People sacrifice their time, put their freedom, and even their lives at risk just to cross or eliminate borders they know are absurd . . . if it weren’t for those in their battle against borders (who) risked everything, the borders would not disappear, but would become a net and all of us trapped insects inside.
- Ivan Klíma
“Spici” (Asleep) by Toyen
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c.b. 2012
I’m hoping this will make you smile, as it is a little joke based on something you said last week. The coloring book is brand new and I colored a page just for you, (and so did my wonderful sister).
Love you a lot, Mom!
You’ll get the real thing, along with a cup of coffee and a cookie (all my treat) when we get together for our usual writing session. You’re an amazing mom and incredible best friend. Thank you for being such a powerful and loving presence in my life.
Happy Mother’s Day from your perpetual little girl. Love you!
p.s. I still have my original Care Bear stuffed animal from 1983. And, of course, that’s the bear I colored!
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c.b. 2012
I’m always late on flipping my calendar pages when a new month begins. Last month, none of my calendars matched the month until around April 12th! So, I’m actually pretty proud that all of my calendars (2 at work and 1 at home) all say May at the top and its only the third day! I know this is a stupid subject, but sometimes something as simple as a calendar page can lead to an intense train of thought.
May is looking to be a busy month in terms of my 2012 goals. On some of these goals, I’m at the point of no return. Preparation is nearing the end of its course and its time to take the big steps. While I’m driven, its a scary thought to jump into something where I have no experience. In a sense, I’m asking myself to leave my comfort zone and that’s never an easy thing to do. It’s like fate was listening to my inner mutterings, because when I flipped my calendar page to May, this is the quote that looked me spare in the face:
If that’s not a sign, I don’t what is. 2012 Goals, here I come.
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This quote also reminds me of a fellow blogger who is embarking on the ultimate “out of your comfort zone” experience. Check out Crowing Crone Joss and read all about her Grand Adventure.
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c.b. 2012
Paging through an old journal, I came across two pages of folded yellow paper tucked inside. I was surprised to find a series of short thank you letters to various things in my life. They must have been the result of a writing prompt from a few years ago and I thought it might be fun to share them.
Dear thesaurus,
Thank you for helping me sound smarter than I really am.
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Dear Arizona Heat,
Thank you for drying my jeans in fifteen minutes flat. It’s faster than the dryer and doesn’t cost me a dime.
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Dear Passport,
Thank you for getting me to new places and saving me from a stagnant existence. It’s a big world full of different perspectives and I’d never experience any of it without you.
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Dear Acrylic Paint,
Thanks for adding color to my life and stains under my fingernails. When there’s a green splotch on my thumb, I know I created something.
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Dear Chocolate,
Thank you for making many, many moments of each day that much sweeter. You make me stop and indulge when I need it most. We all need that.
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Dear Chapstick,
Seriously, what would I do without you. I keep you in my purse, laptop bag, and in three different rooms in the house. My lips would die without you.
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Dear Garden,
Thank you for brightening my day with new growth and green leaves. Without you there would never be dirt on my hands or beautiful flowers to fill my vases.
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Dear Age,
Thanks for sending me through this life with a little grace.
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Dear DVDs,
Thank you for letting me watch movies over and over again. Especially, Twilight and Big Bang Theory.
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Dear Books,
Thank you for filling my life with imagination, beautiful words, and thought provoking stories. Nothing can replace the feel of pages turning or the smell of ink on paper. You remind this world to slow down and ensure imagination will remain the ultimate storyteller.
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Dear Writing,
Even after I left and pursued other things, you waited patiently for my return. You could have easily abandoned me and left my muse asleep, but you put the pen in my hand and gave me stories to tell. Thank you, my dear friend.
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What “somethings” in your life deserve a thank you letter?
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c.b. 2012
Imagine walking into a darkened room where the delicate notes of Handel and Schubert play in the background. Enormous screens adorn every wall from floor to ceiling as well as large pillars scattered throughout a wide, open space. On the floor several platforms rise up, all covered in white canvas screens. There is no light, but for a few small bulbs shining from projectors on the ceiling. The darkness is eerie and disorienting, but anticipation builds for a moment of magic. The music rises and then it happens . . . . brilliant colors and the brushstrokes of a master artist wrap the room in a vibrant embrace. To see a Van Gogh painting in person is a moving experience, but to see his paintings move across multiple screens and swirl around me is something else entirely.
A traveling exhibit known as Van Gogh Alive, tells the story of Vincent Van Gogh’s life through the chronicle of his paintings. His time in Paris, those wild sunflowers, the infamous fight with Gaughin, the only painting he ever sold, the pain of mental illness, his love of life and nature . . . it’s all there in Vincent’s own hand.
Self-Portrait, 1889, Vincent Van Gogh (Image Source: Wikipedia Commons)
As his paintings scroll across the screens, quotes in his writing rotate on two different walls. Despite his inner turmoil, Van Gogh’s soul was one of love, wonder, and hope. One quote in particular stood out to me as it truly sums up the character of Van Gogh:
I would rather die of passion than of boredom.
Put me on that list as well.
The immense scale of the exhibit gives viewers a chance to walk through Van Gogh’s work and appreciate every speck of paint and every erratic stroke. Everything from sketches, finished paintings, and even handwritten letters and journal entries fill the screens. While they may not be the real thing, the projections have an equally strong emotional impact. I’ll be the first to admit, I was deeply effected when swallowed whole by Starry Night. My favorite painting surrounded me on all sides, lit up, and full of Van Gogh’s passion. I was standing right in the middle of that star speckled navy blue sky and for a moment, I had to fight the tears.
Van Gogh lives on in a way he never could have imagined and I like to think he’d approve. While an unorthodox art exhibit, Van Gogh Alive is a truly remarkable experience.
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Here’s a peek at the exhibit via the Arizona Science Center:
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For more information on Van Gogh Alive, click here for the official website.
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c.b. 2012
