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| Winter Night. Our house, Audrey, Charlie, Douglas and Christina There is no place like home |
CHRISTMAS 2023
This is the first day after Christmas Day and I am starting my letter of my life in 2023.
At 87 I am upright on two feet, not a pain in my body, but the energy is becoming less and less, and the grocery bags heaver and heaver. Last March the pacemaker was replaced because the battery was running out of the one I had for 8 years. I just wish they could charge up my body. I had the virus or whatever was going around and I was tired and weak for longer then I expected. One gets along with a little help from friends. Every day is precious and everything is done with awareness. Life is wonderful as it always has been , just slower.
This year I went to Maine June and July and stayed with Doug and Christina in the old homestead.I flew with Lucy, Christina’s daughter and Johnny, from Eugene to Boston than a bus to Portland where Doug picked us up. Lucy’s Grandfather turned 90 and there was a party for him and Lucy and Johnny had a party for their friends because they are were getting married in September in Eugene. Not many would be crossing the country for that.
It was an amazing lush year for everything growing, flowers, to blossoming trees. Fist fields of buttercups and lupine then followed by the hedges of rosa rugosa roses, filling the air with their fragrance. It was cooler and wetter than usual and I didn’t get into the water until July. The ocean water is getting warmer and warmer. It was quit comfortable to stay in for a while. I didn’t stray from the house, painted outside in the yard, or places up and down the street. I painted along the shore sitting on the granite rocks and if the tide was right I would slip into the water and float for a little bit and then with a cold body warm up on the granite heated by the sun. In all the years I lived on Back Cove I could skinny dip because there was never anyone around. I painted 19 paintings of Maine. I met with old friends, went to shows and galleries and took a few trips with Doug and Christina.Of course I had my fill of lobster, clams and seafood. I also helped Doug with sorting out my paintings. He took photos an I wrote a little description for each one. It took awhile. Everything takes longer than you think it will. Then it was time to go back to the West coast. Doug drove me back to Boston for my flight. Charlie’s sister Cookie, her daughter, and Charlie’s other sister Sue’s children came from Quincy and we met and had lunch together. Sue died a couple of years ago. I am glad we had a little time together.
The Farnsworth Museum had a show of Edward Hoppers paintings done when he summered in Rockland in 1926. Along with his paintings were Andrew Wyeth’s painting of Rockland done forty years latter. I saw that show three times. Rockland has a museum and about twenty galleries.It is interesting to get the history of different times in a place. Rockland in 1926 was a city of 9 thousand with all kinds of industries that supported each other, railways, trolly lines, the beginning of automobiles . There were all kinds of trade people, stores, fish factories etc. In 1962 Charlie worked at the Thorndike Hotel In Rockland.. The hotel built in 1857 was still in use in 1962, owned by the brother of Louse Nevelson the famous painter sculptor. The city had fallen into decay. Downtown was empty and boarded up, yet this was the time Wyeth was painting in the area. (It is interesting to note that in 1962 in the club in the Thorndike Hotel we met and became friends with a person that sold real estate. This person showed us the home we bought in 1984 on Back Cove Waldoboro.)
When Charlie and I moved to Newburyport in 1968 and the city was abandoned, deteriorating, beautiful buildings covered with asphalt shingles, a city that was famous for shipbuilding, trading clipper ships, one of the most beautiful cities on the East Coast going back to pre revolution times. With real-estate prices being so low in Newburyport back in the 60s creative people moved in started fixing up the homes, bring back downtown. Now the houses in Newburyport cost half a million or more. On Back Cove in Waldoboro a place I lived for 32 years nothing changed, a few barns fell down. No one was able to change the downtown of empty storefronts, new little business came and went. I think it best we don’t know the future, otherwise we would never take the adventures we do, always thinking it will come out ok. Yet connecting the dots is interesting. I have probably lived through the fastest changers in the world from the invention of TV to internet to iPhones, communication on a global scale. I don’t understand how any of it works.
When I left Maine the weather there continued to be wetter then usual. Back in Eugene August was hot and dry. It seldom rains in Eugene in the summer and it can get hot, a few days of 100. I rode my trike to the river to cool off. The temperature of the river water was colder than the ocean water in Back Cove. Our apartments do have air condition units. I live on the north side and don’t get sunlight so my apt is cooler. Chris took me to the cannabis farm if the weather wasn’t to hot. I would bring my watercolors and paint outside or read a book. I like to wander around the farm, look in the green houses, see what’s growing, check out the chickens and the vegetable garden that managed to produce vegetables, chocked with weeds and covered with cucumber beetles. I help out a little bit, in the spring planting vegetable seed and later picking vegetables and sorting out bins of onions or potatoes. Chris would have me to dinner every couple of weeks. I always look forward to those meals because I have never had food anywhere that is as good as what he makes.
August rolled by and then Lucy and Johnny got married Sept 2nd at Johnny’s parents home in Eugene. A large sprawling house, open spaces and high cathedral ceiling, big wooden beams and beautiful wooden floors. There is a deck around the outside where guests sat at tables and ate. I love this house in the country surrounded by woods. It is like a museum with beautiful art on the walls. However I wouldn’t want to live there. Lucy and Johnny ,the bride maids and groom men did a dance routine for the guests. Luce has a friend that is a dance teacher and she choreographed the dance. Everyone loved it. It was a a nice day and a beautiful wedding. Lucy works at the university and Johnny works at landscaping. He loves trees. They bought a little house in Eugene.
In the fall everyone was coming down with the flue and many residents at Ya Po Ah got it including me. It was mild but left me tired and weak. I still haven’t got my strength back. Ya Po Ah is like a little community, a diversified group of over 200 residents, The 2nd floor has a dinning room, entertainment area, TV room with a pool table and a library. It is used by card players, knitters, music group, line dance group, philosophy, tai chi, exercise, bingo, birthday parties. We have a Resident Association that meets once a month where all the heads of committees talk about what’s happening and upcoming events. We have a bus that takes people grocery shopping. The bus also takes us on trips, the coast and other places of interest. Also outside are about 50 garden spaces. Mine is 12 x 4 feet which is the largest size. Christopher lives about a five minute drive from here. This building includes hud housing. I pay a third of my social security for rent. I have never been so well off.
Ya Po AH was built in the 60s. It is the tallest building in Eugene. It sits at the base of Skinners Butte with trees behind the building so it doesn’t stick up like it would if it was in the middle of the city. However there are only two elevators for 18 floor. They break down a lot because of constant use. Everyone waits for the elevator. It is the place where you meet people and get the news. All the friends I have live in Ya Po Ah. Chris and Lucy and Johnny are the only people that live in the city that I know. My small world revolves in and around this building. I see a lot of people here, say hallo, make small talk in the garden or around. I have a few friends that I know fairly well and enjoy their company. Alike draws alike so my friends don’t fit into normal reality. They have interesting histories as we all do when we look back to our younger selves. I like hearing their stories. There are some very talented people that live here, and people that are generous and give of there time helping out in a lot of things that go on here, like helping in the dining room or kitchen or collecting recycled cans from the trash closet every day. There is a couple of people that work in the gardens almost every day. Of course we look after each other when we need help. I am lucky to live here.
I have to say that earth is heaven for me. I love being physical. I am not interested in sitting meditating waiting to experience bliss. I like the feeling of all the senses, hot showers, cold ocean and warm rocks, the taste of Christopher’s cooking, the sound of calling seagulls, and wind rustling the leaves or wind roaring, causing the sea to crash over rocks like thunder. I like the smell of new mowed grass and the fragrance of lilacs. I look at nature with wonder and appreciation of it’s beauty. I see the potential of thousands of paintings I want to make.
Humans as flawed as we are have created magnificent cathedrals, temples, carvings, tapestries, all art, music, dance, poetry, great inventions. Yes greed and power have caused wars but always comes rebuilding. Creativity is our nature. Imagination is our inspiration.
When I got to Eugene I had to put my paintings in storage. However over 100 paintings are hanging in the halls of Ya Po Ah some of my best paintings. There are two galleries in Eugene that show professional artists paintings. They have their roster of artists and have shows booked in advance. A city of over 150 thousand population, two art galleries !!! Just think every town of a few thousands people along the coast of Maine has a gallery or artist studios to visit. Portland Maine has a wonderful museum and the colleges and universities also have great museums. I never knew how lucky I have been to see so much art, original paintings.
Eugene does have great Muriels that cover the whole side of buildings. They are all over the city. Eugene also has fine crafts and every Saturday in the summer outside is a place where they set up their booths. It is a fun place with food vendors and live music. Also in the same area is the farmers market, one of the oldest in the country. I go to the Farmers market every week I can, fresh organic vegetables and bakery booths with crusty breads and sweet pastries. I love the people of Eugene, friendly and helpful.
Thanksgiving this year was in Ashland. Diane’s brother, daughter and family live in Ashland. Her mother also lived there and she pasted on this year. Diane is Chris ’s wife. Ashland is special during the Hollidays, a beautiful decorated down town with many interesting shops. It is know for it’s Shakespeare Theatre. The Halliday season starts the day after Thanksgiving. I love it because it is my favorite time of year. Christ bought my tree and put it up for me, and helped with the lights. It is the best tree I have ever had, 8 feet with space between the branches to get all my ornaments hung.
Ya Po AH puts on a Christmas dinner for the residents, We have a Christmas party and a trip to see the lights of the decorated homes in the north side of Eugene, a residential area of about 5 blocks. This is a holiday tradition in that neighborhood that has been going on for years, and many people drive around to see the displays. I have never see anything like it. This year Christmas was at Christ and Diane’s house. Chris picked me up in the morning. Diane made breakfast, pancakes and bacon. Early afternoon a friend came over and we opened our stockings. Chris made dinner, roast pork. I haven’t had pork for years. Of cause anything Chris cooks is delicious. In the evening we watched a Christmas move.
It is now the 4th day of Christmas. I celebrate all 12 days, put on all my lights, listen to Christmas music, watch Christmas movies and admire my magnificent tree. I miss the snow. I prayed for snow back on the East coast when I was little. I love all the stories of the north pole, snow and light and magic. Miracles happen and Santa’s generosity is in the hearts of people. His spirit never dies. It is a wonderful contrast, the cold dark winter nights. Animals burring down in there protective holes, resting, dreaming. Humans coming out of the cold, entering warm homes heated with wood in fireplaces and stoves. Light shines from windows onto the snow. This is not a fairy tale, it was real for me living in Maine.There is something wonderful about surviving in the cold. It is a challenge, a time to be prepared for. It is satisfying , comforting . The best part of Christmas is sharing, being together with friends and family, all ages together, children to grandparents.
Of course we can’t all have friends to celebrate with or a wonderful cooked meal to share. Yes there are those out in the dark, homeless and many of them live here in Eugene. Be thankful for what you have and pray for those without. We must imagine a better world and believe it will change, believe without any doubt, believe knowing it will change into a world with compassion, tolerance without judgement. Together the energy is growing, spiraling toward peace. I feel blessed to be alive now in these times as chaotic as it is appears because I see a better future and I am helping with the millions of other souls to manifest this future reality. As it says in big letters on the top of Ya Po AH “PEACE ON EARTH.”
May your love energy radiate out into the world. Everything is connected. Peace health and happiness. Merry Christmas to all
A few quotes for inspiration
All winter long beneath every snowing. Guess what we saw beneath every snowing, a thaw
And a growing, a greening and growing. Native American
Again, again we come and go, changed, changing. Hands join, un-join in love and fear,
grief and joy. The circles turn, each giving into each, into all. Wendell Berry
Nothing is impossible. The word itself says “I’ m Possible!” Audrey Hepburn
If my mind can conceive it, if my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it. Muhammad Ali
Like snowflakes, my Christmas memories gather and dance —each beautiful, unique and gone to soon.
Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are things we can’t see.
The Polar Express.
