I wanted to write a hello. It’s been a minute since i’ve posted and I want to assure you that doesn’t mean I haven’t been writing. I have but it’s mainly been in fits and starts…probably a little more starts and fits. I’m working on my rhythms and finding the balance of journaling, letter writing, and story writing. I love it all and to be frank, I believe I need it all. So, it’s making the time. I’ve been taking clown classes in Atlanta since last fall. That’s something, isn’t it. I’m a self-proclaimed strange person who tries my best to be adaptable. Some days I’m better at it than others. I met a woman last night who was thrilled to share that she is a “hobbyist.” Right now she’s in a gardening phase (researching and waiting for spring to plant). She had a list of other things she was excited to try this year. I loved her enthusiasm and joy in making it a year of trying things, be it finding one hobby or being a hobbyist - on a journey to try new things! Somewhere along the way, I misplaced the delight in trying new things. Instead, I focus on how behind I am on a project or how far I am from my big hopes. When that gets in the forefront of my mind, I forget to shake off the frustration and blocks and try something new, explore a city, take a class I have no skills for, listen to a speaker, find a community service opportunity in the city, etc. I want more of that. The hobbyist probably had no idea the impact she was leaving on me last night but my goodness, did she! Do you have a hobby or many hobbies? Right now, I’d say mine could use a little refreshing!
Fun things I have been enjoying:
TV Show - Slow Horses (Apple +)
Movie - Night at the Museum (rewatch)
Audio Book - Shakespeare The Man Who Pays the Rent (Judi Dench)
Creative - William Kentridge (South African artist)
Brooklyn, Brooklyn
She spent her afternoons in Green-wood Cemetery. For Pippa, it was the most peaceful place in all of Brooklyn. With nearly 500 acres to wander through, boredom was never possible. The cemetery was sacred— the one place she could recharge her weary body and sort through the noise. She needed this place. New York was busy and more difficult than she'd imagined. Was it worth it?
Was living in New York worth the stress of never knowing whether you’d make rent until it was due? Was it worth the exhaustion, the city grime, the visible depravity of the world each day? The seasons of depression, tiny bedrooms, the lonely commutes home? Was it worth it?
She’d close her eyes and wait for an answer. Experiences, faces, and words would burst into view. And if anyone walked past Pippa in that moment, they would see a woman with her eyes closed and a smile on her softened face. She heard the wind in trees and the birds singing.
“Yes” her bruised heart exclaimed! “Yes,” she whispered to herself as to not disturb the sacred space around her. She didn’t know for how long. Each time she made a promise to stay.
"Jim Henson—Idea Man" Documentary
I was sick last week and my brain couldn’t handle much. The bulk of my time was spent in bed watching mindless movies and sleeping. Once the fog began to fade, I remembered the Jim Henson documentary on Disney+. It’s been on my list of things to watch. There are a handful of creators and entertainers I'd give anything to sit with and ask about their creative process. Some have already passed away, and as you might guess, Jim Henson is one of them. Directed by Ron Howard and written by Mark Monroe, “Idea Man” was an insightful, inspiring, imaginative documentary.
I wasn’t expecting this film to make me cry. I couldn’t even tell you what the moment was that did it. He left a legacy that included an earnest frog, a joke-telling bear, a big yellow bird on a fictional street with real people, and a goblin king named Jareth. And this doesn’t even cover half of it. With unrelenting ambition and passion, Jim Henson was a beloved and inspiring man. He took some big risks along the way— some paid off while others missed the mark. His imagination cup overflowed and he surrounded himself with people who helped him share it with the world. A takeaway for me was that sometimes the world didn’t know what to do with it. I was encouraged by this movie as it showed a whimsical world while also holding the reality of failure and sacrifice. On finding the romantic, aggressive, hilarious personality of leading lady Miss Piggy: “All she can do is have bravado.”
Jim Henson died at 53 years old. In his will, he left details about his funeral. The clip they showed from the day was as silly as it was breathtakingly beautiful. There’s so much more I could write, but I’ll leave you with my doodles. I decided to let my pen translate my thoughts however it wanted!
Stream of Consciousness doodling