How Great The Art

I began blogging in 2008 after a department store I had been working at since 2001 had closed. I set my goals. I was going to open an etsy shop, go on a creative retreat, be a vendor at the retreat and start a blog. Within a month all of those things came true. For the month of December I wrote every day. It was such a treat to have a December off, because I was working retail for so long. I made the most of every day. It was still a challenging time, because my brother was in the hospital with pneumonia. My mother also decided she wanted to have a picture us, three generations of girls, in front of the eiffel tower. Kaylyn was taking french and studying Art her last year of high School. My mom ended up in the hospital and told us to go without her. So, here I am still blogging. It is a pleasure to wake up and process whatever is going through my mind at the time. Right now, my mind is amazed how some people are put in our path. When I went to the first class for writing...

When I first started blogging I expressed my need to write to hold on to memories. My dad died from Alzhiemers and his last couple of years he didn't know who my mom and I were. That was heartbreaking. My mom was diagonosed with Alzhiemers in 2012 and was completly different in her last years. She called me by name many times in the last weeks of her life, but she had different symptoms of Alzhiemers that were parallel with what I read of the last three years of stages of Alzhiemers. The last few care visits I had at the nursing home with the nursing home I would tell the nurses she had alzhiemers and they would always say there are many forms of dementia, and your mom doesn't have Alzhiemers. It was frustrating, but looking back I am comforted I had the mom who still remembered me AND always had the right thing to say. My weekly visits were difficult, but I am so thankful for the time we had together. Many times visiting her I would bring postcards, greeting cards and...

It's Bright Friday. I don't know how many Black Fridays I have worked. But, I think it is safe to say it is at least twenty five. I like to be busy, because it makes the day go by really fast. The store I work I at, Vera Bradley, has renamed Black Friday to Bright Friday. I really like this, because it is a day full of bustling shoppers. We have a really good sale which will last until November 30th. I really want to talk about how surrounding yourself with goodness is a really great way to be happy each day. How positive words, things, people, places can really effect your mood. So, the image of a black Friday as being bright instead is a really good idea. I also have found having Snoopy and Woodstock in the store have really added a spark of joy into my day. I think that is a good Artist, with his comic strip and tv shows he could change not only your mood, but your outlook on life. And, that is what Art is about. The more you surround yourself in creating or ...

Today is Thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for. But, as I face the day and try to be the optimist, I have to face the truth. I am waking up by myself on Thanksgiving for the first time in thirty nine years. It is challenging,and I don't want to feel like I am in denial. Especially, as we approach the holidays. But, as the days pass in the life I am living today, it is important for me to look on the bright side. Like a sunflower, I feel I have to look to the sun. The sun with all of it's warmth and energy. Every day the sun is always there even during the stormiest days. Cheers to all we are thankful for. Even if your glass is half empty today, my hope for you is you can look at it as half full. After all, there is always something to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving. Quote of the day: “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows. It's what the sunflowers do.” - Helen Keller Song of the day: Brightside by the Lumineers

Believe it or not my birthday this year was the first time I had ever woken up early enough to witness a sunrise on the beach. I have seen many sunsets, and wished to have seen a sunrise, but never had the motivation. There were all these appreciated pictures on facebook and instagram. And, the Easter mornings I would wish that I went to a sunrise service. Best yet, there was nine years I lived across the street from the beach in Manasquan. And, there was my son, who would show me beaufiful pictures of the sunrise at Manasquan inlet he had taken. It something that is so simple to do, and I always wanted to see it. I wished I would wake up and be motivated enough to do it. But, no the bed was always more comfortable, then to jump out of bed. I have to admit it is out of convenience that I have seen at least ten beautiful sunrises in the last month. I was reminded the other day watching a video of the early days my son Ian played with Woodfish at the Saint in Asbury Park abou...

As I am approaching the golden years of my life, I truly want to make them golden, joyful and full of life. Covid was an eye opener in so many ways. But, most of all how short life is. It seems every ten years I have gone through some kind of loss, and out of it came personal growth. What I am going through this year compares to no other time in my life, but it is becoming exciting for it's propects. And, that is surprising me. The picture above is a from a retreat I took in about 2005 or 2006. It was called Creative Escape, and I am wearing one of the first Vera Bradley bags I ever bought. I am going to be talking about the magic of manifesting and intention setting in my life. I am going to go backwards. It ends up, I think I am just on a creative retreat making memory keeping (scrapbooking) crafts. But, actually the three classes I remember most. I had dreams of the future as I was creating. And, those dreams came true in a matter of years. One, was rubber stam...

Driving home last night from Maryland, and listening to lots of great music. I decided to head to Asbury Lanes to celebrate Danny Clinch's Gallery five years at the Asbury. He also was awarded a Congressional award last night. To my amazement there was so much talent. First up was the Black Flamingos. I would describe them as funky with a gospel edge. As he was introduced and as Ian had mentioned the leader of the group is Alexander Simone. I later found out he is Nina Simone's grandson. Whattttt? He and the group were great and had the audience dancing in no time. I want to dance, like I am a teenager again! Live music is the answer!!! Living where I am, that is no problem. At the end of the night Danny Clinch came out with a band and was announced by Rachel Ana Dobken . After singing a couple of songs she was the drummer. Then Low Cut Connie came out. I saw a lot of him on social media during Covid and Ian has recorded with him. He was a lot of ...

Today is the start writing two paragraphs a day for thirty days. I am also doing this on my iphone for the first time, because I am in Maryland I am here to celebrate my grandson's birthday. Yesterday I started a writing accountability class as Thunderoad Bookstore in Spring Lake I love the name of the class Rise And Write, as I have been doing that for the last ten years. Every day is a beginning. Starting most days witnessing a sunset is a remarkable way to start the day I can not believe how exciting it is. My biggest fear these last few years with the amount of loss I have endured is depression. And, I am so thankful for the encouragement I find in surprising ways each day. I have made the most of this four day weekend! But, the best surprise was reuniting with my best friend from fifty years ago. It was as if no time has gone by. I only found out the day before she was coming up from Atlanta. And, today hoy was found waking up to the sounds of the pitter patter o...

I love that I can google my grandfather and have numerous images come up. I have always been so proud of my grandfather. He is my mother's father, and the reason we landed growing up in Spring Lake, New Jersey. He started as a cart boy for Grand Union and with no college education ended his career as Vice President of Grand Union supermarkets. He retired and owned a weekly newspaper called the Florida Grocer. He had style! He is in the picture to the left, always with a bow tie! He also wrote a book called Supermarket Routes. Anyway, my niece who named her son Brady (My Grandfather was William Brady) just started a business called Brady's Bricks. Brady is 12 and a very talented Lego builder. He has been building adult size buildings for years, and he is very quick. He is also very polite, kind and helpful. For example, while his mom and his aunt and I were chatting outside a restaurant. He opened the door for all who entered or exited. So, I already know he is go...

This is my Thanksgiving post. I would like to thank all of the writers, musicians and artists who tell their stories and share them with the world. I would also like to thank strangers, who I encounter. who are storytellers. Yesterday I had a bad day, and I encountered several people who turned my day around. They shared kind words with me and complimented me. They had no idea how much I needed kindness and encouragement. One told me a story that was dreadful. But, there she was standing up and encouraging me through her own horror story. I woke up this morning hearing the sounds of the wind howling. I remembered the rainy forecast for today. So, I was going to just stay in bed. But, there was a bit of an orange glow coming through the window. I quickly grabbed a book I can't wait to read and headed out the door. As I walked straight to the sunrise. I couldn't help but think. Why is this beautiful sky just right before me and clouds are everywhere else? And, I ...

Finally, starting to feel calmer and comfortable in my surroundings. It has been a month since I moved out of my home. I try to share what is positive, but just writing out my feelings today. This has been the most challenging, disruptive, and discouraging part of my life. To say this is easy would be a complete and total lie. But, it was and is unquestionably, totally and positively necessary. I am comparing it to going to the dentist and getting a very painful tooth extracted. But, most of all no matter what life brings us, we have to do our best to rise above it all. And, most of all being kind to ourselves is most important. The wierdest feeling is the guilt, when I haven't done anything wrong. The other worst feeling I have is the feeling of being a failure and oh so shameful. So, today is the first day I don't have anything really important to deal with. So, I am looking forward to creating something. That always makes me feel successful, positive and purpo...