one begins to be ignored with the first sign of aging; where I, at the college where I work, like to hang out with young kids, trying to fit in, speak their language, enjoy their interests, keep up with their technology and overall look and act "cool." A tall order for this sixty something gal. So, once again I will head to the drugstore to pick up No. 5, medium brown hair color....my one "cosmetic of choice" to keep me looking young. So, to dye or not to dye. Yes, at least one more time.
Friday, July 10, 2009
A Day to Celebrate!
"Fern looked at her father. Then she lifted the lid of the carton. There, inside, looking up at her, was the newborn pig. It was a white one. The morning shone through its ears, turning them pink. Fern couldn't take her eyes off the tiny pig. "Oh," she whispered. "Oh, look at him! He's absolutely perfect." Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
Today Mike and I are celebrating the birth of our second daughter, Kerri, who was born on this day 35 years ago in Columbus, Ohio. I actually drove myself to the hospital because my mother needed someone to drive with her, so behind me was Mike and Mom. I was to be induced as I had had some difficulty with the first go-around, and I wanted to be sure the Doctor was "in the house." All went well, and at sometime in the afternoon (can't remember the exact time) Kerri Elizabeth Barclay came into the world and into our lives. We were thrilled with another little girl, and a sister for Michelle, and though they are very different in temperament, they are best friends today. To say that the time has gone by all too quickly is an understatement. How could our little daughter be all grown up now with children of her own (see picture). Kerri made us laugh, cry, wonder, explore, learn, grow up, appreciate, feel pride, and so many other things along the way. As Kim Anderson says in her little book, Babies Are a Special Gift, "babies can open our eyes to a new world of beauty, our minds to a new world of promise, and our hearts to a new world of love." Kerri indeed did that for us and we are so grateful for her in our lives. Thank you Kerri for all the wonderful memories Dad and I have of you growing up, and being such a wonderful part to our family.
Today Mike and I are celebrating the birth of our second daughter, Kerri, who was born on this day 35 years ago in Columbus, Ohio. I actually drove myself to the hospital because my mother needed someone to drive with her, so behind me was Mike and Mom. I was to be induced as I had had some difficulty with the first go-around, and I wanted to be sure the Doctor was "in the house." All went well, and at sometime in the afternoon (can't remember the exact time) Kerri Elizabeth Barclay came into the world and into our lives. We were thrilled with another little girl, and a sister for Michelle, and though they are very different in temperament, they are best friends today. To say that the time has gone by all too quickly is an understatement. How could our little daughter be all grown up now with children of her own (see picture). Kerri made us laugh, cry, wonder, explore, learn, grow up, appreciate, feel pride, and so many other things along the way. As Kim Anderson says in her little book, Babies Are a Special Gift, "babies can open our eyes to a new world of beauty, our minds to a new world of promise, and our hearts to a new world of love." Kerri indeed did that for us and we are so grateful for her in our lives. Thank you Kerri for all the wonderful memories Dad and I have of you growing up, and being such a wonderful part to our family.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
I don't move on from food easily, and am still thinking about my subject of yesterday which brought to mind a quote I love; "Enjoy the ice cream while it's on your plate." I love when quotes use food to make a point, and this one is good, telling us to appreciate what we have while we have it; it might not last. A friend of mine used to tell me that I always gave directions in terms of restaurants...go four blocks to the McD's; turn left at the Dairy Queen; two more miles past the pasta place etc. Well yes; I am a city girl and never did understand directions of east, west, north and south! Anyway, I do enjoy good food, and certainly a good meal with a great glass of wine. But, enough about food....although my sister Maureen sent me a salad recipe today that I made for dinner using cut up pieces of watermelon, cut up tomatoes, red onion sliced thin and then red wine vinegar and olive oil all mixed together. Salt and pepper to taste. Put in Frig for several hours before serving. Delicious. Now, moving on to another favorite subject of mine...flowers. This morning, I went out into my yard to pick wild flowers to make a bouquet for my sister-in-law who was in a boat accident recently. I was amazed that I found so many different varieties of wild flowers (at least ten), and in so many different colors. I did not know that we had so many pretty "weeds" in our yard. I got out my wild flower book to look all of them up, and found most of them had very biological and scholarly names which I will not bore you with here....I remember being a Girl Scout and having to i.d. all the different trees around for which I earned a badge. Why not wild flowers??? I love flowers in all their uniqueness and beauty and often will take a picture with my phone camera when I see one I like. If I do this right, I will share some with you on this blog. My good writer friend Chris just came over for dinner tonight; we have a pact...if we feed him, he will help me with my computer and I just got him to download all my recent pictures so I expect to be able to share them with you. All the flowers are from our yard. In the meantime, I am going downstairs to enjoy the ice cream on the plate that my husband has just fixed for me.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
July 8, 2009
The picture below (click on picture to enlarge) is another one taken of our yard with the lovely day lilies, and all the lush foliage after so much rain here in the Midwest. We love the looks of the place, but, ah...so much rain! Yesterday, I talked about some of the things that bring joy to my life. But, alas, I think that I left out the whole subject of food which brings great pleasure to my life, along with a good glass of wine. Last week, my sister Maureen Conlan (an artist on many fronts including food creations) served up a wonderful pasta dish that I want to share with all of you. (So simple but so good!) I don't remember what she called it but we ate it with so much pleasure, we didn't care what it was called. She took fresh tomatoes from the store and chopped them; fresh basil from our garden, chopped ; pine nuts from my frig,browned; fresh crumpled blue cheese from the store, and mixed it all with penne type pasta., topped with parmasaine (sp?) cheese.We had a fresh salad with greens from our garden, french bread from "Bread &Co.", a good Chardonnay from the bottle and voila... a delicious moment in time. So my quote for the day is: "I will sin until I blow up." I don't recall who said this but it is apropos here. In today's entry, I have also included a link to a young lady who is a relative of mine who, with a friend, has created a food Blog. Erin grew up with a gourmet cook for a mother and has learned at her mother's knee, so to speak, and also added her own tastes and creations. Her Blog is called Forks and Amusement and the address is below. If you love good food, you won'b be sorry you checked out her Blog. I have chatted enough for this a.m. I have now made myself hungry with all this talk of food, and am headed downstairs to my kitchen to see what I can whip up.
The picture below (click on picture to enlarge) is another one taken of our yard with the lovely day lilies, and all the lush foliage after so much rain here in the Midwest. We love the looks of the place, but, ah...so much rain! Yesterday, I talked about some of the things that bring joy to my life. But, alas, I think that I left out the whole subject of food which brings great pleasure to my life, along with a good glass of wine. Last week, my sister Maureen Conlan (an artist on many fronts including food creations) served up a wonderful pasta dish that I want to share with all of you. (So simple but so good!) I don't remember what she called it but we ate it with so much pleasure, we didn't care what it was called. She took fresh tomatoes from the store and chopped them; fresh basil from our garden, chopped ; pine nuts from my frig,browned; fresh crumpled blue cheese from the store, and mixed it all with penne type pasta., topped with parmasaine (sp?) cheese.We had a fresh salad with greens from our garden, french bread from "Bread &Co.", a good Chardonnay from the bottle and voila... a delicious moment in time. So my quote for the day is: "I will sin until I blow up." I don't recall who said this but it is apropos here. In today's entry, I have also included a link to a young lady who is a relative of mine who, with a friend, has created a food Blog. Erin grew up with a gourmet cook for a mother and has learned at her mother's knee, so to speak, and also added her own tastes and creations. Her Blog is called Forks and Amusement and the address is below. If you love good food, you won'b be sorry you checked out her Blog. I have chatted enough for this a.m. I have now made myself hungry with all this talk of food, and am headed downstairs to my kitchen to see what I can whip up.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
July 7, 2009
I have decided to begin each musing with a quote. Over the years, I have saved quotes that spoke to me at the moment, and recently, I went through a stack of them, and picked a few for my writings. My first one relates to the last couple of entries, and I like it because it reminds me that it is sometimes harder for me to relax and do nothing than it is to be busy. The quote:
"How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then rest afterward." Spanish Proverb
How many of us can do this; how many of us even have the luxury of doing this?
On another note, sometimes I wake up thinking about, and worrying about all the negatives in life. When I get enmeshed in this thinking, I go to my "happy book" which is called "14,ooo Things to be Happy About" and reread things I have marked ; it always cheers me up, and helps me to get on the other side of sad. Today, I read some of my favorites, i.e.
1. Seeing a red bird; there is a red bird nest right out my bathroom window which I have been
watching, and is close enough for me to see papa feeding his new arrivals this morning.
2. Cinnamon rolls (anytime...day or night)
3. Browsing book stores
4. Downtown Chicago in 75* weather
5. Summer breezes while reading a good book on my back deck
6. Lunch with good friends at a special restaurant (doing this today to celebrate a birthday)
7. Fresh flowers from my garden on the table in a crystal vase
8. Wandering unknown country roads (will do this later this month with my husband in upstate
New York.
9. Glorious sunsets over the farmlands in central Illinois where I live.
10. A day with my daughters (rare)
11.Hiking in cool, shaded woods.
12. the mountains of Colorado and one more:
13. Listening to a symphony on public radio while doing nothing else but hearing the wonder of
the music.
These are just a few of my favorite things, and when I think about them in my life, it always cheers me up! Start your own list to read when you need a pick-me-up. It works for me!
I have decided to begin each musing with a quote. Over the years, I have saved quotes that spoke to me at the moment, and recently, I went through a stack of them, and picked a few for my writings. My first one relates to the last couple of entries, and I like it because it reminds me that it is sometimes harder for me to relax and do nothing than it is to be busy. The quote:
"How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then rest afterward." Spanish Proverb
How many of us can do this; how many of us even have the luxury of doing this?
On another note, sometimes I wake up thinking about, and worrying about all the negatives in life. When I get enmeshed in this thinking, I go to my "happy book" which is called "14,ooo Things to be Happy About" and reread things I have marked ; it always cheers me up, and helps me to get on the other side of sad. Today, I read some of my favorites, i.e.
1. Seeing a red bird; there is a red bird nest right out my bathroom window which I have been
watching, and is close enough for me to see papa feeding his new arrivals this morning.
2. Cinnamon rolls (anytime...day or night)
3. Browsing book stores
4. Downtown Chicago in 75* weather
5. Summer breezes while reading a good book on my back deck
6. Lunch with good friends at a special restaurant (doing this today to celebrate a birthday)
7. Fresh flowers from my garden on the table in a crystal vase
8. Wandering unknown country roads (will do this later this month with my husband in upstate
New York.
9. Glorious sunsets over the farmlands in central Illinois where I live.
10. A day with my daughters (rare)
11.Hiking in cool, shaded woods.
12. the mountains of Colorado and one more:
13. Listening to a symphony on public radio while doing nothing else but hearing the wonder of
the music.
These are just a few of my favorite things, and when I think about them in my life, it always cheers me up! Start your own list to read when you need a pick-me-up. It works for me!
Monday, July 6, 2009
July 6th, 2009
Beautiful day to wake up in Normal today! It's one of those mornings that feels so crisp and clear with brilliant breezes coming through the windows; you just know it's going to be a great day, or least a good one! Yesterday, as I was cleaning up after the 4th of July festivities and celebration, I came across my cluttered hallway table near the door. Throughout the weekend, everything had gotten dumpted there as we came and went. It inspired a poem in me called The Cluttered Table by the Door
Oh cluttered table by the door
Place of disaray
Where, here upon your table top
Lay the remnents of the day
Car keys
Overdue books
Letters to be sent
Bills to be paid
Oh, and let me see
What else has been laid
On your rectagular sphere?
Besides the dust gathering here
Invitations
Salutations
A letter from a friend
Rubber bands
Ball point pens
Assorted change
Quite a range
Of meaningless clutter
Oh brother!
Just so much stuff
To put away
To ready your table
For another day
When a new array
Of things
Will find their way
To your table top.
Sorry! For I can see,
Clear and empty
It will never be.
As I reread this, I can see that this is not my best poetry effort, but it sumerizes the universal table or drawer that I think everyone has in their house....and indeed, it will never be empty!
Beautiful day to wake up in Normal today! It's one of those mornings that feels so crisp and clear with brilliant breezes coming through the windows; you just know it's going to be a great day, or least a good one! Yesterday, as I was cleaning up after the 4th of July festivities and celebration, I came across my cluttered hallway table near the door. Throughout the weekend, everything had gotten dumpted there as we came and went. It inspired a poem in me called The Cluttered Table by the Door
Oh cluttered table by the door
Place of disaray
Where, here upon your table top
Lay the remnents of the day
Car keys
Overdue books
Letters to be sent
Bills to be paid
Oh, and let me see
What else has been laid
On your rectagular sphere?
Besides the dust gathering here
Invitations
Salutations
A letter from a friend
Rubber bands
Ball point pens
Assorted change
Quite a range
Of meaningless clutter
Oh brother!
Just so much stuff
To put away
To ready your table
For another day
When a new array
Of things
Will find their way
To your table top.
Sorry! For I can see,
Clear and empty
It will never be.
As I reread this, I can see that this is not my best poetry effort, but it sumerizes the universal table or drawer that I think everyone has in their house....and indeed, it will never be empty!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Every year, our day lillies arrive in a glorious array of color to display themselves in and around our house. They only stay for about two weeks, so we get out the camera and shoot away to remember them all year round. This picture was taken by my good friend Chris who happened to stop by one day with his cameral.
Oh my gosh! I cannot believe how long it has been since I last wrote on my Blog...today is July 5th, 2009 so a very long time indeed. But, after reading my last entry, I can easily segway (?) into today as being one much like the last I wrote about....I have lots of time to do whatever I wish after a whirlwind weekend with "the little people" here for the 4th of July festivities, picnics, park visits, fireworks etc. etc. etc. But alas, none of this happened yesterday as it poured rain all day. Our little five year old Sara was hugely disappointed; our two year old Ben content to just blow the horn his father bought him at Borders. Yes, we celebrated inside instead of outside blowing horms, banging on drums, screaming, putting on plays, food flying (Ben), jumping off couches with loud thuds (Sara and Ben), two T.V.s going with "Spot the Dog" for Ben and "Aladin" for Sara, the arrival of Michelle and Scott who wanted to eat by 5:30, no later, so chop, chop to get going with hamburgers, home-make potato salad, fresh green beans, salad, baked beans, pickled cucumbers (Gretta's), and birthday cake for Kerri, made and decorated with much involvement by Sara. We ended our festivities by watching the Washington D.C. 4th of July celebration and were reminded once again of why we have this celebration in the first place. And if we were disappointed by the rain ruining our 4th of July, we were turned around by the thought of all the people who have had their lives inconvenienced by helping to keep our country free, and we went to bed more appreciative, more content and more grateful for our lives and our country. And now, on to today, where I will enjoy my deck soaking up some of the sun that we were looking for yesterday.
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