Start with Art

Our lead today comes from...

The Arts Desk:

It begins with a call last night from Wendy to tell me, "Keoni was accepted yesterday by the Houston Symphony Orchestra!"

That news felt like a great choir singing the Halleluia Chorus. I texted him my happy congratulations for his outstanding achievement and commended his very diligent, hard work that led to this. 

A little while later, Keoni called from where he was with friends in Houston. Over the phone, we celebrated his great news.

He also wanted to ask about Phil who'd been on his mind since early yesterday when I'd messaged him and Aidan with the sad news that our Tucson artist friend Phil Bellomo* is now in hospice with pneumonia.

I am reminded that unalloyed joy and sadness are the substance, the beauty, and poignancy of our days. 

Keoni and I talked about what I knew--that I had been able to reach Phil by phone early in the morning to say goodbye. Also, I'd been able to reach our friend Carol, Phil's former colleague, who in turn provided Phil's caretaker Gwen with contact information she asked for in order to possibly put together an art show of Phil's work at Pima College where he'd taught art and ceramics. This Arts Desk will follow that possible development.

We all continue to hold a mindful vigil of love and light for our friend Phil.

______

*Go to the earliest posts that began this blog, June 2013, and scroll through the month to see Phil teaching Aidan to center clay, and Aidan and my house-sitting stay at Carol and Janie's just before Wendy, John, Keoni, Aidan, and all their animals moved to Pennsylvania.

Phil Bellomo's Website

______

Backing up to last weekend, Aidan finished his finals and his Freshman year at Cincinnati. He celebrated his end-of-finals on Saturday trying out an app on his phone and making a delightful video which he shared...

Thank you, Aidan! Thank you, too, for the wonderful Procreate app you introduced me to.  I'm really enjoying drawing on my iPad. Your explorations in the app world have expanded my world! 

*

Turning now to...

The Sports Desk:

Elijah kept us occupied on a streaming service covering his basketball team in a Las Vegas tournament over the weekend. After two outstanding wins on Saturday, they lost on Sunday which still was engrossing to watch as it was played with heart and definitely not a washout. His grandparents, Valerie and Tim, were there in LV at courtside to root in person. Valerie shared pix of Elijah in action...

______

Recently, Wendy has taken up jumping at a nearby horse facility. It reminded Carol and me of old times in Tucson. Carol sent this of Wendy riding Carol's handsome horse Willy in the cross-country phase of an event in Sonoita, Arizona...

And Wendy celebrated Austin's 26th birthday, recently, with a small batch of visual remembrances...

A brand new Austin and her BLM mama. Over time, Austin became grey.

Wendy trained Austin and they were successful dressage competitors.

In her 26th year, Austin lives a largely pastured life here in Pennsylvania with daily attention to grooming and some special dietary needs. 

______

My sister Susie has taken up bike riding again and one of the trails she likes runs next to the pastures at Grant's Farm where the Anheiser-Busch Clydesdales have their home.

Geese are enjoying the pasture, too.

*

The Health Desk...

Young Kingston faced his tonsillectomy this morning with mettle and courage.

Mom and Dad were there to help...

Okay, I'm suited up for this...

Waking up afterward...

"I don't want to talk..."

Time to go back home...

The pain remedies are not working well enough this evening. I am so sorry, Kingston. I'm sorry Sonja, Jeff, and Elijah. I know it's a rough old time right now.

*

My new friend...

Jailbirds & Luckibirds.

"I was in jail!!!" Toby exclaimed.

"Is that why I didn't see you last week?"

"Yes! Didn't you hear me meowing inside the barn?"

"Hmmm, come to think of it maybe I did when I was taking a walk and went by the barn. I thought I was just imagining that I heard a faint meow. My hearing is so bad."

"Well, I was yowling my head off. I knew you were out there." He seemed a bit miffed.

"I'm sure sorry, my buddy. What on earth were you locked up for?"

"Oh, Wendy and John were taking care of somebody's wild, rambunctious, city dog. When they let her out the back door, the very first thing she did was chase me and right after that she grabbed one of the hens and carried her off. Luckily, John was close by to chase her and did a flying leap through the air and saved the hen. So, they locked up the chickens and me in the barn for a whole week! Sort of a barn witness protection. I'd testify against that dog any day!"

"I think we have another Luckibird besides Picasso!" I said, "But you can relax because I see that the dog was returned to her family. They're back from their vacation."

"Thank goodness. I don't ever want to go through that again," he said. "Dogs are my friends. Our dogs!"

"Yeah, and there's no vaccine for wild rambunctiousness. You know what? I was in jail too, for seven days! though not as restricted as quarantines before the Covid vaccines. I stayed mostly in my apartment, as before; masked and socially distanced if I was outside the apartment. It's the honor system. No ankle bracelet!"

"What happened?" he asked. "Did you get Covid?!!!"

"No, no. I went on a senior living bus ride to a museum tour. It turned out nobody was wearing a mask but me, our leader, and the museum docents. Two days later I got a phone call--one person on the trip tested positive for Covid. They asked me to self-quarantine and monitor myself for Covid symptoms, so I did.  I'm grateful for vaccines so I haven't become a Covid guinea pig for variant development or spread it around. I still hope every eligible person, here or anywhere, finds their way to get immunized against Covid--or any disease for that matter."

"Yeah, we need billions more Luckibird people."

We walked together to the fence out beyond the barn. The goats came over to satisfy their curiosity. All around us, we could see the goodness of spring rebirthing. Once again, love felt near--enough to overcome all the fears, mistakes, and terrors of our times. I picked Toby up to hold him for a bit. He stretched up where he could purr against my ear.

He said, "I saw you yesterday when you came over for Easter dinner with Wendy and John. Oh, and that other couple they're friends with--Sue and Wayne were here."

"Yes," I answered, "it was a happy visit even though I missed Keoni and Aidan who are far away living their young lives. It was different without either one of them, but good food, good conversations, and lots of laughter sure did feel good."

"Were you worried about your exposure to Covid?" he asked.

"Yes. I had gotten rapid tests just for such a time. It had been five symptomless days since my exposure and on Easter morning I tested negative for Covid. I'd have stayed home if it was positive."

"You are a Luckibird."

*

It's time to return to... 

THE ARTS DESK

A charming Easter greeting came from the hand of Joseline, in Tucson...

_____

There are two budding artists in Jeanenne's family...

Grandniece Harper, age 8.

Grandniece Della, age 6.

Keep it up, young women!

_____

In 2016, Aidan wrote a couple of Haiku for a class he was in. I just found them buried in old emails...

So much depends upon

a colorful soccer ball

In the wet blades of grass

next to the muddy, splattered cleats

and...

glistening sun on the smooth surface of water

Through the thin trees

a soft, white tailed deer

Silently drinking

with the cool smell of rain

_____

In Tucson, Paula is keeping up her "sit spot" journaling. Her recent entry...

I'm curious about the two visitors to the Bee hotel. 

Though I can see blossoms from my Pennsylvania window, Winter just came back to argue with Spring this afternoon, so it is good to see Paula's visual evidence of southwestern desert spring...

*

From the Green Goddess Desk:

April 19, 2022, 12:39 pm Update: Paula and Carl just sent photos and information about their Bee hotel. Here it is...

"...[the Bee hotel is from] Tucson Audubon, and they're meant to attract native bees as places for them to lay eggs. The bee hotel is about 12" high and has various size holes (all approx. 1/4" or so) for various size bees. It's our understanding that bees will lay an egg in one of the holes, add some food, and then seal up the hole...We have two of these right by our house - in general, native bees don't sting so we don't have to worry about that."

"...one of the holes sealed up...bottom left hole shown here..."

"...photo Carl took of...bottom left hole..."

Help for insects! Simple boosters for bees. The Goddes says we're diversity dependent and that means we love insects, too! 

Green Goddess' new motto: Diverse Universe. 

She sends thanks to Paula and Carl.

*

THE RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS DESK

Around 30 years ago, when bumper-stickers slogans had spread to tee-shirts, I bought a tee-shirt that said...

I loved the message and people often remarked on it so I wore it again and again. One day, while I was swimming at the Y, it was stolen from the locker room. I think we are all a little starved for love and beauty.

Hope in the Springtime of the Mind

"Toby, I'm glad you are in from the field today. I really, really need a warm, furry friend."

"Why? What's happened?"

"Nothing. Nothing is the best word I can find for it."

"Is it the Blahs?"

"Sort of...mmm...a little different."

"Hmmm. Sounds serious." He was watching the big white rooster minding hens nearby. Then, he said, "Let's go up and sit on the steps."

We climbed up the porch steps and sat down together. All three dogs were stretched out below us on the grass in the sunshine. It was peaceful.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"I can't shake off some sort of melancholy hanging around for days."

"Explain melancholy."

"Kind of like a damp dishrag. Low energy. Low spirit. I'd cry, but no tears. Lonely."

Toby sat quietly for a while. Then, he said, "When I get lonely there are always the dogs. They are 99 and 44 one-hundredths percent happy even though they get worked up now and then with something the neighbors are doing. Even so, they're fun to watch tearing up and down the fence line barking their heads off."

"Say, I didn't know you get lonely!"

"Oh yeah. It happens," he said, "even though my DNA has a 'loner' gene. So, what do you do when you get lonely?"

"Mope."

"What else?"

"Nothing."

"Ugh. It's a good thing you're telling me about this. You are badly in need of a Springtime of the mind. How will you get there? 

"Umm. Sitting here talking with you feels pretty good."

"What about some of your other fave things to do? Art, music, writing, reading, walks..."

"Well, they're all there still, but there's this heavy greyness. Everything is different now--for everyone. Uncertainties lie like crossties on a transcontinental railroad. "

"Do you think maybe it's okay to just feel down sometimes?"

"You know, you might be onto something. All that self-help stuff going on makes me think there's something wrong with me if I'm blue. Like there's some special key to unlock the door to bright happiness that I need on my keychain and I keep not noticing the locksmith shop across the road. Kinda silly,"

He rubbed his head on my arm.

It felt good to say: "I'm really as okay as I can be today. I've been blue before and it will change in its own time."

"Just like Springtime," he said.

"Sitting here, talking to you, I'm seeing color definition emerge from the greyness."

Was it because of what he said or asked? Maybe, but I think it was mostly because he was sitting there by me; for a little moment in time he and I were 'we'. And, that was good.

*

The Arts Desk:

From Tucson, Paula sent her beautiful rendering of the southwest's springtime bounty of Desert Willow seedpods...