Today is a big day! I got my Louisiana St. drivers license!! Holy Mackerel, this must make it official, I live in New Orleans, LA now. I didn't write about my last experience at the LA DMV here, because I shared it with so many friends via email. Without going into much detail, suffice to say it was both frustrating and (after the fact,) totally hilarious! Today's visit was very different. I was in and out, with a Louisiana license in my hand, in just over two hours. I think that's some kind of record in this area.
I've started walking again. A friend who works at Xavier U, invited me to join her walking each day. We walk on a "track" of sorts in the admin building, for about three miles, 45 minutes of air conditioned bliss! I just can't get moving outside, in the heat and humidity, any faster than barely a stroll. And my hips are starting to reflect the lack of exercise I've had these last two months!! I'm so grateful for this chance, the walk and the growing friendship! We chatter away the whole time, and before I know it, we've accomplished our goal, and we're done for the day.
I've also finished painting another chair and found a wonderful little nonprofit shop, nearby, where I can buy more chairs, and maybe other wood furniture, to paint. I put the ones I've painted on the internet to sell. I feel more like myself today than I have in weeks. Things to do, places to go, deadlines and commitments to honor. It's a light load (the commitments and places to go) at the moment (and I'm glad for that), but the great big "blank" that seemed to define me and my life, when I first got down here is starting to fill in.
If anyone reading this has ever read "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron, (and I can't recommend it too highly!!! It's a wonderful book!) I'm thinking this space could be something like "morning pages" for me. (Something Julia recommends her followers do each and every day, to clear their minds by unloading all the "have to's and need to's" stored in their heads, with the goal of getting more easily to the "WANT TO'S" in their hearts.) I probably will not write everyday,as she recommends, or do my writing first thing in the morning, as she feels necessary, but, since there doesn't seem to be anyone but me reading or writing here, (very often anyway) this can be an almost private place for me to organize my mind a bit, and sort through things a little.
One of the reasons it appeals to me to write here is the lack of book. How many times have I bought an absolutely gorgeous little diary, leather bound, or some other attractive covering and then felt it was to perfect, to pretty, to take another chance on me either writing something not worthy of those pretty pages, or fearing I'll not follow through on writing faithfully, so I dare not even start??? Talk about self fulfilling prophesy. Here, I can delete any or all at a whim. I can face the fear of risking someone reading my words and commenting. Or I can trudge on, just as I am, seeking some kind of direction and/or purpose for myself in this great adventure and chronicle the process of that great discovery (or series of little discoveries as the case may be.)
Hang in there faithful friends. this isn't the Great American Novel (it just feels that long!) Julia wrote in one of her books, a character from a novel she had written "came strolling on to her morning pages one day, and wouldn't let her rest until she got to know him." I don't have a novel in mind, but then again, there is no specific plan for this space. I wonder what will wander onto my pages?
soon and very soon,
my
Friday, September 18, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Hello world, So much has happened, internally and externally, since I've written here last. Maybe most significant (or hopefully somewhat significant anyway) is starting a facebook account. I really don't even know what I'm doing with this new phenomenon but a few people asked me to give it a try so, late one evening, I jumped into the unknown and tried. So many dear friends, and even my kids, have reached out to me through this medium I'm humbled at the response. What a world we live in!!
I remember a story my grandmother told me once. Now mind you, she only told me this little vinette one time and I don't don't even remember the context in which we had this snippet of conversation as she wasn't prone to waxing poetic about herself or her life. Gramma told me that she remembered a time when she and her dad would hitch up the buckboard, before dawn, in order to make it to town and back in the same day to purchase supplies. This same woman lived to see men walk on the moon! I've told this little story dozens of times to friends and family, marveling and wondering if there could ever be another hundred year life span that would include the same kind of progress my grandmother saw. Women could not vote in the year she was born (1906), they could not inherit or own property. If a woman were to be divorced, for any reason, the children would automatically stay with their father. We've come a long way baby!
The advances of technology might very well be the leap that marks this hundred years, but I'd rather it be the cure for cancer or aids and/or the end to world hunger and wars everywhere. Dare I wish for an understanding between we mere mortals that our (nearly universal) belief in God and our deeply seated need for religious connections could be a uniting factor instead of a dividing one. We still have time.
Today is a new adventure. Today is a new start. Today, I will not allow myself to wallow in self pity or engage in self doubt. Today is mine and I will strive to use it wisely (or at least, have fun with it!). Look for me on facebook. The adventure continues....
my
I remember a story my grandmother told me once. Now mind you, she only told me this little vinette one time and I don't don't even remember the context in which we had this snippet of conversation as she wasn't prone to waxing poetic about herself or her life. Gramma told me that she remembered a time when she and her dad would hitch up the buckboard, before dawn, in order to make it to town and back in the same day to purchase supplies. This same woman lived to see men walk on the moon! I've told this little story dozens of times to friends and family, marveling and wondering if there could ever be another hundred year life span that would include the same kind of progress my grandmother saw. Women could not vote in the year she was born (1906), they could not inherit or own property. If a woman were to be divorced, for any reason, the children would automatically stay with their father. We've come a long way baby!
The advances of technology might very well be the leap that marks this hundred years, but I'd rather it be the cure for cancer or aids and/or the end to world hunger and wars everywhere. Dare I wish for an understanding between we mere mortals that our (nearly universal) belief in God and our deeply seated need for religious connections could be a uniting factor instead of a dividing one. We still have time.
Today is a new adventure. Today is a new start. Today, I will not allow myself to wallow in self pity or engage in self doubt. Today is mine and I will strive to use it wisely (or at least, have fun with it!). Look for me on facebook. The adventure continues....
my
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Labor Day Weekend
Here I am, doggedly trying to write something of significance. Something proving, at least, to myself I'm learning and growing and not totally, hopelessly confused, lost and homesick here in beautiful downtown (uptown?) New Orleans.
Last night we had a wonderful dinner party. In acknowledgment of the Labor Day Weekend upon us, I had a picnic theme for dinner. Fried chicken, potato salad and corn on the cob (didn't do my famous baked beans :( I'll save them for another day.) The conversation was lively and engaging, and (if I do say so myself) the food was good and plentiful. Actually is was the best time I've had, around our table, since leaving Washington St.
I know I'm much too impatient. I want to instantly be enmeshed in a network of friends and involvement. I KNOW, building that kind of framework takes weeks and months, even years, to accomplish. I don't know if we have years here and do know I miss what I had, I want it replaced now!!!! It's hard being green... no wait, I mean it's hard being me! I'll keep reminding myself, baby steps, Myra, baby steps.
This afternoon, Em and I are going to the Presbyterian church, to work on an ongoing community project. (Constructing a huge stained glass window for display at the church). My first reaction to the invitation was "no thanks" but I've reconsidered. I have to start somewhere. Emmy and John are singing with the choir of this church family, and have made a solid connections with the community. I've attended a couple of services to hear the musical offerings and I've greatly enjoyed the sermons I've heard from the pastor. I don't much about the Presbyterian theology (and I don't really even much care) but it seems to be a gentle place to hang out til I decide on a course for myself. To church or not to church, that's the question.
talk to you (well, me ) later,
my
Last night we had a wonderful dinner party. In acknowledgment of the Labor Day Weekend upon us, I had a picnic theme for dinner. Fried chicken, potato salad and corn on the cob (didn't do my famous baked beans :( I'll save them for another day.) The conversation was lively and engaging, and (if I do say so myself) the food was good and plentiful. Actually is was the best time I've had, around our table, since leaving Washington St.
I know I'm much too impatient. I want to instantly be enmeshed in a network of friends and involvement. I KNOW, building that kind of framework takes weeks and months, even years, to accomplish. I don't know if we have years here and do know I miss what I had, I want it replaced now!!!! It's hard being green... no wait, I mean it's hard being me! I'll keep reminding myself, baby steps, Myra, baby steps.
This afternoon, Em and I are going to the Presbyterian church, to work on an ongoing community project. (Constructing a huge stained glass window for display at the church). My first reaction to the invitation was "no thanks" but I've reconsidered. I have to start somewhere. Emmy and John are singing with the choir of this church family, and have made a solid connections with the community. I've attended a couple of services to hear the musical offerings and I've greatly enjoyed the sermons I've heard from the pastor. I don't much about the Presbyterian theology (and I don't really even much care) but it seems to be a gentle place to hang out til I decide on a course for myself. To church or not to church, that's the question.
talk to you (well, me ) later,
my
Thursday, September 3, 2009
I didn't write yesterday or the day before. Doubts, insecurities, lack of direction, all of the above. I don't know. If I wrote my words on the pages of some little notebook, secreted away at the bottom of my underwear drawer, it would be so much easier to prattle away about anything, everything and nothing. But since I've invited people to come visit this site, even went so far as to ask for feed back, I feel compelled to write something with meaning, insightful or even antagonistic to help insure folks would be glad they took the time to read my thoughts.
The last couple of days there didn't seem to be any meaningful, insightful or even antagonistic words at my disposal to share. I started two different blogs and discarded them, realizing even as I wrote, I attempting to force something that just wasn't there.
I'm thinking there's a lesson all jumbled up here in ego and expectations. That lesson might be, for me anyway, to calm down. Wait on the words or the moment or the inspiration. Notable, at least to me, is I'm making my peace with "waiting" on this stupid computer (a true lesson in patience)! The "'u" key sticks, the "i" key doesn't respond half the time and I lose the connection to the Internet almost every time I want to check spelling or look at some previous post. Drats!!!!!!!!!!!
Writing "The Great American Novel" may not in the stars for me, but maybe, just maybe, staying connected to you all and recording the humor and humanity we encounter on our respective journeys is just as meaningful!! I'm game if you are.....
talk to ya soon,
my
The last couple of days there didn't seem to be any meaningful, insightful or even antagonistic words at my disposal to share. I started two different blogs and discarded them, realizing even as I wrote, I attempting to force something that just wasn't there.
I'm thinking there's a lesson all jumbled up here in ego and expectations. That lesson might be, for me anyway, to calm down. Wait on the words or the moment or the inspiration. Notable, at least to me, is I'm making my peace with "waiting" on this stupid computer (a true lesson in patience)! The "'u" key sticks, the "i" key doesn't respond half the time and I lose the connection to the Internet almost every time I want to check spelling or look at some previous post. Drats!!!!!!!!!!!
Writing "The Great American Novel" may not in the stars for me, but maybe, just maybe, staying connected to you all and recording the humor and humanity we encounter on our respective journeys is just as meaningful!! I'm game if you are.....
talk to ya soon,
my
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
If I Were A Carpenter
It's early in the day and all things are possible. Does everyone feel that way at the beginning of a day or just perpetual optimists? Right now it doesn't matter that there are several things on my "to do" list, things I haven't gotten to for days or weeks. Today just could be the day to break things wide open and soar!
I love to paint furniture. I'm always on the lookout for a quirky chair, or a darling little side table. The possibilities literally fly through my brain when I run my hand over the curves of a table leg, or the arch of a chair back (Holy Mackerel, that sounds almost sensual! Yikes!! Maybe I need more help than I thought!!!). Anyway, back to painting furniture. The other day, while driving downtown (they call it "uptown" here) I saw a wonderful oak dinning room set, set out to the curb! (It's the habit of folks in this area, when they have no use for something, they set it out to the curb and usually, within minutes, it's scooped up by somebody who can use it.) I slowed down to take a look, did a quick turn around, and stopped to investigate. Who could believe such a windfall???
Four matching, beautiful oak chairs and a round, drop leaf table, with a pedestal base. In perfect condition! I couldn't shove them in the Subaru fast enough. As a matter of fact, the gentleman who'd placed this furniture out, saw my struggles to get it all in the car in one trip (it wouldn't be there when I got back, if I took the time to go home and drop somethings off to make room for the rest) so he came out to help me. We chatted a bit. He told me he was cleaning out his son's apartment. I was afraid to ask why, but I believe it couldn't be a happy circumstance. I told him how thrilled I was to lay claim to these pieces, thanked him for the help and gave him a hug.
I've never tackled such a big painting project, but I saw a table in a shop, years ago, painted in vibrant colors, with rich textures and all around the tables edge was a beautiful sentiment. A vision of something similar is forming in my mind, for this table and chairs. Maybe I could find words to honor the son and his father in some way. Vibrant colors, rich textures and meaningful words......
It feels so good to be alive!
All things are possible,
my
I love to paint furniture. I'm always on the lookout for a quirky chair, or a darling little side table. The possibilities literally fly through my brain when I run my hand over the curves of a table leg, or the arch of a chair back (Holy Mackerel, that sounds almost sensual! Yikes!! Maybe I need more help than I thought!!!). Anyway, back to painting furniture. The other day, while driving downtown (they call it "uptown" here) I saw a wonderful oak dinning room set, set out to the curb! (It's the habit of folks in this area, when they have no use for something, they set it out to the curb and usually, within minutes, it's scooped up by somebody who can use it.) I slowed down to take a look, did a quick turn around, and stopped to investigate. Who could believe such a windfall???
Four matching, beautiful oak chairs and a round, drop leaf table, with a pedestal base. In perfect condition! I couldn't shove them in the Subaru fast enough. As a matter of fact, the gentleman who'd placed this furniture out, saw my struggles to get it all in the car in one trip (it wouldn't be there when I got back, if I took the time to go home and drop somethings off to make room for the rest) so he came out to help me. We chatted a bit. He told me he was cleaning out his son's apartment. I was afraid to ask why, but I believe it couldn't be a happy circumstance. I told him how thrilled I was to lay claim to these pieces, thanked him for the help and gave him a hug.
I've never tackled such a big painting project, but I saw a table in a shop, years ago, painted in vibrant colors, with rich textures and all around the tables edge was a beautiful sentiment. A vision of something similar is forming in my mind, for this table and chairs. Maybe I could find words to honor the son and his father in some way. Vibrant colors, rich textures and meaningful words......
It feels so good to be alive!
All things are possible,
my
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