You know how, every now and then, there’s a day that feels like you need all of you – all the many parts of you – working together to pull it off?
Saturday was kind of like that. Including the little hints around the edges that maybe, just maybe, I needed a few more parts of me than have become fully conscious yet.
It started with more than the optimal amount of joint and muscle pain. That led to half a tube of Arnica gel and some time in the magic chair with all the angles just so. Predictably, I fell asleep, with Leonard Cohen serenading me from YouTube.
I woke suddenly to the raucous sounds of horns honking and cars racing down the (in)famous, big road behind our house. I will admit to being more than a bit cranky about the whole thing. And then I figured it out.
Saturday was the designated National John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Day of Action. And I live on the edge of the late Congressman’s district. In Atlanta. And the noise was honoring in action.
So, crankiness aside long enough to notice that I didn’t hurt quite so much as before, I decided to work some more on the painting I’m doing that includes Congressman Lewis’s face.
It’s an adventure. I’ve painted LOTS of faces but this is the first one I’ve attempted that is supposed to look like somebody recognizable. You know, not imaginary!
Then it was time for another of my teachers… Sam Bennett. A get together for some integration after last week’s journey into what the expert refers to as Peaceful Pricing.
I, predictably, was integrating several things at once.
- What to offer next that would benefit from Peaceful Pricing.
- New options for actual Grammy Camp® … possibly in N.C.
- Some slightly hazy, but stunning, connections between the way-back machine known as world history and the news of this moment.
- And a quote Sam often shares, I think from Seth Godin, that goes a lot like this, “People like us do things like…”
Trust me. They do all go together. Explanation to follow…
All of this was capped off by a Zoom meeting called Gifts from the Black Madonna in the Time of Covid & BLM which involved the Rev. Dr. Matthew Fox and some very talented musician/theologians.
By that point, I was just covered in chills and wiping away tears, certain that the questions rolling around in my head do go together and they will, eventually, point to a path.
Here’s what I am certain of…
I have two granddaughters growing up in this world.
For now, there are people to add to my painting with John Lewis. (It’s important to note that he’s not done yet… and neither am I!)
And a moment to wish Bill a very happy anniversary tomorrow! (We’re going to wait just a bit longer before venturing out to the Iberian Pig. Which, as I think of it, really isn’t too far from everything else going on in this post!)
ps… whoever you are and however this day feels for you, you are loved.