rajafacesbothways

Farewell 2010--Whew!

Reread my journals for 2010--much more grubby and detailed than this blog. Discovered the year worthy material for at least a three-season soap opera, despite lacking steamy sex. (Hmm--wonder if that could be spliced in from former journals?) Fortunately I waste little energy on worrying; I can't possibly keep track of all I'm supposed to worry about.

The hummingbirds taught me a great lesson this year. I had given up on their return; about to take down the feeders when----whoosh. There they were! Revealing themselves (like life) on their own timetable, not focusing on the length of the journey but on gathering the nectar,  sticking their beaks in as rapidly as possible and fighting off others who tried to prevent them gathering the sweetness.

So in 2011, discount the difficulties of the journey. Enjoy the flight, and relish "sticking your beak" in the delectable pleasures that sustain the trip.

Happy New Year!

 

OMG! Six Years 1425 Entries

Christmas 2004, friend Kathryn gave me the present of a Blog. Having no idea what it was was, I was excited--I thought Blog was a gift certificate for a meal at a trendy Chicago restaurant. Little did I know then I would be feeding it for the past 6 years.

Since then Facebook and tweeting have become the norm. I have no idea what blogging statistics are now but then 8 million Americans were doing it and about half of them were guys under age 30, with household incomes that exceeded $50,000. No way did I fit that profile.

It is like a demanding child, seeking new distractions and attention. However, I have faithfully stuck with it like a good recovering Lutheran. I wish I could offer you readers rare flashes of insight but I can't think of any.  So we're often left with the shallow glitter and glitz of life in a small Kentucky town.

Anyway--thanks to all readers for hanging out here with me. It often feels like mumbling to myself but it's nice to know that you're out there at least occasionally picking up some strange raja vibes.

 

Just Kids--a Review

Patti Smith is the yang to Cleopatra's yin.

Just Kids (2010) is the story of two obscure bohemian kids who met on the streets of Brooklyn in the late sixties. Patti Smith was sleeping on park benches when she met Robert Mapplethorpe. He shared his tiny space with her and they became lovers, soul mates and muses as they provided and encouraged each other in their struggle for artistic success.

In the background of creative artistic turmoil in the late sixties and early seventies, famous people drift in and out of their lives--Andy Warhol, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, writers, poets, rock and roll musicians and life at the Hotel Chelsea. However that period seems almost quaint now with the advent of Facebook, Twitter, and Starbucks.

 Patti Smith eventually married, had two children and moved to Detroit. Robert Mapplethorpe died of AIDS at the age of 43. Her last promise to him was that she would tell their story. And she did--in this masterful, poignant book. Being a successful artist requires struggle, stretching of ideas and hard, hard, hard work. Through their mutual support this became possible.

Both Robert and Patti went on to the artistic success they dreamed of--he as a highly controverial photographer and Patti as a writer, visual artist and performer. She was later inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received the 2010 National Book Award for Just Kids.

I highly recommend this book--unless you are an ultra-conservative.

Cleopatra, A Life--review

Cleopatra A Life  (2010) This biography by Stacy Sniff is filled with details gleaned from the sketchy evidence available on Cleopatra's life during the amazing era in which she lived. Ancient Hellenistic Alexandria's glittering, thriving culture makes today's Las Vegas look tawdry and dull, in a time before Rome's grandeur was even developed.

Enter the reign of Cleopatra--not the beauty portrayed in film but one of history's most intriging women. Possesing wealth, power, and the ability to form military and political alliances, she had the skills  and brains to broker her power and charms to make Egypt the most powerful and wealtiest countries of that time. To achieve this she married and killed off a couple of her brothers and bore children to Caesar and Mark Anthony.

Definitely a woman who knew what to do to get the job done. And by the way, she was Greek, not Egyptian.

Schiff's book has been selected as one of the best books of 2010 and rightfully so. Based on historically accurate facts Schiff gathers together a portrait of a time and a woman that kept me turning the pages until the dramatic ending. This should erase misconceptions of Cleopatra's image--not the "hottie" of Hollywood's interpretations, but a brilliant leader and one of the most remarkable women in history.

Reason to Rejoice

Happy Birthday to my daughter Karen--one of my two major accomplishments, rewards and contributions to the world. I just gave birth--she took it from there!

 

That Time of Year

Because I have no "kin" here and live alone, this often puts a dismayed expression on some faces. Actually, so what? I've had some super family Christmas gatherings--but for me family doesn't mean crawling out of the same gene pool. I believe it has a much broader context.

My first year here on the farm was spent in beauty and isolation and it was lovely. This year I went to Shaker Village for an excellent English tea, am going to a seafood fest given by a lawyer who originally came from Boston, and later to a Polish Christmas Eve supper. Each event involves a unique mix of people and excellent food. And there is something to be said for being slightly detached from all their quirks and problems. No concerns about "Uncle Tom is drinking too much and acting depressed", or  listening to Cousin Lena's marital problems.

Tomorrow morning I'll toast you all with a Bloody Mary made with a super-duper mix sent from my sister and husband, enjoy a few phone calls, and watch the expected 2-3 inches of snow fall that will enhance the beauty of the day.

Merry Christmas.

God Loves Us Best

Recent census results reveal that four of the ten poorest counties in the U.S. are in eastern/southern KY. Bless their hearts--there are no jobs there since coal mining and lumbering have long departed. And poor education is a strong factor.

Scary disclosure; the annual medium income in those four counties is about the same as mine. The good news-- I have savings and I don't have 7 kids, a hound dog, a milk cow and possibly a drug addiction to support.  And seriously folks, how much money do you need after basics? I bet my life is more fun than most of those living in the richest U.S. counties.

And we all know God loves the poor. And now God will love KY most of all. Because along with the Creation Museum, our tax budget will include support of the Creationist Theme Park featuring Noah's Ark and the Tower of Babel.What better opportunity to brain wash (I mean educate) the youth?

The Chinese are developing a Science Theme Park. Humph! I bet our sweet loving Lord Jebus will send them there heahens to burn in hell.

Departures

Fall is departing like a mad polar bear; already as much snow on the ground as we usually get all winter and ice too cold to melt, leaving my car encrusted with an inch of ice, and frozen piles of snow everywhere. Good thing I'm not an idle creature of fashion; my wardrobe consists of several layers of clothes and cotton gloves with the fingers cut out--and that's inside my loft. Perhaps winter will be an improvement.

Attended a farewell party for a retiring member of the Court House group last night--a man who kept the roads and bridges in the county in great shape for 25 years and spent the last five years with duties at the Court House, including  the swearing in of precinct workers--vowing they had never partaken in any duels. Good food, big cake, tearful speeches from his son and co-workers. Grown men do cry--at least here in Kentucky.

Too bad those salty tears can't melt the ice.

Two Bobs

I've reached the age where I know more people who are dying than those who are giving birth. This morning I heard the obits of Bob Feller, the great Cleveland Indians pitcher. I was a fan of him and the Indians when I was a little kid and knew him as the "strike-out king". The Indians offered about the only outside enertainment in the rural area where I grew up.

And a dear friend, Bob Rhea just died after a difficult illness. This connection goes back many decades to another era in Ohio, where everyone had babies and entertainment was neighborhood gatherings. Bob and Ida moved onward and upward, ending with developing and owning 250 McDonalds units in the United Kingdom. He and Ida never forgot their early friendships and generously shared their lives in London with me over several visits. I would have lived a lesser life not knowing him.

Both of the men lived long rewarding lives to the hilt and contributed in many ways. Can't do much better than that.

Bob Rhea in London

Choices

Being here for the holidays is no problem for me, although I get comments of "You're not going to be with your Kin?" And then they invite me to be with their kinfolks for Christmas dinner. (nice but no thanks). Actually I probably have a more unique and varied social life here than I would have in Chicago.

Which leads me to this thought.. As much as I love Chicago and many who live there, I just read that Illinois leads as the 10 worst states to retire. Georgetown's cost of living and climate is much better and actually offers a variety of activities and unique people to enjoy. And that brings me to this Estonian proverb:

"Better a goat that gives milk than a cow that cannot."