TAKING A STEP IN THE "WRITE" DIRECTION

 

    I followed a tutorial last night and drew a step ladder.  A step ladder? I can't imagine there is any demand for a picture of that sort. I could frame it and give it as a Christmas gift to someone and let that person sit and puzzle out what to do with it. I understand that it was an excellent exercise in the drawing class...but what do I do with it now? HA! You are stuck with it as an illustration for this blog post!

    At my age, a step ladder is the highest ladder I will climb and, even then, I doubt I will go past the first step. Still, that's heading in the right direction: UP. 

    I used to be a prolific writer. Along the way, I wrote less and less until I got to a point that I ceased writing any blog posts at all. I wasn't depressed...quite the opposite. I simply found lots of things I enjoyed doing and got happy doing them. I took up drawing three years ago. It filled a need that wasn't filled by writing. There was no need for words. I could think and feel or just let my thought drift and still create something that caused me to smile. 

    I like the idea of illustrated writing. I loved it as a child. I never stopped loving it. I've always been a bit zany, though, so rather than illustrate something I have written, I will choose to write about something I have drawn.  Why not? It will keep me on my toes mentally and, if necessary, I can use the memory of the step ladder to keep me heading in the "write" direction. 

OH NUTS! (Children's Literature for Adults)

 

OH! NUTS!

'Can't find a rhyme for acorn

I know it's just a nut

I'd like to write a poem

But just can't make the cut

I can't do much with almond

Except to make some paste

Attempts with Macadamia

Seem such a wretched waste

I can choose to use a cashew

A nut I think is hot

Perhaps I'll find a rhyme or two

But truly not a lot

    Rodney had a problem with acorns. He gathered them all spring, summer and fall, racing hither and yon, attmepting to hide his treasure and doing such a good job, he often lost the acorns completely. His obsession with acorns was so complete he nearly lost his life on several occasions as he spotted one across the street and darted out into traffic as he raced to get it. His friends staged an intervention and Rodney began going to AA (Acorns Anonymous). He began doing better, but, rather than entirely abstain from acorns, he began using substitutions. First he found hazel nuts. He moved his home in order to be close to where they were found. His geographic change helped initially, for there were no oak trees in the area where he found the Hazelnut trees. His downfall came when he was scurrying across a lawn and paused to look at a little human sitting on her back step. She threw something toward him. At first he jumped, but then got curious. Sniff! Sniff! A magic scent filled the air. He went closer to the object she had thrown. It had a shell like the acorns and the hazelnut, but the shell was softer. He bit it and it came away easily, revealing two football shapped nutmeats. He sat up on his haunches and watched the little human as he enjoyed the delicacy. Wonder of wonders! She threw another one at him! This time He didn't jump. He gathered the nut quickly and made short work of chewing through the shell. Rodney had discovered peanuts.

       Rodney formed a habit of visiting that area daily in case the little human was outside and felt like tossing food his way. On days when she wasn't there, he went closer to the steps and sniffed  the air, getting more familiar with the place. One day as he was doing so, the door opened and there she was. He ran off for a bit, but then approached her after she sat down. In time he formed the habit of running to the back step when he saw her there. One day his new friend came out the door and he ran up to her, but she didn't have a nut for him. Instead, she had something that smelled just like a nut, but was sticky and spread all over a crusty thing.  He bit into it thinking it was a shell of some sort, but, to his surprise, it wasn't. He ate the crusty thing and the sticky stuff and enjoyed them, even though the sticky stuff stuck to his teeth and the roof of his mouth. Peanut butter transported him to a new reality.  Another day she brought a new nut. It had a softer shell like the other one, but it was shaped differently and tasted a lot differently. Still it was a nut, and he enjoyed it.He became hooked on Almonds. It was then that his friends performed another intervention and Rodney wound up in NA(Nuts Anonymous). 

        

 

  

 

 

    

AN APPLE A DAY...

 

    Throughout my life, from grade school on, I identified as a writer. I never used the term author because, although I had written books, I had not published them. I wrote books, poems, articles, blog posts, children's stories, and thousands of letters. I never tried to specialize. I wrote.

    In recent years, I have identified as an artist. I play with graphite, charcoal, pastel/chalk, pastel/oil, ink, acrylic, watercolor...you name it. I try it. The above drawing was done with Prisma Premier Watercolor Pencils. I chose to leave the drawing as is rather than add water to it.  I am new to many of the things I am attempting. This is the first drawing I have done on black paper. I usually use a photo reference:

    What I draw or what medium I use is not important. What is important is THAT I draw. I find it comic that daily discipline is necessary for me to enjoy the results of what I play at doing. Disciplined play! I don't have to be good at what I am doing. I need only to keep doing it and trust that I will improve with practice. 

    I came to this stage late in life so I have decided I need to live a very long life to achieve goals that would cause me even greater joy. The more art I create the more hopeful I become. My inner child has always been a joy lover and she is, at last, out to play all day long. 

    Join Me!

DECLARATION OF JOYFUL INDEPENDENCE

 

I've been through so many changes in this past year, I need the first hour every morning to sort out who I am. I've been in the habit of arising early each day to have time to sort myself and pray for a lot of years now, but this past year has been especially remarkable. I am not who I was. I have become who I had hoped to be.

I am not afraid of you. While I hope always to get along well with others, if we don't get along, I don't feel a loss. None.

I used to hear people say, “The loss is theirs” and always thought that was simply a sweet phrase used to console me when I had a loss, but now I feel it! I have gone beyond loving myself now. I like myself. If you don't like me, we can agree to disagree. We all have our own tastes and our own boundaries. Liking is simply a matter of preference. I don't like sardines, anchovies, hard-boiled eggs, and some other stuff. I don't expect others to join me in my dislikes. I don't, though, expect to force myself to eat such things.

I'm always surprised when someone criticizes me without me asking for criticism. I am still stunned when anyone speaks to me in a condescending tone or tells me how I ought to spend my time or use my gifts. I recognize the difference between a request and an order. It's in my nature to strive to fill loving requests. For the most part, though, I am busy using my gifts as I want. They are my toys and I am enjoying my retirement a lot. I play all day long.

I appreciate suggestions when they are offered as optional ideas that someone has. Healthy feedback is fun. It can be inspiring.

For the most part, though, I am busy with my own creative thoughts. I get many ideas and let them float around as if in the air above my head, plucking one from time to time to bring into physical reality. That's what a creative is. We create. I'm not a craftsman. I haven't refined my art. Refinement is for others. It's not my gift.

I'm a free spirit, following no one's rules but my own. I'm happier alone than with any controlling person. I like my own company.

Social distancing has been a major blessing for me. I have all the space I have needed without having to apologize to anyone for not socializing enough! I am better able to appreciate the company of others when we do share.

I've had many times in the past when I have lived apart from large numbers of people, but in those times I was in a caretaker's position. The only one I need to take care of now is me. I can now appreciate what I offered to others in the past.

I'm fun! The person who enjoys me the most in this life is me.

NO LONGER YOUNG

I'm growing old

It's true 

But better to keep growing 

Than to sit and rot in place

My spirit grows  lighter as I age

Child-like wonder fills my days

As I experience both sorrow and joy 

Sorrow as I look at those who refuse to grow

Joy as I see more and more beauty around me

My eyes no longer clouded to the brightness in life

I step aside when anyone stands in the way to block my view

No one overshadows me any longer

(c)  2021 B. Plankey

EAGLE'S LAMENT

 

They never learned to love (me)

I don't know why

It was odd to give birth only to be drained 

by offspring

Give me more!

They turned on me 

Not valuing the love I gave

Going into the world to seek adoration from others

Their egos shouting

 Feed me! Feed me!

Baby birds growing larger and larger

Not willing to mature

Feed me! Feed me!

Others hear their cries and answer

As I am cast aside

Treated as an abuser

For trying to teach them to fly

(C) 2021 B. Plankey