Books

List three books that have had an impact on you. Why?

Hi

I did unplug for a bit. It was nice. It’s a good exercise for me to unplug because writing a blog and media are saving me on one hand, but like anything addictive, balance is important for me to keep in mind.

Speaking of saving me.

I’ve read sooo many books in my lifetime. Usually I get bowled over and completely engrossed in books. “Impacted” is a good way to describe it.

As a kid, when I didn’t feel understood, especially when I was new to a school and looking for friends, I found them in books. Characters who inspired me, characters who I felt like I could relate to, characters who were humble heros in their relatable life dramas. Even if I couldn’t relate, I would think I could. I was lucky enough to read really great authors, who at the time I did not know were. I didn’t know about classic literature. I just binge read. The gift of a brain that hears in pictures, my imagination was always pushed pasted the limits of my regular life. I like that.

Three actual books out of a million? Here are the ones that come to mind this morning.

From childhood: Peter Rabbit, Babar, Make Way for Ducklings, Stuart Little, Charlotte’s Web, Little Princess, Secrat Garden, Ribsy, Are You there God it’s Me Margret, Tails of a Forth Grade Nothing. Anne Frank. Helen Keller (there’s no way I can stop at three)

As an adult, long after I used Ciff notes to write all my essays, (because my conclusions were never what my teachers were looking for), Anna Karenena, A Tress Grows in Brooklyn, To Kill a Mockingbird, Jane Eyre… I could go on

But I won’t

Most books impact me. They always have and they probably always will.

Great Question

These just bloomed everywhere

How do you know when it’s time to unplug? What do you do to make it happen?

I love this for today.

Something happened to my blog page( I think maybe an update?).

Hmmm. I can’t find the people I follow. I can’t comment, I can sometimes ‘like’, but not always.

My daily stat numbers are suddenly way down. So what does this mean?

Nothing much really, but

I think maybe word press or jetpack is hinting to me. Probably a good time to take a break. At least for a few days or so. Unplug and read a book.

Friendship

What quality do you value most in a friend?

Caring. That feeling of being cared about. You know it when you feel it.

My best friend and I did not have a lot in common. We didn’t see things the same in most cases. Our opinions differed, we grew up in very different places, we liked different things, but there was a level genuine caring that we had for each other that I miss.

I miss her every day. When she passed, I thought I would never have a real friend again.

I was wrong.

I love that I have friends who care about me. I feel so lucky that I have people who wonder what I’m up to, who pause in their busy lives to check in to see how I am. I didn’t grow up with a nurturing style mother so the feeling of being cared about is a nice surprise every time

I woke up today feeling a little homesick for my friends and family and then read the prompt; funny that this was the question.

I found myself wondering about what I was missing and I guess its a lot of things, but they might all go into this one thing. It’s heart warming when you have people who are interested enough to have a conversation with you. Life is busy, I get it, people have a lot on their minds. I just know from having and now not having easy access to friendship, it’s a golden thing.

Friends are a lucky sort of people to have in your life

Not all at once, but yes

What does “having it all” mean to you? Is it attainable?

I think in hindsight I ‘had it all’ at different times all through my life.

When I was a young mom, I had all the love that I could handle. By the end of some days I would be hugged out. You are never more popular then when you have toddlers and babies. Attention? I had it all! Love? My babies were like marsupials, I was adored twenty-four/seven. I had more cute profound conversation then most people ever.

Another time in my life, I had a dream studio and an active art career. I loved my home! It was a bright and beautiful space for living and creating. I still love my art from that period.

Another time, I had a teaching residency that I loved! I made up my own curriculum, and throughly enjoyed teaching art to kids.

Another time I had an intense traveling season. Went to Africa, Dubai, France, Italy, Ireland, Boston NYC etc. all in a few years.

Another time I fell head over heels in love

Another time I became a grandparent. I have had the best moments with these six amazingly grand humans.

I did cool road trips.

Once I had a solo art show in Chelsea NY.

Once I remodeled an old house, published a book, wrote another book, went on a book tour…

One time I lived in Manhattan around the corner from the theater district close to Time Square.

All these lifetimes were so full of ‘it all’ that I was truly fulfilled. I hope I appreciated my moments of having it all as they were happening, but I know there were tough days and moments just like all of life.

Some days feel off even in the middle of having it all. Some days feel amazing when things are amiss. If I’ve learned anything in this life, it’s that having everything you want doesn’t equal happiness. Happiness doesn’t come from a store. Happiness isn’t something to wait for. I don’t have to wait for perfect moments of accomplishment or achievement to feel happy. Feeling happy is a state. It can be fleeting. It can sneak up and surprise me. It can disappear in the middle of the most fullfilling times.

Luckily, happiness isn’t attached to anything and can be conjured up in a moment, in one thought. One happy idea or memory can bring a smile to my face. Luckily, because I used to put everything on hold until ‘it all’ showed up or I achieved all my goals. I may have not counted too many fun moments because my mind was too busy looking at what was lacking wanting more of it all.

So yes I believe in having it all. I believe it’s attainable in chunks and spurts. I now believe in looking for parts of it every day rather than waiting for it to happen at once.

Barnicles and Blue Paint (things I’m sanding off my boat)

My boat renovation is underway. With rain threatening all day, I sanded. We went to Lowe’s and found that Flexseal stuff, priced marine paint (yikes), got some needed supplies.

If you recall, G was a big no on the boat. He said I was on my own with this one. Today he took me shopping and bought everything. Yesterday he set me up with the sander, drop cloth, mask and sand paper.

He ended up scraping most of the side we finished, straightening much of the bent aluminum and patching a couple of small holes. I didn’t intend to be Tom Sawyer in this boat painting senerio. I think fixing up a boat must look fun or something. The neighbors have been curious …

I’m pretty excited to start painting. I want the above the water part to be white. The bottom will either be black or a nice aqua color. The edge and inside aqua. (it’s already a color I like, just rubbed off in places).

This was a good art project for a cloudy Memorial Day in New England. I’ve never sanded a boat before. It seems to be going well.

Fkexseal hole filler, I sure hope this stuff works…

Found belongings

PS (the next day)

So today guess what arrived in the mail? I left a cup just like my pink one, (only lavender), at a friends house in CA. I thought it was lost forever, but she found it and sent it. Not even twenty four hours after my pink one was crushed, the lavender one landed back in my life. Timing is so interesting. We also found a missing car key fob that we all spent days searching for. I kept feeling like it wasn’t really lost. It was just hiding and would eventually fall out of somewhere, which is practically what happened. It was in G’s mom’s purse all along. (the purse she looked in repeatedly for days!)

I wonder sometimes about how things play out. That key fob caused us all a lot of grief. No one wanted to be blamed for losing it, but a big cosmic arrow pointed at me since I was the last person we all remembered to have used it. Ugh. I KNEW I had returned it, but well, it was energetically uncomfortable for days, most of three weeks. One day they looked into replacing it. Something like $500. Seriously?! I’m sure you can imagine the energy of that day. There were two, but it was important that an appointment be made for a replacement (even though no one is driving the car)(It was insisted that I use it for the Stop and Shop card ).

So here’s the universes sense of humor, the thing was found perfectly, less than twenty four hours before the appointment at the dealership.

I’m pretty impressed with the timing of things. I woke up discouraged this morning over a handful of things, my cup mostly and by the end of it, two important items randomly were found. You can’t make this stuff up.

Drama

I don’t remember Memorial Day being such a big deal. Living in Southern California, summer starts long before the end of May, here in the north east, the timing couldn’t be more on point. Summer starts on Memorial Day. It’s warm! I’ve watched the leaves repopulate themselves on what looked like lifeless branches. I’ve watched flowers get ready and bloom. The hydrangea bushes I thinned are now thick with green leaves. The grass couldn’t be greener. Views are now obscured by trees and bushes and weeds. it’s amazing how this all took place in a month.

Summer feels like an exaggeration. A huge personality that showed up quite suddenly out of nowhere. I might need a minute to get used to all this extra daylight and heat and summeriness. I think the reason people like places with real seasons is the drama. I’ve always been slower to warm up to big changes. I like to wade in rather than jump, but I am a fan of drama, so I’m quite enjoying the show (and the warmth!)

Happy summer, everyone. I hope it’s a good one!

What personal belongings do you hold most dear?

Personal belongings…hmm. Again with my cup ?

I don’t have too many things that I’m super attached to. Art supplies? Maybe my box of Christmas decorations? I do enjoy the trip down memory lane at holiday time, but I don’t know. Things come and go, life is long, I’ve seen enough estate sales to know that things hold value for different reasons for different people. I also know that things don’t equal happiness. It’s a little fun to see what others value.