by Phoebe Maurer
While Van Gogh’s moods changed from high to low, he created paintings that swirled and throbbed with vibrant colors, as fields of corn and wheat swayed with Vincent’s mental disorder.
Starry Night were tornados that circled and swooped down with hues of blues, yellows, lavenders, and green, curling over the mountains that reflected the rays of an orange moon encapsulated in a golden yellow halo. Below them were the deep purples of his morbid thoughts and a spiraling black green tree stretching towards orange yellow stars. The mountain, rooftops and rounded light blue mounds were representative of the home in Arles, France.
Van Gogh’s tormented mind found expression in vibrant colors and wild movements. He was a man of stormy passion and troubled emotions.
Fate is tricky. Today his art commands acclaim and millions, at auction sales for art lovers from all over the world.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
My Favorite Things About February
By Lois Jamieson
There are lots of special days in February, but only one happens every four years. And it only happens when the year is divisible by four. That’s right, 2012 is divisible by four, so this is a LEAP YEAR, meaning there will be a February 29th day. An extra day to do wonderfully helpful things for others.
Here is a little history about the calendar…The first calendar was created by the Romans. At first it had only 10 months and 34 days. Later on 2 more months were added, making the number of days 355.
The birthstone for February is the amethyst. The amethyst once was more valuable than diamonds. It is the purple variety of quartz and the most valued member of the quartz family. Amethyst is considered as an aid to the brave because it was believed to protect soldiers in battle.
Special days in February are…
Valentine’s Day on the 14th
Arizona’s 100th birthday on the 14th
Gumdrop Day on the 15th
Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthday on the 20th
Mardi Gras Day on the 21st
February is also…
Black History Month
American Heart Month
For me, the most special day in February is the 27th, the day my daughter, Jan Shoop was born.
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY TO ALL AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARIZONA
There are lots of special days in February, but only one happens every four years. And it only happens when the year is divisible by four. That’s right, 2012 is divisible by four, so this is a LEAP YEAR, meaning there will be a February 29th day. An extra day to do wonderfully helpful things for others.
Here is a little history about the calendar…The first calendar was created by the Romans. At first it had only 10 months and 34 days. Later on 2 more months were added, making the number of days 355.
The birthstone for February is the amethyst. The amethyst once was more valuable than diamonds. It is the purple variety of quartz and the most valued member of the quartz family. Amethyst is considered as an aid to the brave because it was believed to protect soldiers in battle.
Special days in February are…
Valentine’s Day on the 14th
Arizona’s 100th birthday on the 14th
Gumdrop Day on the 15th
Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthday on the 20th
Mardi Gras Day on the 21st
February is also…
Black History Month
American Heart Month
For me, the most special day in February is the 27th, the day my daughter, Jan Shoop was born.
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY TO ALL AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARIZONA
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Which Chapter?
by Phoebe Maurer
Suddenly we have arrived at the next chapter in our lives, a time that offers change and challenge. This was a topic we discussed with close friends, thinking ahead to advanced years that we could not imagine. We were middle aged, strong, working, playing, travelling and sort of smug, though not too complacent.
We all painfully watched the slow deterioration of our parents, to shield them from feeling insecure and undignified. We keep their memories and persona alive in pictures scattered around our home. Shards of their personalities live within us. This is their immortality.
Now that our youthful bodies have betrayed us, how do we proceed with our lives? The mind of my beloved husband has been losing his visions of what was, but tries mightily to prevent further deterioration. It is my number one consideration. Should it prevent me from exploring and using creative talents to expand the scope of my interests? Eighty nine years of living, nurturing three children, facing the ups and downs of a good life, has enabled me to develop many qualities that are appreciated. I observe new situations objectively with a modicum of wisdom that enables me to understand people.
We are now the elder generation who deeply appreciate our devoted family, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who light up our daily living with their generous love, concern and good humor. I never forget the importance of friends, old and new, that give me joy in knowing that we share our longevity.
I will not say this is our last chapter, for I truly believe each new day is an opportunity to grow and change. It takes courage.
Suddenly we have arrived at the next chapter in our lives, a time that offers change and challenge. This was a topic we discussed with close friends, thinking ahead to advanced years that we could not imagine. We were middle aged, strong, working, playing, travelling and sort of smug, though not too complacent.
We all painfully watched the slow deterioration of our parents, to shield them from feeling insecure and undignified. We keep their memories and persona alive in pictures scattered around our home. Shards of their personalities live within us. This is their immortality.
Now that our youthful bodies have betrayed us, how do we proceed with our lives? The mind of my beloved husband has been losing his visions of what was, but tries mightily to prevent further deterioration. It is my number one consideration. Should it prevent me from exploring and using creative talents to expand the scope of my interests? Eighty nine years of living, nurturing three children, facing the ups and downs of a good life, has enabled me to develop many qualities that are appreciated. I observe new situations objectively with a modicum of wisdom that enables me to understand people.
We are now the elder generation who deeply appreciate our devoted family, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who light up our daily living with their generous love, concern and good humor. I never forget the importance of friends, old and new, that give me joy in knowing that we share our longevity.
I will not say this is our last chapter, for I truly believe each new day is an opportunity to grow and change. It takes courage.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Words of Wisdom
Lois Jamieson
I Hope you have fun with these “words”. I found them in the Farmers’ Almanac, 1975.
There is nobody so irritating as somebody with less intelligence and more sense than we have.
A class reunion is when everyone gets together to see who is falling apart.
Congress does some strange things – it puts a high tax on liquor and then raises other taxes that drive people to drink.
You’ve reached middle-age when all you exercise is caution.
Humility is a strange thing, the minute you think you’ve got it you’ve lost it.
By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he’s wrong.
The older a person is, the noisier the youngsters are.
Old girdles never die. They just lose their snap.
It’s nice to have four years between elections. It takes people that long to regain their faith.
Love is like eating mushrooms. You’re never sure it’s the real thing until it’s too late.
Keep laughing….it’s good for you! Lois
I Hope you have fun with these “words”. I found them in the Farmers’ Almanac, 1975.
There is nobody so irritating as somebody with less intelligence and more sense than we have.
A class reunion is when everyone gets together to see who is falling apart.
Congress does some strange things – it puts a high tax on liquor and then raises other taxes that drive people to drink.
You’ve reached middle-age when all you exercise is caution.
Humility is a strange thing, the minute you think you’ve got it you’ve lost it.
By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he’s wrong.
The older a person is, the noisier the youngsters are.
Old girdles never die. They just lose their snap.
It’s nice to have four years between elections. It takes people that long to regain their faith.
Love is like eating mushrooms. You’re never sure it’s the real thing until it’s too late.
Keep laughing….it’s good for you! Lois
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
An Impossible Dream?
A poem by Phoebe Maurer,
A light skinned African American woman looking in a mirror
They wonder who I am.
My eyes are averted
to confuse and bemuse
their preconceived analysis.
My mirror image often
escapes and confuses me.
The mouth is full and sensuous,
velvety brown eyes shaded by full brows.
Do I really care what others think?
Of course, it explains the untold hours
spent having my coarse black African
hair corn-rowed ending with jewels.
Look at me, please, into me,
my soul, my mind, my psyche.
Yes, I’m not white or dark brown,
yet the palms of my hands are white.
I look into the depths of my past,
my pupils enlarge and the iris pure
white. Was it my great-great grandmother
who was impregnated with her owner's genes?
We were no longer pure African, but
never accepted as equals, until we
were emancipated by a war. And not
even then. It took decades.
A man of vision, a short towering giant
led people of all races, creeds and
religions to march peacefully
for peace and a chance to be equal.
He had a dream of a better
world to live in, but his dreams
had to overcome blind ignorant hatred
that killed, jailed and dispersed with venom.
My eyes are no longer averted.
They are staring into the future,
imagining and praying for a time
when peace, kindness, understanding and
acceptance will be our children’s future.
Will it ever be a reality?
A light skinned African American woman looking in a mirror
They wonder who I am.
My eyes are averted
to confuse and bemuse
their preconceived analysis.
My mirror image often
escapes and confuses me.
The mouth is full and sensuous,
velvety brown eyes shaded by full brows.
Do I really care what others think?
Of course, it explains the untold hours
spent having my coarse black African
hair corn-rowed ending with jewels.
Look at me, please, into me,
my soul, my mind, my psyche.
Yes, I’m not white or dark brown,
yet the palms of my hands are white.
I look into the depths of my past,
my pupils enlarge and the iris pure
white. Was it my great-great grandmother
who was impregnated with her owner's genes?
We were no longer pure African, but
never accepted as equals, until we
were emancipated by a war. And not
even then. It took decades.
A man of vision, a short towering giant
led people of all races, creeds and
religions to march peacefully
for peace and a chance to be equal.
He had a dream of a better
world to live in, but his dreams
had to overcome blind ignorant hatred
that killed, jailed and dispersed with venom.
My eyes are no longer averted.
They are staring into the future,
imagining and praying for a time
when peace, kindness, understanding and
acceptance will be our children’s future.
Will it ever be a reality?
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Quotes For you
by Lois Jamieson
I thought it was time to pass on to you some interesting quotes.
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
Nelson Mandela, South African President and
Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize
Born 1918
“In everything, no matter what it may be, uniformity is undesirable. Leaving something incomplete makes it interesting, and gives one the feeling that there is room for growth.”
Yoshida Kenko
Japanese author and Buddhist monk
Born 1282
“If there were, in the world today, any large number of people who desired their own happiness more than they desired the unhappiness of others, we could have paradise in a few years.”
Bertrand Russell
British philosopher, logician, mathematician,
historian and social critic
Born 1872
“That is the best – to laugh with someone because you both think the same things are funny.”
Gloria Vanderbilt
American designer
Born 1924
I thought it was time to pass on to you some interesting quotes.
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
Nelson Mandela, South African President and
Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize
Born 1918
“In everything, no matter what it may be, uniformity is undesirable. Leaving something incomplete makes it interesting, and gives one the feeling that there is room for growth.”
Yoshida Kenko
Japanese author and Buddhist monk
Born 1282
“If there were, in the world today, any large number of people who desired their own happiness more than they desired the unhappiness of others, we could have paradise in a few years.”
Bertrand Russell
British philosopher, logician, mathematician,
historian and social critic
Born 1872
“That is the best – to laugh with someone because you both think the same things are funny.”
Gloria Vanderbilt
American designer
Born 1924
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Father Time
Guest post by poet Tova Milinsky
“Father Time”- The Victor
“Tempus Fugit” so they say
What a great disaster!
We keep speeding up our lives
Helping us go faster.
We get in a race with Time
Thinking we will match-up.
But he seems to sprint ahead
We will never catch up.
There’s a secret here to know,
His pace never changes.
As we age our movements slow,
That’s what life arranges.
Tove Milinsky is the author of “Comings and Goings”
“Father Time”- The Victor
“Tempus Fugit” so they say
What a great disaster!
We keep speeding up our lives
Helping us go faster.
We get in a race with Time
Thinking we will match-up.
But he seems to sprint ahead
We will never catch up.
There’s a secret here to know,
His pace never changes.
As we age our movements slow,
That’s what life arranges.
Tove Milinsky is the author of “Comings and Goings”
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