I headed down the mountain very early yesterday morning, before the sun had risen, just as a crescent moon slid across the eastern sky, above Truchas Peaks…
Reaching Nambe Pueblo as the morning sun kissed the Jemez Mountains across the valley, dipping lower to color the mesas left there by erosion and the Rio Grange River, made up for not yet having had my morning coffee I can tell you.
Honoring a wild hair, I decided to treat myself to breakfast at the La Fonda Hotel (lafondasantafe.com), Santa Fe’s oldest, which is located on the Plaza, the town’s historic and geographic center, dating back to 1610.
Arriving at the old Plaza, I was surprised to see an Airstream parked there, just across from the Palace of the Governors. Approaching it, I saw that it was NPR’s StoryCorps trailer! For those of you who aren’t familiar with StoryCorps, it is “… a national, nonprofit oral history organization whose mission is to provide Americans… with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve…” their stories (http://storycorps.org). StoryCorps is one of the largest history projects of its kind and each 40 minute interview is preserved at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. Wow.
I’ve heard these interviews on the radio, of course. They center around individuals interviewing someone they know, asking them questions about their lives. This project is recording simple lives, the lives of people like you and me–because we all have stories that matter.
Interestingly, the last few nights I’ve been watching (via Netflix) the BBC’s series, Any Human Heart. It is the story of a man, at the end of his life, looking back.
And this has had me pondering mine. We all, I think, want to do the “big thing” with our lives. In fact our culture pretty much demands it. From the time we are children most of us are indoctrinated to perform, conform and produce by families that were indoctrinated before us. We are taught that money, success and power solve everything and give a life meaning. Yes, I have to admit I fall prey to wanting to do the big thing, the meaningful thing, even if that is only, to me, to earn my living as an artist–a painter and a writer.
But what if real meaning is simply comprised of things like clothespins on a clothesline lit by the sun’s setting… stringing that same clothesline one day when the idea struck… hanging sheets out to dry on them… crawling into those sheets at night, the fragrance of winter and sun and juniper laced through their very fibers…
… the joy of feeding birds outside a window… remembering to buy seed at the store…
… giving an animal a warm home he can count on, a fire in the wood stove, plenty of good food always, safety, peace and play, love…
… heading home…
… the gentle quiet of a morning, a good book and a cup of coffee…
In the TV series, the main character finds himself caring for an old friend when she is dying. In talking about her life, she recalls buying a bunch of violets when she was young, with money she really couldn’t spare. At the end of her life she remembers the violets and forgets all about the struggle, whatever it was.
And perhaps this is it. Perhaps we are here to understand that it doesn’t matter one bit if we do the big thing, whatever that is to each of us. Maybe it is all about that bunch of violets.
And love. Let’s not forget about love.
Love to you all,
Jeane
What if all there is is Plenty, and Enough? and beauty, and love, and peace…. I am really enjoying your words as well as your images. Nicely done – again.
Thank you, Delia. I’m so happy you’re enjoying the blog and I appreciate you letting me know. that keeps me going.
You are very welcome. It is always nice to know that even if we wonder if we are whistling in the dark, others hear our tune. Keep doing what you love, and thank you for sharing it.
I will Delia. Your words and message are right on for me right now. Thank you.
Amen:) <3
I so love that you are always there with your sweet words and wisdom.
Jeane – I have only been receiving your blog posts for a couple of weeks – but I am already finding peace and solace in your words and beautiful photographs! – Thank you for sharing all the ‘small’ things in your life that make up the big picture! – As I get older I find that the small delights in life really do bring peace and tranquility….. Luisa
Hi Luisa–Welcome to the blog! I’m thrilled that you’re, “… already finding peace and solace…” here. That is a powerful statement and pleases me no end. I so appreciate you writing to me to let me know. Notes like yours truly do keep me going. Thank you!
“just an artist,” she says… that’s like saying just a sunset, or just a baby, or just a miracle. living in the stream of consciousness of an artists ear and a lyricists eye is no “just” task. It is an orientation, a way of being, a devotion. And You already are A Big Thing. I like how you demonstrate that we are not “all alone in the world.”
Oh thank you, thank, thank you Delia! I’m loving hearing from you. You clearly have an open heart. “It is an orientation, a way of being, a devotion.” That’s such a true statement. In fact, no matter what, I don’t think I could BE anything else. This is who and what I am–an artist. Thank you for not only getting the importance of that, but also helping me to remember the privilege and the responsibility once again. And we all are a BIG THING aren’t we? It is only this consumer–product vrs. process thinking that makes us feel otherwise. So pleased that you get the concept of all being one from somewhere in the blog. Thank you for your perceptions Delia!
For me it’s the small things that bring the most joy. The mornings…. the first birds at my
feeders, that very first sip of coffee, that seems to reach my toes! I left Corporate America 2 years ago when the stress began to eat away my physical well being. Now I live this easy and simple life of retirement, and I am still on the honeymoon. It just never gets old and I have never been happier.
Your photo of the clothes pins shimmering in the sun prompted me to re-visit that delightful video of your laundry dancing in the breeze to the music… Makes me smile!!
Ah, how I remember those first two years after having left my corporate job. Let’s see, I must be in my 17th year! Oh my how time flies! But you know, Terry, I’m still on the honeymoon too and that first sip of coffee still takes me to my knees.
I’m so glad you were reminded of that video and that it makes you smile.
Sometime over the past week I came across your blog. Can’t quite recall how I landed there…but so fortunate to have done so! How refreshing and inspiring are your stories, quotes, poems, etc. Catching up on past posts as well. Such an inspiration…thanks for sharing!
I’m so happy that you bumped into the blog, Julie, and that you’re enjoying it. Thank you for letting me know. I absolutely love it when someone new comes along (not to say I’m not also thrilled with my long-time followers–I am!), and I particularly love the idea of you digging into older posts. Thank you for taking the time to do that and please let me know what you think.
To live the simple life among nature….to know and be known by the spirits of the earth…the trees…water…rocks…birds…and animal folk…I can think of no greater aspiration. I am in awe of the beauty of this place you call home.
What a very, very sweet sentiment, Jody. Thank you. I, too, am in awe of this place and am grateful every single day that I am here.
Bunch of violets … thanks for the lesson, Jeane.
My pleasure, Laura. This is one I was just passing on–always nice to do.
The image of your dog rolling in the snow says it all. It’s the simple pleasures that set the tone for the day. (That’s why I love my early morning cuppa while watching the birds and monkeys arrive in my garden for breakfast).Your life as an artist surrounded by beauty and wide open space, experiencing stillness and nature …. sounds like bliss.
I love that photo too, Robyn. Kelee is a very big, serious and intense dog. It is rare that I catch a photo of him in bliss.
Do monkeys really come into your yard? Where are you? I’d love to see some photos.
I’m in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Monkeys used to come into the garden daily until neighbours started shooting them. They still come regularly but they sneak in so quietly that I often miss them. They are highly entertaining!Here’s a mommy and her baby sitting on my studio window sill.
What a wonderful photo Robyn! Thank you for sharing it. Of course it hurts my heart to think of your neighbors shooting these playful, defenseless creatures. I’m glad they’re smart enough to take care with whom they choose to be seen by. Your life as an artist in South Africa sounds like bliss too.
Thank you.
Robyn, I was going to say the same about Kelee. When we have pain and sleepless nights, it can be difficult to “roll with delight in the snow”. That’s when our best friends show us the meaning of gratitude. A hug for Kelee and a big one for Kim.
And Kelee lives with much pain and STILL rolls in the snow! Now there’s another lesson.