Mad Men. And why it matters.
I resisted watching Mad Men. Why?
Because it was so obviously about what really was going on then, in the 50's and 60's. That it was too painful to be confronted with what the reality was at that time. That women were on the cusp of a Massive Change. That bold women went from being grateful to work at all to being desirous of Having More and be treated as Equals.
It was what my parents faced. That Pops (in a psychiatric residency at the famous Menninger Clinic) was criticized for have a Wife That Worked. "What is wrong with you? You can't support your wife and children? Can't you keep her at home in an apron, tending the home fires?"
How bold and brave they were, in the 50's, bucking the trend, being ahead of the curve. How gracious and generous my father was to "let" his wife be a public health physician and pursue her dream of making life better for women and children. They were so far ahead of what society was at that time - they envisioned a world where men and women were equals in making the world a better place.
Their choices were hard. And the result of making those brave choices, so out of line with the culture, had a ripple effect in the lives of their children. Growing up, my siblings and I experienced a world in which women and men were peers and each had a contribution to make. Our role model was one of an equal partnership between men and women. In elementary school I was teased and made fun of because my mother worked.
This was a high bar that was set. We were given a new modality and we all made it work in our own way. We also were trailblazers - looking back on our lives I can see the boon and the difficulty inherent in their gift.
I think that the ecosystem they demonstrated to us had to process through our generation. That the real test of their experimentation in this brave new world will only manifest in the next generation, in our children.
Lina and Ali - I am not passing a burden on to you. I'm just asking you to consider the inroads that your grandparents made into the zeitgeist of their time by following their hearts in what they thought was right. Honor them by doing the same.
Lovely dear friends
Jane and Len were in Seattle over the weekend a few weeks ago to see the Gauguin exhibit and came down to Tacoma to visit me in the Dollhouse. We had a nice lunch and then we went on a drive through Point Defiance park.
In addition to the beautiful flowers they brought me from Pike Place Market...
They gave me another gift........one of perception. Jane and Len's comment about where I live opened my eyes. They said that it reminded them of a beach community, like Cape Cod. It never occurred to me!! I just thought it was a bit shabby. Isn't it amazing how someone else's perception can change your point of view? I always wanted to live in a beach community, and I am and I didn't know it!
I was so excited to see them that I forgot to take photos. So here's one from when I first met Jane and Len, when our babies were new to the world. Back in London. Michael was born six weeks before Lina was. Aren't we adorable?
We found each other again through the wonder of the interwebs and they have been such a comfort to me, looking after my little chicken Ali who is attending university in Vancouver.
They graciously welcomed Lina and Ali into their beautiful home when they didn't really even know us... except from 25 years ago in London. When I visit them, I feel like I'm at a wonderful spa...
They fed and housed my children whilst Lina and Ali were looking for a place for Ali to live - no dorms in Canadia!
Their son Michael is now engaged to his beloved, Laura, who he proposed to in Whistler.
Here's how Michael looks now...
And here's Lina and me at Sea Tac airport, at Christmas.
Jane and Len - I'm so glad we found each other again. You both have enriched my life.
Happy Birthday, Mumsy!
You would have been 88 years old today. I still see you, luminous.
I'm too young in this photo to remember how you cradled me, but I still feel you around me.
Your legacy is your children, your grandchildren. I remember how happy you were when you were around children - you resonated with them at such a profound level.
You taught us how to question, how to listen, about justice and kindness and I can't thank you enough. The summer ratcheting of cicadas, the glow of fireflies, the smell of Kansas earth and newly mown grass. We learned how to see, hear, and appreciate life wandering around the yard with you while you pulled weeds.
I miss you every day.
In no context, realm, reality or universe should this ever exist
But it does! And it's real. It's the geoduck (pronounced gooey duck.)
I am simultaneously disgusted and fascinated. Here's what fascinates me: if you know what this looks like in the wild, why on earth would you
1. look for it;
2. harvest it;
2. have your picture taken holding it, even ironically;
3. eat it, in whatever format offered, including sashimi.
The most civilized image I can find of it is from an Audubon article.
ugh ugh ugh.
Ali's first legitimate published skate photo
I'm a proud mama today!! In Color Magazine.
Easy Rider
One of Ali's assignments was to interpret a movie influential to him via the medium of photos. At least I think that's what it was. Ali's take on it was a mash up between Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper's look.
Check out the epic handlebar mustache!!
photo credits: David Roth
The trending questions on Facebook were "what are you riding?!" "i didn't know you rode a motorbike!" David Roth shot the photos and made an earlier appearance here in one of my favorite post titles: "If you haven't cried or gotten naked during a critique..."
Here's the photo shoot styling info:
Ali is wearing someone else's leather jacket.
Ditto the helmet.
The bandana is one of mine from college (!)
Oh, and he's riding a bicycle.
~~~
Whenever I hear "Easy Rider" I always think back to Christmas Eve, 1969. I took my 81 year old grandmother, Nana, to see an evening showing of Easy Rider. Despite being a very intellectually adventurous and open woman, Nana was very upset by the movie. She was mad at me for days for taking her to such a violent movie on Christmas Eve.
Neuroplasticity
Great word, eh? The Wiki defines Neuroplasticity thusly. This Sunday there was a riveting program on NPR's "On Being" that explored the topic with Rex Jung, called "Creativity and the Everyday Brain."
"...How do we prime our brains to take the meandering mental paths necessary for creativity? New techniques of brain imaging, Rex Jung says, are helping us gain a whole new view on the differences between intelligence, creativity, and personality. He unsettles some old assumptions — and suggests some new connections between creativity and family life, creativity and aging, and creativity and purpose."
Here's the podcast: http://download.publicradio.org/podcast/being/unheard_cuts/2012_creativity_uc...
And here's the TED talk done by Rex Jung:
The Pantry at Delancy
Lovely photo by Chantal Andrea shot for seattleweekly.com.
Chantal has beautiful photos on her website. Go peep.
How Venice works
Behind the scenes...
On the road to Puyallup
Pronounced Pew-y'all-up. Took me forever to pronounce it correctly.
Lenticular clouds on Mt. Rainier. Epic.
Storm front.
A VW bus and a stuffed moose. An inexplicable juxtaposition. At least they are facing the same way.
Cookie Monster cloud.
Brown's Point from Tacoma. I always pretend I'm on the French Riviera when I catch this view.
Beautiful Tacoma bus shelter.
Tacoma starting to Spring... (that's this weekend, folks. Spring ahead, Fall back!)
Runner, Ruston waterfront in Tacoma.
Birthday weekend
The boys stopped by on their drive up from San Francisco. Ali wassup with your hair?
Isaac, Ali's roommate, relaxing.
Ali brought me a beautiful cupcake with lavender icing from Cupcake Royale.
DeMarcus joined us for one night and day. He caught a ride to Vancouver with Ali and Isaac and stayed a week. Off to Paris at the end of the month - bon voyage, DeMarcus!
We had lunch at Pho (pronounced Fah) King. I don't know if it's a deliberate play on words or not. Ali and I assume it's deliberate. More fun that way.
Some old guy took our photo and even gave back the camera!
After lunch the boys took off to skate Seattle and onwards north to Van. I went around the corner to donate more fabric to the Tacoma Art Place. I was so touched to see that my last donation had been made into clothing that they put up for sale. Everything on the wall except for the silver/denim configuration was fabric I had given to the center.
Vashon Island was especially beautiful on Sunday.
Cloudiness, then clear sunshine..
Blackberry brambles in the foreground...
Ten years after....
Time for a new passport!
Today's photo on the right.
Idris Alba. Season 2.
<sigh>
What if There Were 83 Women Senators?
Sometimes I despair. A lot, lately.
But then there's that stalwart level-headed fellow out of Vermont - Bernie Sanders. Watch the video below, especially at 1:36 where he talks about the amendment that allows an... "employer's religious beliefs and moral convictions" to be the basis for denying women access to any essential health care service. The mind boggles.
Viagra gets covered. Contraceptives don't. That pesky Plan B might prevent a precious sperm from reaching it's destiny.
To quote Ali: "My opinion on abortion? As soon as I have a uterus, I'll let you know."
Bernie Sanders statement on women’s health care
Mar. 1, 2012
WASHINGTON – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today as the Senate debated a Republican measure to let employers and insurers opt out of provisions in the health care law:
“In Vermont and around the country, there is growing anger that members of Congress, mostly men I should add, are trying to roll back the clock on women’s rights, in this case the right of women to receive contraceptive services through their insurance plans.
“This attack is grossly unfair, and I hope that men will stand with women in the fight to protect this very basic right.
“Let me add my strong belief that if the United States Senate had 83 women and 17 men rather than 83 men and 17 women, my strong guess is that a bill like this would never even make it to the floor.”
