I was washing the dishes earlier this evening, admiring the tiny flower/rose pattern on the dinnerware complete with the gold paint around the rim and thought about how these dishes used to belong to my paternal grandmother. They were her special dinnerware, used at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. I loved family gatherings at those holidays because I knew these dishes would be used. But, for Sunday dinners and other, non-holiday events, other dishes were used while these Rosa rugosa plates spent most of the time carefully wrapped in paper towels, inside a special zippered plate case.
When my grandmother died and then my grandfather nine months later, I inherited this set of dishes. My parents didn't need them and they knew I loved looking at them. So, they entered my household where I used them for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, carefully washing them before the holiday feast, and again after the meal. I hand-dried each plate before wrapping it in paper towels and packing it away in its special case. When my sons were little, we didn't even use the plates, for fear when one of the boys would break a dish.
This continued for many, many years until finally, something shifted inside me. About a year ago I thought, why am I eating my meals on these chipped ceramic plates and/or plastic plates while my nice dishes sit in the pantry gathering dust and only get used three times a year? Why not enjoy the dishes on a daily basis, after all, isn't that what they were made for, to be eaten off of? So, I got rid of the chipped and plastic plates and washed enough of my grandmother's china to serve my family plus two more, in case we have friends over for a meal. Now, I get to enjoy these beautiful plates several times a day. They add color to every meal and make each dish a special one. I don't know if my grandmother would approve of her good china being used this way, but I like it-- I can't take them with me when I die and life is short, so I figure to enjoy life little moments, even those that relate to dishes.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
January 6, 2011--Epiphany...
Today is Epiphany or what I learned at an early age is the day the Magi appeared in Bethlehem after the birth of Jesus. When I was a kid, growing up in Mexico, the celebrations for this day were as elaborate or more so than for Christmas. Although my family did not celebrate Three King's Day with gifts and feasting, many of my Mexican friends received numerous gifts on this day, as well as had a huge feast and usually a piñata to break as well. I was always a bit envious of my friends, as they received so many more gifts in such a short span of time. Thinking back on it now, as an adult, with bills to pay, I wonder how those families could afford to buy so much, not once, but twice in just a couple of weeks!
Epiphany also means a sudden, intuitive perception into the essential meaning of something, usually coming
Epiphany also means a sudden, intuitive perception into the essential meaning of something, usually coming
from something commonplace. I wish I could say I have had an "epiphany" today, but no such luck... I did have my faith in my own writing ability restored, though, through a strangely worded horoscope in the newspaper today which essentially said not to give up, to continue following my own path, regardless of what others think or say. This has been my philosophy for some years now and deep down, I know I am on the right path, so maybe that is an epiphany after all.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
January 5, 2011-- Dead Poets Society...
Today's inauguration ceremony in Augusta for LePage did not include a poetry reading and this brought to mind the great movie starring Robin Williams called Dead Poets Society.
I found this quote from the movie which seems relevant to today's events and is spoken by John Keating--
"We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, "O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?" Answer. That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play *goes on* and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?''
I found this quote from the movie which seems relevant to today's events and is spoken by John Keating--
"We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, "O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?" Answer. That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play *goes on* and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?''
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
January 4, 2011-- Sacred colors...
Yesterday, my latest book on the Mayans arrived from Amazon--The Book of Chilam Balam of Chumayel--it is a translation of a book written by a Mayan prophet, Chilam, around the end of the 15th century. For someone fascinated with Mayan culture as I am, this looks like it will be a somewhat difficult, but worthwhile read.
The first thing I have noticed in the book is the description of the four sacred colors. According to the Mayans, red represents east, white-north, black-west and yellow-south. After I read that, I remembered that the native American Indians also had four sacred colors and I began to wonder if there were any similarities. A little bit of research has brought up these facts: For the Navajo, white-east, black-north, yellow-west and blue-south. So none of those match up...For the Apache, white-north, yellow-east, green-south and black-west so two of these directions and colors are the same for the Apaches and Mayans of white-north and black-west...For the Cherokee, blue-north, white-south, red-east and black-west which means two of the four colors also match for the Cherokees and Mayans of red-east and black-west.
I think it's fascinating that these groups of people who lived thousands of miles apart still had something in common like their sacred colors. What it means if anything, I don't know but it intrigues me nonetheless.
The first thing I have noticed in the book is the description of the four sacred colors. According to the Mayans, red represents east, white-north, black-west and yellow-south. After I read that, I remembered that the native American Indians also had four sacred colors and I began to wonder if there were any similarities. A little bit of research has brought up these facts: For the Navajo, white-east, black-north, yellow-west and blue-south. So none of those match up...For the Apache, white-north, yellow-east, green-south and black-west so two of these directions and colors are the same for the Apaches and Mayans of white-north and black-west...For the Cherokee, blue-north, white-south, red-east and black-west which means two of the four colors also match for the Cherokees and Mayans of red-east and black-west.
I think it's fascinating that these groups of people who lived thousands of miles apart still had something in common like their sacred colors. What it means if anything, I don't know but it intrigues me nonetheless.
Monday, January 3, 2011
January 3, 2011-- On raising boys...
My mother once gave me a wooden plaque that now hangs on the wall near my desk that reads "there is a special place in Heaven for the mother of three boys."
There are days when I wonder why in hell I got stuck with my three but then, there are times like tonight when it is good to know I have such good sons.
My oldest, Yule, the one in HI, just turned 21 yesterday and called to tell me he survived his bar hopping escapades of last night. Most young men would NOT tell their mom that they drank so much they puked, not once, but at least twice, as he moved with a crowd from one bar to the next. And, yes, I immediately asked who was driving and found out they were all in cabs. Now, drinking to the point of being sick is not necessarily the smartest thing to do, but there is a certain awareness when Yule knew in advance to hire a taxi for the night. It makes me smile, to know that some of my nagging and constant advice has actually sunk in about being reasonably responsible if you plan to drink. And, I'm happy to see that we also have a pretty good relationship for Yule to want to call his mom and talk for twenty minutes while feeling somewhat lethargic and hung over. Of course, he also wanted advice for his bad hangover, which I was happy to provide--a hot shower, cold milk and/ or water, and lots of salty foods like pretzels to help counterbalance his acid system.
It's a good feeling to have Yule call and chat about once a week as I know many people whose kids rarely keep in touch either by phone or email.
I have two other sons who will turn 21 in 2 and 4 years respectively; I imagine they will survive the parties as well as their older brother has done at his as they are equally as responsible and have learned to watch Yule's example and then follow on a slightly less reckless path.
There are days when I wonder why in hell I got stuck with my three but then, there are times like tonight when it is good to know I have such good sons.
My oldest, Yule, the one in HI, just turned 21 yesterday and called to tell me he survived his bar hopping escapades of last night. Most young men would NOT tell their mom that they drank so much they puked, not once, but at least twice, as he moved with a crowd from one bar to the next. And, yes, I immediately asked who was driving and found out they were all in cabs. Now, drinking to the point of being sick is not necessarily the smartest thing to do, but there is a certain awareness when Yule knew in advance to hire a taxi for the night. It makes me smile, to know that some of my nagging and constant advice has actually sunk in about being reasonably responsible if you plan to drink. And, I'm happy to see that we also have a pretty good relationship for Yule to want to call his mom and talk for twenty minutes while feeling somewhat lethargic and hung over. Of course, he also wanted advice for his bad hangover, which I was happy to provide--a hot shower, cold milk and/ or water, and lots of salty foods like pretzels to help counterbalance his acid system.
It's a good feeling to have Yule call and chat about once a week as I know many people whose kids rarely keep in touch either by phone or email.
I have two other sons who will turn 21 in 2 and 4 years respectively; I imagine they will survive the parties as well as their older brother has done at his as they are equally as responsible and have learned to watch Yule's example and then follow on a slightly less reckless path.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
January 2, 2011-- The Girl Who Played With Fire
The Girl Who Played With Fire is the second in the Stieg Larssen movie series. Jeff and I watched it New Year's Eve and drank a bottle of champagne at the same time, which is a pretty good way to watch a movie.
The same characters are in this movie, Lisbeth Salander being the main one. She is targeted as the main suspect in three different murders and has to find her estranged and strange father to prove her innocence. There are some graphic scenes in this movie, just like the first one; an erotic scene between Lisbeth and her female lover, a gruesome replay of a little of the rape scene from the first movie, another gory scene involving an ax... but despite this, the movie is a definite must-see for those who like foreign, suspense-thriller films. I can't wait to get the third installment on Netflix and then turn around and read all the books.
It's too bad the author died a couple of years ago; apparently he had outlines for nine or ten novels with these same characters--now we will never know quite where he was headed, but based on the first two movies I've seen, they would have been good movies/books right to the end.
The same characters are in this movie, Lisbeth Salander being the main one. She is targeted as the main suspect in three different murders and has to find her estranged and strange father to prove her innocence. There are some graphic scenes in this movie, just like the first one; an erotic scene between Lisbeth and her female lover, a gruesome replay of a little of the rape scene from the first movie, another gory scene involving an ax... but despite this, the movie is a definite must-see for those who like foreign, suspense-thriller films. I can't wait to get the third installment on Netflix and then turn around and read all the books.
It's too bad the author died a couple of years ago; apparently he had outlines for nine or ten novels with these same characters--now we will never know quite where he was headed, but based on the first two movies I've seen, they would have been good movies/books right to the end.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
January 1, 2011-- Rabbit, Rabbit..
Rabbit, rabbit to everyone--hope you all tried to remember to say this first thing this morning to bring some good luck into the new year. I remembered just before I got up, which is supposedly the best time to say it.
I think everyone can use a bit of luck these days, what with the economy the way it is still, so many still unemployed, the weather creating problems and all the other unpleasant news that seems to fill the headlines on a daily basis.
Just once, I wish the news headlines were full of good news, with one or two bad stories, instead of the daily crush of doom and gloom we seem to receive offset by that one tear-jerker story at the end that's supposed to make us feel good, but really winds up making me feel worse instead of better.
I know, it won't happen, because good news doesn't sell as well as the bad, and when it comes right down to it, the news, like much of the rest of the world, is governed by money.
Ugh! On that unpleasant thought, I will close for the night and say an extra rabbit, rabbit or two for all of us, in the hopes that life for everyone shifts for the better this year.
I think everyone can use a bit of luck these days, what with the economy the way it is still, so many still unemployed, the weather creating problems and all the other unpleasant news that seems to fill the headlines on a daily basis.
Just once, I wish the news headlines were full of good news, with one or two bad stories, instead of the daily crush of doom and gloom we seem to receive offset by that one tear-jerker story at the end that's supposed to make us feel good, but really winds up making me feel worse instead of better.
I know, it won't happen, because good news doesn't sell as well as the bad, and when it comes right down to it, the news, like much of the rest of the world, is governed by money.
Ugh! On that unpleasant thought, I will close for the night and say an extra rabbit, rabbit or two for all of us, in the hopes that life for everyone shifts for the better this year.
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